Brandon Johnson’s first 100 days

By Mailee Smith, Bryce Hill

08/18/2023

The city of Chicago faces a pension crisis, heightened crime and a failing public school system. New Mayor Brandon Johnson has taken no concrete steps to deal with any of it.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Illinois teachers unions have threatened to strike 188 times since 2010

By Mailee Smith

08/18/2023

Illinois public school students are at a severe disadvantage. Educational unions here can strike, keeping kids out of school, but that’s not the case in other big cities or neighboring states.

TAGS: teachers union

Vallas: Chicago has a new police chief, what’s his plan to fix the city’s crime problem?

By Paul Vallas

08/18/2023

Larry Snelling, formerly the Chicago Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau chief, was selected Aug. 13 to become CPD’s next superintendent. Now, the city needs clarity on his plans to address Chicago’s crime problems.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, crime

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

By Bryce Hill, Justin Carlson

08/17/2023

The state finally surpassed January 2020 job levels after 37 states had already done so, including all of Illinois’ neighbors except Michigan.

Pritzker signs charter neutrality bill, Chicago Teachers Union fights to weaken charter schools

By Hannah Schmid

08/15/2023

Contracts at 35 Chicago charter schools represented by the Chicago Teachers Union are up for negotiations this year. CTU, with the help of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and House Bill 1120, is positioning itself to grow its power by diminishing charter schools as an alternative for parents and students.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Youth crime is on the rise in Chicago – and CTU’s school closures may be to blame for the trend

By Paul Vallas

08/14/2023

Rising crime in Chicago is being driven by an increase in youth crime – as a result of the Chicago Teachers Union’s policies and agenda, which undermine police and public safety.

TAGS: crime, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

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

Chicago

Brandon Johnson’s first 100 days

Illinois teachers unions have threatened to strike 188 times since 2010

Vallas: Chicago has a new police chief, what’s his plan to fix the city’s crime problem?

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

Pritzker signs charter neutrality bill, Chicago Teachers Union fights to weaken charter schools

Vallas: Youth crime is on the rise in Chicago – and CTU’s school closures may be to blame for the trend

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

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