Union boss receives 19-month prison sentence for extorting $325K from film studio

By Patrick Andriesen

10/28/2022

A former Teamsters secretary-treasurer was sentenced to 19 months in prison for extorting $325,000 from a Chicago film studio. The judge refused to give probation, saying “there is a price we all pay for public corruption.”

Don’t give power over your taxes to some big government union bosses

By Brad Weisenstein

10/27/2022

Illinois voters are faced with a change to the Illinois Constitution that would give government union bosses the power to essentially decide how high taxes should go. That’s not how democracy should work.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions

Madigan’s arraignment over AT&T bribery charges set for Nov. 1

By Patrick Andriesen

10/25/2022

Michael Madigan, former Illinois House speaker, and his longtime political ally and operative will enter pleas in federal court Nov. 1. They are charged with coercing bribes from AT&T in return for passing favorable legislation in Springfield.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Illinois unemployment rate is worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

10/25/2022

Illinois added 14,900 jobs in September, but its unemployment rate was the highest in the nation. Inflation and growing recession fears could hit the state harder than most.

Congressmen ask Pritzker to repay $1.3B federal unemployment debt

By Patrick Andriesen

10/19/2022

U.S. House Ways and Means Committee members wrote Gov. J.B. Pritzker asking for repayment of a $1.3 billion federal unemployment insurance fund loan before Nov. 10. Failing to do so means automatically raising taxes on businesses.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Minister sees ballot question as property tax threat after nearly losing home

10/14/2022

The Rev. Phalese Binion worked to help people find affordable housing, but she didn’t truly understand the property tax problem until she bought her own home. Now the former union member sees a new property tax threat from Amendment 1.

TAGS: Amendment 1

9 things wrong with Illinois’ official Amendment 1 voter pamphlet

By Mailee Smith

10/05/2022

A constitutionally required pamphlet intended to inform voters about Amendment 1 includes misleading and inaccurate claims. It fails to alert voters what they are really voting on, which is a property tax increase.

TAGS: Amendment 1

Cook County voters face 2 property tax hike proposals

10/04/2022

Both forest preserve leaders and government unions are asking Cook County voters for more property taxes on Nov. 8.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes

Crypto exchange FTX moving U.S. headquarters out of Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

09/29/2022

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried announced the cryptocurrency exchange is moving its U.S. headquarters to Miami. It’s the fifth major company to relocate its headquarters out of Illinois this year.

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

By Justin Carlson

09/28/2022

The latest job numbers show Illinois continues struggling to recover pandemic job losses, a bad sign for its lagging economy as recession fears rise.

Constitution of Illinois

Union boss receives 19-month prison sentence for extorting $325K from film studio

Don’t give power over your taxes to some big government union bosses

Madigan’s arraignment over AT&T bribery charges set for Nov. 1

Illinois unemployment rate is worst in U.S.

Congressmen ask Pritzker to repay $1.3B federal unemployment debt

Minister sees ballot question as property tax threat after nearly losing home

9 things wrong with Illinois’ official Amendment 1 voter pamphlet

Cook County voters face 2 property tax hike proposals

Crypto exchange FTX moving U.S. headquarters out of Illinois

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

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