Vallas: Chicago Teachers Union destroying even public-school choice

By Paul Vallas

06/05/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union and its cronies destroyed Illinois’ only private school choice program. Now they are out to kill charter schools and public-school choice, leaving parents with no option but CTU’s failing product.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break

By Patrick Andriesen

06/05/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $55.2 billion budget relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco, short-term rentals and more. At the same time, he’s set to take away a property tax break.

5 things Illinois taxpayers are lucky state lawmakers failed to pass

By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis

06/03/2025

Illinois lawmakers got creative with state budget proposals to overhaul pensions and raise new revenue, many of which would have hit consumers and small businesses hardest. They also failed to intrude on how families choose to educate their children.

Just 37% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted for Stacy Davis Gates

By Mailee Smith

06/03/2025

With only 10,100 of the Chicago Teachers Union’s 27,216 active members voting to retain Stacy Davis Gates as president, she doesn’t have support from nearly two-thirds of the teachers the union represents.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly

By Joe Tabor

06/02/2025

With the Illinois state legislative session ended, bills will start crossing the governor’s desk, some containing tax hikes, unaffordable spending and needless regulation. Here’s how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop these bad policies from becoming law.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, property taxes, taxes

Lawmakers considering adding more than $64.5 billion in pension costs in final hours of budget negotiations

By Bryce Hill

05/30/2025

As state lawmakers finalize the 2026 budget, public sector unions are pushing for major benefit spikes for Tier 2 pensioners to be included in last-minute additions.

Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall

By Patrick Andriesen

05/30/2025

Springfield lawmakers are close to hiking road tolls, taxing rideshare services as well as real estate sales for everyone in Cook and the collar counties.

Illinois cities should learn from Rockford when it comes to spending

By LyLena Estabine

05/29/2025

Since 2017, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara has cut the property tax rate to 1.93% by cutting costs and spending smarter – a playbook other Illinois cities should copy.

No degree? No problem. Chicago expanding access to work

By Lauren Zuar

05/28/2025

A new Chicago ordinance will remove college degree requirements for most city jobs. The measure breaks down employment barriers for disadvantaged groups and opens new pathways to prosperity.

Chicago

Vallas: Chicago Teachers Union destroying even public-school choice

Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break

5 things Illinois taxpayers are lucky state lawmakers failed to pass

Just 37% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted for Stacy Davis Gates

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly

Lawmakers considering adding more than $64.5 billion in pension costs in final hours of budget negotiations

Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall

Illinois cities should learn from Rockford when it comes to spending

No degree? No problem. Chicago expanding access to work

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