Bears buy Arlington Park, but Chicago still owes $640M for Soldier Field

By Dylan Sharkey

02/16/2023

The Chicago Bears have purchased the former Arlington Park Racetrack for $197.2 million. Chicagoans are still on the hook for $640 million for Soldier Field renovations from 2002.

TAGS: Chicago Bears

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

02/15/2023

Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

By Dylan Sharkey

02/14/2023

As Illinois pushes for more renewable energy, it comes with a fire hazard risk at battery storage centers. A battery storage facility explosion in Arizona hurt eight firefighters. There have been three other fires.

Next Chicago mayor needs to put students ahead of politics

By Mailee Smith

02/13/2023

The incoming mayor will inherit a troubled Chicago Public Schools system, a strike-happy Chicago Teachers Union with an expiring contract, and a transition to a fully elected school board. Whoever is elected must put kids first.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Mail-in votes for Chicago mayor up nearly 10-fold

By Dylan Sharkey

02/13/2023

Chicagoans are exponentially voting from home in the upcoming mayoral elections. Early voting is now available in all 50 wards, with 10 days left to seek a mail-in ballot.

TAGS: Chicago, vote-by-mail

‘Local 1’: How Chicago Teachers Union impacts children, community

By Dylan Sharkey

02/13/2023

Illinois Policy Institute’s documentary about the history of the Chicago Teachers Union and its political influence is now available. Here’s a study guide about what the union has done to education in the city.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Pritzker signs bill allowing Chicago Public Schools principals to unionize

By Mailee Smith

02/11/2023

Chicago Public Schools principals already make nearly 30% more than their peers in the rest of the state. A newly signed law allows them to unionize and push for even more.

TAGS: government unions

Each Chicago taxpayer on hook for nearly $42,000 of city debt

By Justin Carlson

02/10/2023

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting found Chicagoans are each responsible for the second-most debt in the nation. It again gave the city an ‘F’ grade despite improvements from one-time federal COVID-19 aid and unusually high pension investment returns.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Illinois Senate Bill would allow noncitizen parents, guardians to vote in school board elections

By Dylan Sharkey

02/10/2023

Illinois lawmakers are considering granting noncitizens the right to vote in school board elections if their children are in the school district. Registering to vote would come with a warning about possible risks under U.S. immigration law.

Chicago Teachers Union, affiliates put over $2.3M in Brandon Johnson campaign

By Mailee Smith

02/10/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers have backed CTU lobbyist Brandon Johnson with more than $2.3 million in his run for Chicago mayor. The sitting mayor said CTU wants to take over City Hall.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago

Bears buy Arlington Park, but Chicago still owes $640M for Soldier Field

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

Next Chicago mayor needs to put students ahead of politics

Mail-in votes for Chicago mayor up nearly 10-fold

‘Local 1’: How Chicago Teachers Union impacts children, community

Pritzker signs bill allowing Chicago Public Schools principals to unionize

Each Chicago taxpayer on hook for nearly $42,000 of city debt

Illinois Senate Bill would allow noncitizen parents, guardians to vote in school board elections

Chicago Teachers Union, affiliates put over $2.3M in Brandon Johnson campaign

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