Lightfoot’s $42.7M property tax hike goes just to pensions

By Dylan Sharkey

08/12/2022

Chicago property tax bills are on the rise again, thanks to the city’s massive pension debt. Mayor Lori Lightfoot compared the latest property tax hike to additional toppings at lunch.

TAGS: Lori Lightfoot, pensions, property taxes

Fact check: Unions backing Amendment 1 killed bill to help nurses

By Dylan Sharkey

08/12/2022

A new ad falsely claims Amendment 1 will protect nurses’ rights at private children’s hospitals. The same government unions who paid for the ad ended legislation that truly would have helped nurses.

TAGS: Amendment 1, nurses, unions

Chicago Teachers Union fights to weaken Chicago charter schools

By Hannah Schmid

08/11/2022

Many Chicago charter school bargaining agreements are expiring this summer, and the Chicago Teachers Union is positioning itself to grow its power by diminishing charter schools as an alternative for parents and students.

TAGS: charter schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Majority of IFT spending goes to Chicago

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

The Illinois Federation of Teachers in 2021 spent 190 times more on Chicago-area teachers than it did on teachers south of Interstate 80. That could be why IFT membership has shrunk nearly 18% since 2017.

Chicago parents spend $886 per child on school supplies

By Dylan Sharkey

08/09/2022

Chicago parents spend one-third more than the national average on school supplies. A 5% state sales tax holiday does little to help those struggling with back-to-school costs.

TAGS: Chicago, education spending, parenting, public schools, school, teachers

10 Illinois pension abuses show why taxpayers deserve reform

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2022

Illinois’ broken pension system has allowed loopholes and schemes that cheat other pensioners and drive up taxpayers’ burdens. Here are 10 examples.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Mike Madigan, pension reform, pensions

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

38 challengers give Illinois voters first choices in decades

By Dylan Sharkey

07/31/2022

Alper Turan fled Iran 24 years ago to seek a better life for himself and his family. He wants to help his new home by being one of 38 candidates recruited by Illinois Policy to run for the Illinois General Assembly. He wants voters to have a choice.

TAGS: election, gerrymandering, Illinois, vote-by-mail

Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

By Bryce Hill

07/29/2022

Illinois homeowners are most likely in the nation to be in foreclosure. The looming $2,100 property tax hike from Amendment 1 would make housing even more unaffordable.

TAGS: Amendment 1, foreclosure, housing market, Illinois

Lightfoot’s play to keep Bears could cost up to $2,000 per family

By Dylan Sharkey, Bryce Hill

07/28/2022

The Chicago Bears are considering a move to Arlington Heights, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pitching a last-ditch effort to revamp Soldier Field. Depending on the option, the tax hit per household ranges from $833 to $2,036.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Bears, Lori Lightfoot, Soldier Field, taxes

Chicago

Lightfoot’s $42.7M property tax hike goes just to pensions

Fact check: Unions backing Amendment 1 killed bill to help nurses

Chicago Teachers Union fights to weaken Chicago charter schools

Majority of IFT spending goes to Chicago

Chicago parents spend $886 per child on school supplies

10 Illinois pension abuses show why taxpayers deserve reform

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

38 challengers give Illinois voters first choices in decades

Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

Lightfoot’s play to keep Bears could cost up to $2,000 per family

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