Research shows education, full-time employment can overcome poverty

By Chris Coffey

06/07/2024

The city of Chicago’s poverty rate is 17%. The Brookings Institution’s “success sequence” shows what city and state leaders need to focus on if we want to provide a pathway to prosperity.

Vallas: Mayor, supporters see unlimited migration as fix to population loss

By Paul Vallas

06/06/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sees unlimited migration as a solution to population loss. What he should be doing is recognizing crime and a lack of quality school choice is driving out families.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Chicago Teachers Union gives nearly $1.3M to sitting Illinois lawmakers

By Chris Coffey

06/06/2024

Since 2010, CTU has funded the political committees of 84 of 177 lawmakers currently in the Illinois General Assembly. When you look at just Democrats, it is 72% – nearly half from outside Chicago.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Bally’s casino in Chicago continues to underperform

By Dylan Sharkey, Kurtis Karg

06/06/2024

Illinois leaders keep hoping for big wins from casinos and other gambling, but the newest casino in Chicago shows expectations are too high again.

Chicago Teachers Union contract could cost at least $10.2B to $13.9B

By Bryce Hill

06/03/2024

Was Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates being facetious when she said a new contract could cost $50 billion and three cents? Maybe not. An analysis puts the price tag at least above $10 billion.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Public Schools’ academic struggles top Chicagoans’ concerns

By Hannah Schmid

05/31/2024

Half of Chicagoans said their biggest concern was “students not learning enough academically.” They expect Chicago Public Schools to “prepare students to go to college.” But the Chicago Teachers Union is demanding more schools that fail those expectations.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois retailers taxed $186M by capping sales tax credit

By Patrick Andriesen

05/30/2024

A cap on the retailers’ sales tax credit will effectively hikes taxes on Illinois retailers by $186 million. Retailers are already facing razor-thin margins, but the record $53.1 billion state budget required $1.1 billion in new taxes.

TAGS: sales tax

Black Chicagoans 20X likelier to be homicide victims; arrest rate hits record low

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

05/30/2024

Black Chicagoans were over 20 times more likely to become homicide victims during the past 12 months than their white peers, with 9-in-10 homicides on the South Side and West Side. Hopes of catching killers hit a new low.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Illinois General Assembly OKs $1.1B in tax hikes for record $53.1B spending

By Bryce Hill

05/29/2024

Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plans came in $410 million higher than what Gov. J.B. Pritzker originally proposed. Taxpayers will be forced to pay $1.1 billion more so Illinois can spend record amounts in fiscal year 2025.

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker, taxes

Chicago Teachers Union demands parents be kept in dark on curriculum

By Mailee Smith

05/28/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union’s past lobbying to keep curriculum a secret plus its divisive tweets show the union’s demand to allow off-the-record curriculum isn’t in parents’ or students’ best interests.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago

Research shows education, full-time employment can overcome poverty

Vallas: Mayor, supporters see unlimited migration as fix to population loss

Chicago Teachers Union gives nearly $1.3M to sitting Illinois lawmakers

Bally’s casino in Chicago continues to underperform

Chicago Teachers Union contract could cost at least $10.2B to $13.9B

Chicago Public Schools’ academic struggles top Chicagoans’ concerns

Illinois retailers taxed $186M by capping sales tax credit

Black Chicagoans 20X likelier to be homicide victims; arrest rate hits record low

Illinois General Assembly OKs $1.1B in tax hikes for record $53.1B spending

Chicago Teachers Union demands parents be kept in dark on curriculum

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