August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

By Hannah Schmid

08/11/2023

Educators and other public school employees in Illinois can opt out of union membership in August and stop paying dues.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, opt out

Chicago gun violence by neighborhood: South, West sides remain most dangerous

By Patrick Andriesen

08/10/2023

Chicago Police Department reports show shootings in 2022 were 32% higher than 2019. Shootings in the Loop tripled during that time.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Illinoisans pay 2nd highest gas taxes in the nation

By Patrick Andriesen, Dylan Sharkey

08/09/2023

Illinoisans pay the nation’s second-highest gas taxes behind California thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s automatic gas tax hikes. Illinois motorists faced two hikes in 2023.

TAGS: gas tax

Cook County property taxes rise most in suburbs

By Josh Bandoch

08/08/2023

While most Cook County residents have seen property taxes rise, the suburbs saw the biggest hikes during the past 20 years. Chicago homeowners and business owners are feeling less tax pain than their suburban peers.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes

Up 40% or down 40%, Chicago property taxes all over the map

By Josh Bandoch

08/07/2023

Chicago’s residential property taxes between 2020 and 2021 were pretty volatile. Don’t be happy about a big drop, though, because it might mean your home isn’t worth as much.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2023

Despite statewide job gains in June, eight of Illinois’ metro areas lost jobs for the month. Most areas still haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic job levels.

Over 4 of 5 Illinois lawmakers get money from teachers unions

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

07/31/2023

Since 2010, teachers unions have funneled nearly $20 million to current lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly, with the Chicago Teachers Union alone spending over $1.25 million.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, teachers union

One-third of Chicago Public Schools are less than half full

By Hannah Schmid

07/28/2023

Chicago Public Schools has a school utilization problem. Over 34% are less than half full, 57% are underutilized, and 5% are overcrowded. Just 35% are at ideal capacity. The Chicago Teachers Union is preventing solutions.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Lollapalooza ticket price up to $392 higher with Chicago tax

By Patrick Andriesen

07/27/2023

The typical concertgoer will pay an extra $35 for their general admission ticket to Lollapalooza, thanks to the city’s amusment tax. A platinum pass will cost visitors more than the price of a standard ticket in taxes alone.

TAGS: Chicago, Lollapalooza

Vallas: Chicago Police overtime cost $126M, plus cost of burn-out

By Paul Vallas

07/27/2023

One way to “defund the police” is by not hiring officers – a strategy supported by many in Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s camp. The problem is, failing to hire more officers is backfiring. It leads to higher costs, some of which are very hard to count but easy to see.

Chicago

August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

Chicago gun violence by neighborhood: South, West sides remain most dangerous

Illinoisans pay 2nd highest gas taxes in the nation

Cook County property taxes rise most in suburbs

Up 40% or down 40%, Chicago property taxes all over the map

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

Over 4 of 5 Illinois lawmakers get money from teachers unions

One-third of Chicago Public Schools are less than half full

Lollapalooza ticket price up to $392 higher with Chicago tax

Vallas: Chicago Police overtime cost $126M, plus cost of burn-out

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