Chicago could add 8,000 granny flats by following Los Angeles’ lead

By LyLena Estabine

09/15/2025

Legalizing additional dwelling units citywide would bring more housing choices, lower costs and help Chicagoans stay in the neighborhoods they love.

Tinley Park teachers union may strike Sept. 22

By Lilly Rossi

09/12/2025

District 146 Educators Council has voted to authorize a strike. If an agreement is not reached, teachers in Tinley Park could strike as soon as Sept. 22.

TAGS: teachers union

Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties

By Lauren Zuar

09/12/2025

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dropped by 3.2% in May. Still, nearly 2 million Illinoisans relied on federal food aid, with participation rates exceeding 30% in some Southern Illinois counties.

1,065 Illinoisans laid off in August, with 276 at Diverse Facility Solutions

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

09/10/2025

Illinois companies announced 1,065 mass layoffs in August. Minority-owned Diverse Facility Solutions, headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, and two other janitorial services companies accounted for nearly half of the jobs lost.

Romeoville, Bolingbrook teachers union sets Sept. 18 strike date

By Lilly Rossi

09/10/2025

Teachers in the 10th-largest school district in Illinois may be on the picket lines instead of in classrooms with students on Sept. 18. Romeoville and Bolingbrook teachers are paid more than the state average but are pushing for more.

TAGS: teachers union

Chicago pensions carry more debt than 44 states

By LyLena Estabine

09/09/2025

Chicago’s pension systems carry over $53 billion in debt, leaving taxpayers with rising bills and no reform in sight.

New iPhone launches, but Illinoisans pay nation’s highest taxes to use it

By Dylan Sharkey

09/08/2025

Apple’s new iPhone launch on Sept. 9 may be a celebration for tech consumers, but it also makes the Illinois taxman smile. Illinois already had the nation’s highest tax rate on cell phone plans before it bumped up even more July 1.

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 Teachers Union president claims Southern Illinois takes more than it makes

By Lilly Rossi

09/08/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union exerts power not only over the city of Chicago, but also statewide. Southern Illinois schools and their funding is the target of CTU leaders’ latest attack.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Teachers Union invests nearly $1.8M, but 2-in-5 are lawmakers from outside Chicago

By Mailee Smith

09/05/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union is more political machine than labor union, putting nearly $1.8 million into the campaigns of 84 of 177 current lawmakers since 2010. But it may be losing its hold on Springfield.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago

Chicago could add 8,000 granny flats by following Los Angeles’ lead

Tinley Park teachers union may strike Sept. 22

Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties

1,065 Illinoisans laid off in August, with 276 at Diverse Facility Solutions

Romeoville, Bolingbrook teachers union sets Sept. 18 strike date

Chicago pensions carry more debt than 44 states

New iPhone launches, but Illinoisans pay nation’s highest taxes to use it

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

Chicago Teachers Union president claims Southern Illinois takes more than it makes

Chicago Teachers Union invests nearly $1.8M, but 2-in-5 are lawmakers from outside Chicago

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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