Chicago misses grocery tax deadline, saving shoppers $40M

By Dylan Sharkey

10/02/2025

Chicago missed the Oct. 1 deadline to extend the grocery tax. Grocery shoppers will save $40 million for at least six months starting Jan. 1, 2026.

TAGS: grocery tax

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Chicago Public Schools lose 9,000 students

By Hannah Schmid

09/30/2025

There are 9,081 fewer students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, driven by declines in Black and Hispanic students. The big drop ends a blip in annual enrollment declines.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Vallas: Stacy Davis Gates’ destructive vision for Chicago schools

By Paul Vallas

09/26/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union is shutting down school choice by attacking charter schools, hurting Black and Latino families who rely on them. Their actions put power over student success.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Just 4-in-5 businesses from 2015 likely still open in your Chicago neighborhood

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

09/26/2025

Chicago lost nearly 1-in-5 businesses between 2015 and 2024, translating to nearly 11,200 fewer businesses operating in the city. Of the city’s 98 neighborhoods, 80 lost 10% or more of their businesses. Mag Mile lost 41% of its stores.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, small business

4 myths about federal scholarship tax credit program

By Hannah Schmid

09/25/2025

Illinois students could be denied donor-funded scholarships for tutoring and other academic services because opponents are spreading misinformation about how the program works. Here are the facts about four of their fictions.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, JB Pritzker

As more states push to consolidate local elections, Illinois should follow their lead

By Gerrin Alexander

09/24/2025

States are pushing to consolidate elections into fewer election days. Aligning municipal with gubernatorial and federal elections streamlines voting and could increase voter turnout.

Illinois housing stock remains woefully low, prices climbing

By LyLena Estabine

09/23/2025

Policies that make building expensive have continued to choke Illinois’ housing supply, pushing more families away with high prices. Nearly $90K has been added to the average house price since 2018.

Illinois’ Congressional Democrats reject gerrymandering – for wrong reasons

By Joe Tabor

09/22/2025

Illinois Democrats rejected a mid-cycle redistricting plan cooked up by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to maximize Democratic partisan advantage in the state’s congressional district map. The reason? They don’t want to endanger their safe seats.

TAGS: gerrymandering

Chicago budget rises over 2X faster than other big cities

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

09/22/2025

Not enough revenue? How about too much spending. Chicago outpaces many of America’s biggest cities with a 62% spending spike since 2019. That’s what’s driving deficits.

Chicago

Chicago misses grocery tax deadline, saving shoppers $40M

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Chicago Public Schools lose 9,000 students

Vallas: Stacy Davis Gates’ destructive vision for Chicago schools

Just 4-in-5 businesses from 2015 likely still open in your Chicago neighborhood

4 myths about federal scholarship tax credit program

As more states push to consolidate local elections, Illinois should follow their lead

Illinois housing stock remains woefully low, prices climbing

Illinois’ Congressional Democrats reject gerrymandering – for wrong reasons

Chicago budget rises over 2X faster than other big cities

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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