Nearly 30,000 Chicago teachers are caught in pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

12/01/2025

Half of retired Chicago pensioners make more than average working Illinoisans, but nearly 30,000 teachers won’t be eligible for more than a contribution refund.

Vallas: Chicago needs education reform to curb youth violence epidemic

By Paul Vallas

11/28/2025

Fixing Chicago’s schools is the surest way to stop youth violence. Softening education standards will perpetuate the harm.

Scholarships mean bright future for Chicago teen as electrician

By Jess Plowman

11/28/2025

Chicago Public Schools couldn’t give a teen the right education, but scholarships did. Now state leaders can OK a federal program to help every Illinois student.

11 reasons Illinoisans can be thankful this year

By Lilly Rossi

11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, Illinoisans should give thanks for Illinois’ heritage, opportunities, wins against new taxes and educational freedom.

Chicago streaming tax adds 10% to NFL Thanksgiving costs

By Dylan Sharkey

11/27/2025

Streaming Thanksgiving football comes with extra costs just for living in Chicago. The city adds 10% to streaming prices through a local amusement tax.

Federal aid feeds over 1M Illinois families this Thanksgiving

By Patrick Andriesen

11/27/2025

Over 1 million Illinois families will put turkey on the table this Thanksgiving with the help of federal food assistance.

Final Thanksgiving with statewide grocery tax, but your town?

By Dylan Sharkey

11/27/2025

Illinois families are preparing their final Thanksgiving dinner with the state’s 1% grocery tax. But will your municipality bring the tax back starting Jan. 1?

Small businesses create all Cook County jobs since 2020

By Bryce Hill

11/26/2025

Chicagoans have even more to be thankful for on Small Business Saturday: small businesses created all Cook County’s net new jobs since the pandemic.

Here’s why buying an Illinois home can be hard

By LyLena Estabine, Jon Josko

11/25/2025

Illinois home prices have jumped nearly 50% since 2018 while available housing hasn’t recovered since the pandemic, creating a housing shortage.

Blacker Friday: Illinois shoppers face sales tax hit

By Jerry Barmore

11/25/2025

Holiday shoppers are eager to spend this year. Illinois is overly eager to tax them.

Chicago

Nearly 30,000 Chicago teachers are caught in pension trap

Vallas: Chicago needs education reform to curb youth violence epidemic

Scholarships mean bright future for Chicago teen as electrician

11 reasons Illinoisans can be thankful this year

Chicago streaming tax adds 10% to NFL Thanksgiving costs

Federal aid feeds over 1M Illinois families this Thanksgiving

Final Thanksgiving with statewide grocery tax, but your town?

Small businesses create all Cook County jobs since 2020

Here’s why buying an Illinois home can be hard

Blacker Friday: Illinois shoppers face sales tax hit

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