80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

By Amy Korte, Marianna Schmiesing

07/31/2017

The number of Cook County municipalities that have opted out of both ordinances has climbed to 107.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage

New Cook County soda tax upheld in court

By John Kristof

07/28/2017

The tax makes soda sold in Chicago among the most expensive in the country.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax, taxes

Cook County Sheriff sends out 110 layoff notices as soda tax remains on hold

By Marianna Schmiesing

07/20/2017

An Illinois appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order on Cook County’s proposed sweetened beverage tax. The Cook County sheriff’s office has sent out 110 layoff notices, citing the soda tax holdup. These layoffs come on top of 300 county worker layoffs. Cook County officials claim at least 1,100 jobs will be lost if the tax does not go into effect.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County’s sweetened drink tax still hasn’t taken effect

By Marianna Schmiesing

07/15/2017

An Illinois appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order on Cook County’s proposed sweetened beverage tax. Cook County officials claim 1,100 jobs will be lost if the tax does not go into effect.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

By Amy Korte

06/26/2017

Municipal leaders have expressed concerns about the anti-competitive, job-killing effects of Cook County’s minimum wage increases and new sick leave law and are using home rule authority to exempt their communities from the requirements.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment

Illinois Senate proposes statewide tax on soda

By Brendan Bakala

01/18/2017

Running out of ideas, the Illinois Senate takes aim at poor people to fund record-high state spending.

TAGS: budget, sugar tax, taxes

McDonald’s counters Fight for $15 with automation nationwide

11/30/2016

Calls for a minimum-wage hike nationwide and in Illinois are increasingly met with businesses’ use of technology to cut costs.

TAGS: Fight for 15, jobs, minimum wage

Village of Barrington to resist Cook County minimum wage hike

11/28/2016

The northwest suburb of Barrington passed an ordinance to allow local businesses to forgo Cook County’s minimum wage hike, which has the potential to be devastating for jobs in the county.

TAGS: Cook County, minimum wage

Cook County Board approves soda tax

By Brendan Bakala

11/10/2016

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of new tax on sugary and artificially sweetened beverages.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

Half of city aldermen don’t show up for Chicago budget hearings

By Chris Lentino

11/03/2016

Each year, the City Council holds hearings for every city department to justify their annual appropriation. These hearings are sparsely attended and rarely touch on spending. This year, more than half of Chicago aldermen skipped budget hearings.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Rahm Emanuel

Cook County Board of Commissioners

80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

New Cook County soda tax upheld in court

Cook County Sheriff sends out 110 layoff notices as soda tax remains on hold

Cook County’s sweetened drink tax still hasn’t taken effect

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

Illinois Senate proposes statewide tax on soda

McDonald’s counters Fight for $15 with automation nationwide

Village of Barrington to resist Cook County minimum wage hike

Cook County Board approves soda tax

Half of city aldermen don’t show up for Chicago budget hearings

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