O’Hare, Midway parking fees to increase in 2017

12/19/2016

Though Chicago already has the highest sales tax in the nation as well as massive property taxes, the Chicago City Council passed new hikes on parking fees in Midway and O’Hare airports.

TAGS: Chicago, transportation

Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’

By Chris Lentino

07/20/2016

A law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in June allows Chicago to create new transit-based super TIFs, adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to divert and hoard property-tax dollars.

TAGS: Chicago, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

04/04/2016

Several instances of corruption and mismanagement of public property and trust came to light in March and included new developments in cases involving Chicago Public Schools’ former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

TAGS: corruption

Make body cameras mandatory to improve police accountability

By Bryant Jackson-Green

01/15/2016

Ninety-two percent of Americans support a body camera requirement for police officers; to enhance transparency and accountability, Chicago should require its police to use body cameras.

TAGS: police body cameras

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

12/14/2015

November saw Chicago’s City Council let the term of the legislative inspector general, who is tasked with overseeing City Council, expire without hiring a replacement, as well as several other instances of breach of public trust and influence peddling around the state.

TAGS: corruption

Sprint to add over 1,000 jobs in Chicago

By Amy Korte

09/02/2015

Of the 1,050 new jobs announced, Sprint expects about half to be retail positions and the other half to be filled by wireless experts, network technicians and engineers.

Driverless trains: Why does Chicago lag behind London?

08/17/2015

Driverless trains and buses could dramatically reduce the cost of Chicago’s expensive public transportation system, resulting in much-needed savings for taxpayers.

Hidden bill: Chicago taxpayers and the Windy City crisis

By Ted Dabrowski

07/21/2015

Each Chicago household is on the hook for more than $63,800 in future tax bills – much of it for services already rendered.

TAGS: sales tax

Corruption Watch: April 2015

By Shawn Tonge

05/08/2015

April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.

TAGS: good government

Illinois Supreme Court rejects briefs from pension-reform supporters

01/23/2015

Given the importance of pension reform in Illinois, many groups wanted to weigh in.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, pensions

Chicago Transit Authority

O’Hare, Midway parking fees to increase in 2017

Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

Make body cameras mandatory to improve police accountability

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

Sprint to add over 1,000 jobs in Chicago

Driverless trains: Why does Chicago lag behind London?

Hidden bill: Chicago taxpayers and the Windy City crisis

Corruption Watch: April 2015

Illinois Supreme Court rejects briefs from pension-reform supporters

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