Chicago charges a 10.25% tax to stream a Cubs game

By Grace Hansen

08/05/2026

The city raised the streaming tax last year and maintains a 9% amusement tax on tickets.

Johnson’s relocation fee threatens affordable rentals

By LyLena Estabine

08/05/2026

A proposed ordinance would force landlords to pay tenants thousands to end a lease. The mandate risks higher rents and fewer affordable units.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Stacy Davis Gates: The scandal-plagued leadership of a teachers union president

By Hannah Schmid

08/03/2026

Stacy Davis Gates’ tenure as president of the Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers has been riddled with scandals. Now, fewer than 1-in-3 Chicagoans have a favorable opinion of the union.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Updated: Chicago Public Schools has a new $10 billion budget. How have its finances become such a mess?

By Bryce Hill

07/31/2026

The CPS budget proposal relies on hundreds of millions in fund sweeps to “balance.” Despite layoffs, CPS payrolls grew compared with last year and remain 8,250 higher than 2020 levels despite fewer students.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Is Lollapalooza music to the tax man’s ears?

By Grace Hansen

07/30/2026

Chicago’s biggest music event brings in millions in revenue for the city, but tickets to the lakefront festival carry the amusement taxes and overnight visitors pay the nation’s highest hotel tax.

Chicago area shows highest rent increase among top 10 metros

By Grace Hansen

07/30/2026

Year-over-year rents rose in Illinois while falling nationwide. Champaign-Urbana posted the country’s fourth-highest increase.

Illinois Federation of Teachers educators aren’t getting what they’re paying for

By Mailee Smith

07/29/2026

The majority of IFT’s spending is not on representing teachers, according to its own reports. Teachers can opt out of the union during August.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Sales tax increase to pay for CTA, Metra, Pace problems

By Lilly Rossi

07/29/2026

A sales tax increase for the Regional Transportation Authority, soon to replaced by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, takes effect Aug. 1.

Who should pay for new sports stadiums?

By Lilly Rossi

07/28/2026

As teams in Chicago and elsewhere pursue new venues and entertainment districts, lawmakers face renewed questions about public financing.

Illinois sales taxes near top in U.S.

By Adam Gorcyca

07/28/2026

Chicago will have one of the highest big-city rates in the country when the transit tax inches up Aug. 1.

Chicago

Chicago charges a 10.25% tax to stream a Cubs game

Johnson’s relocation fee threatens affordable rentals

Stacy Davis Gates: The scandal-plagued leadership of a teachers union president

Updated: Chicago Public Schools has a new $10 billion budget. How have its finances become such a mess?

Is Lollapalooza music to the tax man’s ears?

Chicago area shows highest rent increase among top 10 metros

Illinois Federation of Teachers educators aren’t getting what they’re paying for

Sales tax increase to pay for CTA, Metra, Pace problems

Who should pay for new sports stadiums?

Illinois sales taxes near top in U.S.

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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