1 in 3 Chicago violent crimes is a robbery, up 21% in a year

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

07/25/2024

Chicagoans reported 7.6% more violent crime from July 2023 through June 2024. Residents experienced a 21% increase in robberies during those 12 months, with robberies becoming one-third of all violent crimes.

TAGS: crime

Chicago Public Schools faces $500M deficit despite $10B budget

By Bryce Hill

07/25/2024

Chicago Public Schools’ reliance on temporary federal pandemic funds has left the district grappling with deficits even before factoring in a new Chicago Teachers Union contract. $505M deficit + $10B in demands = taxpayer trouble

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

Chicago’s affordable housing crisis can be fixed without tax hikes

By Ravi Mishra

07/18/2024

Chicago housing affordability is among the lowest in the Midwest, driven primarily by restrictive land-use policies and slow approvals. Low-income families have it worse than in other large Midwestern cities.

TAGS: housing

Vallas: 10 things you should know about Chicago crime today

By Paul Vallas

07/18/2024

Independence Day weekend was bloody in Chicago. City leaders are doing little other than pointing fingers. Here are 10 things Chicagoans should know about the current crime problem.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing

By Benjamin O'Donnell

07/17/2024

Chicago doesn’t have enough housing, in part because restrictive regulations and zoning drive up costs and headaches for developers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has recommended solid fixes, but the city must restrict aldermanic power.

Vallas: Chicago has too few police, pays too much in police overtime

By Paul Vallas

07/03/2024

Chicago's violent crime is up. A record $300 million was spent on police overtime last year. It's simple: too few cops leads to too much crime and requires a very wasteful, inefficient fix. Chicago needs more officers on patrol.

Understanding the Chicago Teachers Union’s unprecedented contract demands

By Elliot Parrish, Jess Plowman

06/28/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union's lengthy list of demands includes base raises and experience compensation each year, housing help, climate justice, more compensation added to pension calculations and a pool of health care funds targeted to racial disparities. An analysis puts the price tag at least $10 billion.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Over 2,700 vacant properties owned by Chicago not for sale because of ‘environmental review’ regulations

By Perry Zhao

06/28/2024

Thousands of vacant properties sit undeveloped in Chicago thanks to environmental review.

Chicago violent crime up 8% through May, spurred by spike in robberies

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

06/27/2024

Chicagoans reported 7.8% more violent crime from June 2023 through May 2024, led primarily by a spike in robberies. West and South Side residents bore the brunt of the increase as arrest rates continued to decline.

TAGS: crime

Chicago City Council considers 16 new tax and fee hikes

By Patrick Andriesen

06/26/2024

Chicago Ald. Will Hall, 6th ward, proposed 16 new tax and fee hikes to fellow city council members in a survey.

TAGS: taxes

Brandon Johnson

1 in 3 Chicago violent crimes is a robbery, up 21% in a year

Chicago Public Schools faces $500M deficit despite $10B budget

Chicago’s affordable housing crisis can be fixed without tax hikes

Vallas: 10 things you should know about Chicago crime today

Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing

Vallas: Chicago has too few police, pays too much in police overtime

Understanding the Chicago Teachers Union’s unprecedented contract demands

Over 2,700 vacant properties owned by Chicago not for sale because of ‘environmental review’ regulations

Chicago violent crime up 8% through May, spurred by spike in robberies

Chicago City Council considers 16 new tax and fee hikes

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

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Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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