Report offers $1B in fixes as Chicago budget talks break down

By Ravi Mishra

12/12/2025

The Chicago City Council rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s economically harmful tax proposals, but a report offers $1 billion in solutions

Most Chicagoans, aldermen oppose Johnson’s 2026 budget

By Patrick Andriesen

12/12/2025

Most Chicago City Council members and residents oppose Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget, especially his plan to tax job creation.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago City Council

Chicago business activity skid hits two years

By Josh Bandoch

12/12/2025

A barometer of business health shows Chicago’s decline worsened in November 2025.

$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?

By Patrick Andriesen, Ravi Mishra

12/11/2025

Chicago-area drivers could end up paying $1 billion more in tolls each year as part of a deal state lawmakers admitted was made to get labor union support.

TAGS: Illinois Tollway

Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems

By Dylan Sharkey

12/09/2025

Chicago-area transit riders deserve safe, reliable service. But the Regional Transportation Authority board might soon ask the wrong people to pay for it.

TAGS: RTA: Regional Transportation Authority

Norvax, CVS lead layoffs as Illinois loses 1,192 jobs

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

12/05/2025

Illinois’ saw 1,192 mass layoffs in November. Norvax and CVS Health/Oak Street accounted for most of the job losses announced.

Chicago Teachers Union protests trash fee hike while its president skips hers

By Lilly Rossi

12/05/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union is grumbling about a proposed garbage fee hike. Yet union President Stacy Davis Gates has repeatedly failed to pay her own trash bill.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Handing out money without work fails, but Illinois trying it again

By Josh Bandoch

12/03/2025

A 2024 study showed handing people money they hadn’t worked for hurt them, but Illinois lawmakers are putting $827,272 in tax dollars behind the idea again.

TAGS: UBI: Universal Basic Income

Nearly 30,000 Chicago teachers are caught in pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

12/01/2025

Half of retired Chicago pensioners make more than average working Illinoisans, but nearly 30,000 teachers won’t be eligible for more than a contribution refund.

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.

Chicago

Report offers $1B in fixes as Chicago budget talks break down

Most Chicagoans, aldermen oppose Johnson’s 2026 budget

Chicago business activity skid hits two years

$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?

Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems

Norvax, CVS lead layoffs as Illinois loses 1,192 jobs

Chicago Teachers Union protests trash fee hike while its president skips hers

Handing out money without work fails, but Illinois trying it again

Nearly 30,000 Chicago teachers are caught in pension trap

Vallas: Chicago needs education reform to curb youth violence epidemic

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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