Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

By Paul Vallas

10/15/2025

Chicago Transit Authority ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels. Crime and a budget shortfall make matters worse, but there are cost-effective ways to make it safer.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Stacy Davis Gates makes over $273,000 but doesn’t pay her water bills

By Mailee Smith

10/15/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union president demands the “wealthy” pay their fair share but doesn’t apply that same principle to herself.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts

By Patrick Andriesen

10/14/2025

Chicago Transit Authority violent crime hit its second-highest level since 2015, while the arrest rate dropped. CTA crime is threatening federal funding.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Illinois checks, balances? Not under Pritzker

By Lilly Rossi

10/13/2025

As veto session begins and power goes back to the Democratic majority state legislature, the consequences of a single-party state are more evident than ever.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

By Patrick Andriesen

10/13/2025

Chicago’s 2025 budget needed $345 million in fines, forfeitures and penalties. It was $99 million 30 years ago. What will the new budget extract from residents?

TAGS: budget, Chicago

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

10/13/2025

Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.

Chicago Teachers Union undermines yet another charter school

By Hannah Schmid

10/09/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union’s attacks on charter schools are to blame for the upcoming closure of the Chicago High School for the Arts.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

By LyLena Estabine

10/08/2025

If Chicago’s pension systems become insolvent, the city will have to reduce benefits or make serious cuts to city services. The only way out is constitutional reform.

Teachers union strike threats as school starts is an unfair tactic

By Lilly Rossi

10/07/2025

At least three Illinois teachers unions threatened to strike at the start of this school year. Keeping students out of class so unions can get their way should be illegal in Illinois.

TAGS: public schools, teachers union

Illinois GDP grew 4.8% in 2nd quarter of 2025

By Ravi Mishra

10/03/2025

Illinois’ economy bounces back after early 2025 slump. Long-term growth is threatened by taxation, regulation and barriers to getting a job.

Chicago

Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

Stacy Davis Gates makes over $273,000 but doesn’t pay her water bills

CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts

Illinois checks, balances? Not under Pritzker

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Chicago Teachers Union undermines yet another charter school

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

Teachers union strike threats as school starts is an unfair tactic

Illinois GDP grew 4.8% in 2nd quarter of 2025

7 things to know about public charter school laws in Illinois

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