Vallas: Chicago needs education reform to curb youth violence epidemic

By Paul Vallas

11/28/2025

Fixing Chicago’s schools is the surest way to stop youth violence. Softening education standards will perpetuate the harm.

Small businesses create all Cook County jobs since 2020

By Bryce Hill

11/26/2025

Chicagoans have even more to be thankful for on Small Business Saturday: small businesses created all Cook County’s net new jobs since the pandemic.

5 ways to end Chicago’s stagnant growth

By Geoff Feinstein

11/19/2025

High taxes, red tape and fiscal mismanagement have stalled Chicago’s economy, but smart reform could get it growing again.

What to know about new IFT head Stacy Davis Gates

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2025

Stacy Davis Gates brought controversy, conflict to the Chicago Teachers Union. With her as their president, Illinois Federation of Teachers members can expect the same.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois, Chicago voters rank high taxes as No. 1 issue

By Patrick Andriesen

11/04/2025

More than half of Illinois voters and one-third of Chicago voters said high taxes were their No. 1 concern. Despite that, Springfield and Chicago politicians both are hiking taxes again to spend more.

Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities

By LyLena Estabine

10/27/2025

While Aurora sits near the top of the safety rankings, Chicago lands near the bottom undermining claims by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

TAGS: crime

Mayor Johnson’s record-setting $1 billion TIF surplus highlights issues

By Bryce Hill

10/24/2025

Chicago Tax Increment Finance “surpluses” have increased more than ninefold in the past decade.

TAGS: Chicago, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Budget cap could have saved Chicago $600M

By Geoff Feinstein

10/24/2025

Chicago’s budget has grown much faster than inflation, leaving taxpayers to endure higher costs without receiving better services. Implementing a spending cap linked to inflation could have kept costs under control, helping prevent future deficits

Using Microsoft, Salesforce, ChatGPT will cost more under Johnson’s Cloud Tax

By Jerry Barmore, Dylan Sharkey

10/22/2025

Microsoft, Salesforce, ChatGPT, Amazon Web Services and Zoom would all come with higher prices under Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s cloud tax.

Johnson’s “Protecting Chicago” budget proposes nearly $500M in tax hikes

By Lauren Zuar, Ravi Mishra

10/21/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson describes the 2026 budget as “Protecting Chicago,” but his plan seems to do the opposite. Taxes on Artificial Intelligence, Uber rides and companies with 100+ employees are the biggest revenue sources.

Brandon Johnson

Vallas: Chicago needs education reform to curb youth violence epidemic

Small businesses create all Cook County jobs since 2020

5 ways to end Chicago’s stagnant growth

What to know about new IFT head Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois, Chicago voters rank high taxes as No. 1 issue

Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities

Mayor Johnson’s record-setting $1 billion TIF surplus highlights issues

Budget cap could have saved Chicago $600M

Using Microsoft, Salesforce, ChatGPT will cost more under Johnson’s Cloud Tax

Johnson’s “Protecting Chicago” budget proposes nearly $500M in tax hikes

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students