Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities
Published Jan. 25, 2024
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
Causes, costs, how to set the state free
View ReportCook County
Township supervisor gets $224K, but salary drops to $25K if voters pick someone else
An embattled Chicago-area township supervisor is being accused of discouraging competition ahead of her campaign by cutting the position’s pay if she loses. It may be illegal, but someone would need to sue.
Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California
Illinois’ excise tax on wine is more than 4 times higher than the same bottle in New York or California. Buying in Chicago adds extra tax layers, hitting 6 times the taxes of other big cities.
Chicago can fix pensions but needs taxpayer voices – not just their money
Chicago's public pension crisis is the target of a new group called the Taxpayer Pension Alliance, which includes the Illinois Policy Institute. The alliance's launch included this statement by the institute's head of policy.
1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County
Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.
Former Harvey mayor accused of bribery from strip club in prostitution operation
The former mayor of Harvey, Illinois, has been accused of allowing a local strip club to covertly provide illegal prostitution services in return for monthly bribes to the city leader and family members.
Illinois holiday shoppers pay sales taxes as high as 11.5%
Sales taxes up to 11.5% will greet some Cook County shoppers this holiday season. Illinois averages 8.82% in sales taxes statewide, slightly more than last year and the seventh highest nationwide.
Property taxes on ‘Home Alone’ house jump 57% in 1 year
The current owners Kevin McCallister’s house from “Home Alone” will pay more than $50,000 in property taxes this year. Illinoisans pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation on average.
Holiday travel expected to be second-busiest ever
Holiday travel this year is expected to be the second-busiest since AAA started tracking it in 2000. For Illinoisans, it means driving across a state line could avoid the nation’s second-highest gas taxes.
Vallas: Chicago needs better protection for witnesses
Mass shootings are rampant in Chicago. Arrests for those shootings are almost nonexistent. Witness protection is the key to changing that.
