Chicago Airbnb hosts made $73 million in 2016, despite roadblocks by Chicago City Council, hotel lobby

By Brendan Bakala

12/20/2016

The Chicago market has grown to the third largest in the country, accounting for almost all of the more than $73 million in supplemental income in 2016.

TAGS: Airbnb, Chicago, collaborative economy, homesharing, regulations, sharing economy

O’Hare, Midway parking fees to increase in 2017

12/19/2016

Though Chicago already has the highest sales tax in the nation as well as massive property taxes, the Chicago City Council passed new hikes on parking fees in Midway and O’Hare airports.

TAGS: Chicago, transportation

4 tax hikes a taxpayer bill of rights could have prevented

12/15/2016

In 2016, Chicago and Cook County officials approved new tax and fee hikes that will hit already overburdened residents. A taxpayer bill of rights could prevent politicians from constantly nickel-and-diming residents to make up for budget shortfalls.

TAGS: TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights, taxes

Metra CEO gets $28,000 raise after fares go up

By Brendan Bakala

12/15/2016

Metra CEO Don Orseno is set to receive a pay increase a month after Metra’s fare hike.

TAGS: Metra, transportation

Illinois November jobs report: 1,700 jobs gained overall, white-collar jobs up, blue-collar jobs down

By Michael Lucci

12/15/2016

The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s newly released jobs report shows Illinois’ 1,700 jobs gained in November were concentrated in white-collar service sectors, and that blue-collar fields, such as manufacturing, lost jobs.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, manufacturing, unemployment

Caterpillar announces more layoffs

By Brendan Bakala

12/14/2016

CAT announces more layoffs due to anticipated losses in 2017.

TAGS: Caterpillar, manufacturing, unemployment, workers compensation

Illinois has highest black unemployment rate in the country

By Michael Lucci

12/13/2016

Illinois has had the nation’s highest black unemployment rate for 15 months in a row.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Chicago area sees slow jobs growth, downstate suffers continued job losses

By Michael Lucci

12/13/2016

Metropolitan jobs data shows that from October 2015 – October 2016 the greater Chicago area is up +33,500 jobs while the rest of the state is down -2,700 jobs. Measured since before the Great Recession, from October 2007 – October 2016, the greater Chicago area is up 110,100 jobs while the rest of the state is down -42,700 jobs.

TAGS: Chicago, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

LA Tan settles case under Illinois privacy law for $1.5M

By Amy Korte

12/09/2016

L.A. Tan has settled a class action lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged the company stored customers’ fingerprint data in violation of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, or BIPA. Whether this settlement opens the gates to a flood of BIPA litigation remains to be seen.

TAGS: BIPA: Biometric Information Privacy Act, regulations

Illinois companies announce 650 mass layoffs in November

By Brendan Bakala

12/06/2016

Employers in the Land of Lincoln announced 650 mass layoffs in November, according to the November edition of the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, report. This report marks the first time since July 2015 that there wasn’t single mass-layoff announcement in the manufacturing sector. The types of jobs lost were spread across...

TAGS: Megabus, Mondelez International, Primesource, Ryder, WARN

Chicago

Chicago Airbnb hosts made $73 million in 2016, despite roadblocks by Chicago City Council, hotel lobby

O’Hare, Midway parking fees to increase in 2017

4 tax hikes a taxpayer bill of rights could have prevented

Metra CEO gets $28,000 raise after fares go up

Illinois November jobs report: 1,700 jobs gained overall, white-collar jobs up, blue-collar jobs down

Caterpillar announces more layoffs

Illinois has highest black unemployment rate in the country

Chicago area sees slow jobs growth, downstate suffers continued job losses

LA Tan settles case under Illinois privacy law for $1.5M

Illinois companies announce 650 mass layoffs in November

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