Chicago violent crime trends up as arrests trend down

By Patrick Andriesen

01/29/2025

Chicago residents reported 28,443 violent crimes during 2024. Attacks and threats were both up, with aggravated assaults hitting a 20-year high.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

3 ways to balance Chicago’s next budget without tax hikes

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

01/20/2025

Chicago might have just avoided a property tax hike, but city leaders couldn’t figure out how to pass the 2025 budget without other tax and fee increases. Here’s what the city should do to avoid repeating the same budgeting mistakes next year.

TAGS: Chicago

Vallas: What new school board members should know about Chicago Public Schools

By Paul Vallas

01/16/2025

Chicago’s first elected school board was just sworn into office. Here’s what members should know about what the Chicago Teachers Union has done to damage Chicago Public Schools and the city’s children, plus eight steps to undo the damage.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Proposed law would let Chicagoans recall Mayor Johnson in special election

By Mailee Smith

01/14/2025

House Bill 1084 would provide relief to the 70% of voters disapproving of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson by creating a process to recall the mayor.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

By Patrick Andriesen

12/30/2024

Chicago gang crime declined to its lowest level in the past two decades in 2023, but the numbers may be more about gangs fracturing and police losing their gang database. Still, more than 1-in-5 homicides were suspected of being gang related.

Chicago Teachers Union took over Acero charter schools to stifle parents’ rights

By Mailee Smith

12/23/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union played a long game with Acero charter schools: unionizing them, undermining them and then taking them over. Now students and parents are left without the charter schools they chose.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago shorts pensions by over $440M a year despite $2.3B hike in spending

By Bryce Hill

12/23/2024

Chicago’s public pension contributions remain lower than what actuaries say is needed to pay benefits despite a nearly six-fold increase in spending since 2014. Pension problems are driving high property taxes ever higher.

Watch those holiday movies now: Chicago’s amusement tax rises $12.9M in 2025

By Jerry Barmore

12/20/2024

In 2015 Chicago became the first city to add its 9% amusement tax when you streamed your favorite holiday shows or Christmas carols. It was one of the nation’s highest. But in 2025 it increases to 11% as the city tries to squeeze another $12.9 million from viewers.

Chicago mayor gets budget without his $300M in property tax hikes

By Ravi Mishra, LyLena Estabine

12/17/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was denied a $300 million property tax hike, then a $150 million property tax hike, then a $68.5 million property tax hike. He got his 2025 city budget, and aldermen forced him to keep his campaign pledge not to raise property taxes.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, property taxes

Chicago property taxes have doubled in 10 years, thanks to pensions

By Bryce Hill

12/17/2024

Chicago’s government pension obligations have increased nearly sixfold since 2014, driving up Chicago’s sky-high property taxes. Another increase for 2025 was likely avoided, but city leaders need state lawmakers to make a permanent fix.

Brandon Johnson

Chicago violent crime trends up as arrests trend down

3 ways to balance Chicago’s next budget without tax hikes

Vallas: What new school board members should know about Chicago Public Schools

Proposed law would let Chicagoans recall Mayor Johnson in special election

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

Chicago Teachers Union took over Acero charter schools to stifle parents’ rights

Chicago shorts pensions by over $440M a year despite $2.3B hike in spending

Watch those holiday movies now: Chicago’s amusement tax rises $12.9M in 2025

Chicago mayor gets budget without his $300M in property tax hikes

Chicago property taxes have doubled in 10 years, thanks to pensions

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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