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

$734M budget shortfall? Well, 1-in-3 Chicago Public Schools desks is empty

By Hannah Schmid

08/14/2025

Chicago Public Schools has 275 buildings that are too empty. On average, over 1-in-3 school desks is empty. The Chicago Teachers Union unrelentingly forces that big waste on CPS as administrators scramble to close a $734 million budget shortfall.

Illinois law still says unpaid property taxes can rob you of home equity

By Cameron Jasper, LyLena Estabine

08/12/2025

Across Illinois, homeowners are losing their homes and all their equity over minor tax debts, with private investors reaping the profits. Illinois is one of the remaining states hasn’t reformed this unconstitutional practice.

3 things teachers unions don’t want teachers to know

By Mailee Smith

08/12/2025

Illinois public school teachers can opt out of union membership and stop paying dues in August. But union misinformation is spread to keep them in.

TAGS: teachers union

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

By Ravi Mishra

08/11/2025

A $1.12 billion budget gap spurs Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to circulate a menu of 26 tax hikes. Instead of making Chicago even more hostile to taxpayers, he should be looking at budget reforms and ways to stop spending so much.

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

By Tom Viz

08/11/2025

Less than 22% of voters approve of the Chicago Teachers Union. No surprise, considering the scandals and radical dogma pushed by its two top leaders.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

By Paul Vallas

08/11/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

By Ravi Mishra

08/08/2025

As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

By Jerry Barmore

08/07/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker had a chance to stop a bill putting taxpayers on the hook for $11.1 billion in inflated pension benefits for Chicago police and firefighters. He blew it. Taxpayers will be paying the price for decades.

TAGS: Chicago, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions

Illinois housing prices climb, production remains slow

By LyLena Estabine

08/07/2025

June housing production in Illinois continues to lag the rest of the nation, leading to price problems across the state

TAGS: affordable housing

Chicago

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

$734M budget shortfall? Well, 1-in-3 Chicago Public Schools desks is empty

Illinois law still says unpaid property taxes can rob you of home equity

3 things teachers unions don’t want teachers to know

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

Illinois housing prices climb, production remains slow

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