Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget targets social media, corporate “head tax”

By Dylan Sharkey

10/16/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget proposal includes a per-user tax on social media companies and a per-employee fee on businesses. The proposal does not include a property tax hike and supports the elimination of the grocery tax.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

By Paul Vallas

10/15/2025

Chicago Transit Authority ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels. Crime and a budget shortfall make matters worse, but there are cost-effective ways to make it safer.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts

By Patrick Andriesen

10/14/2025

Chicago Transit Authority violent crime hit its second-highest level since 2015, while the arrest rate dropped. CTA crime is threatening federal funding.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

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

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

10/13/2025

Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

By Paul Vallas

09/08/2025

Federal help is needed in Chicago, but it should be professional law enforcement and encompass the entire justice system. Sending just the National Guard is destined to create problems when Chicago’s embattled communities need solutions.

Chicago retirement fund for first responders at greater risk

By LyLena Estabine

08/14/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law adding $11.1 billion in new liabilities to Chicago’s fire and police pensions, already the worst-funded in the nation. These “sweeteners” hurt retirement security more than they help.

Chicago alderman’s $120K pension shows why city fund is broken

By LyLena Estabine

08/14/2025

Chicago’s municipal pension is one of the worst-funded pension systems in the nation despite sky-high taxes dedicated to paying into it. Fat pensions such as former Ald. Walter Burnett’s show why.

TAGS: Chicago City Council

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

By Patrick Andriesen

08/04/2025

Chicago homicides were at a decade low for the 12 months through June, but also down was the arrest rate from 42% to 27%.

Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling

By Paul Vallas

07/08/2025

A violent Independence Day weekend has Chicagoans worried about violent crime, but it was a spike and not a trend. Crime is falling, thanks to new law enforcement efforts.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago aggravated batteries hit 5-year high; 3 in 5 victims are Black

By Patrick Andriesen

03/26/2025

Chicagoans reported the highest number of aggravated batteries through February in the past five years, with Black residents accounting for 3 in 5 victims.

Chicago Police Department

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget targets social media, corporate “head tax”

Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts

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

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

Chicago retirement fund for first responders at greater risk

Chicago alderman’s $120K pension shows why city fund is broken

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling

Chicago aggravated batteries hit 5-year high; 3 in 5 victims are Black

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

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