New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County

By Dylan Sharkey

07/01/2022

Minimum wages for Chicago and Cook County are increasing July 1. Inflation has rapidly outpaced wage growth, cutting the average Illinoisan’s pay by $2,200.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, economy, inflation, minimum wage

Illinois drivers pay $35 more to fill up on gas than one year ago

By Patrick Andriesen

06/30/2022

Drivers are now paying $35 more to fill-up on regular gasoline and $65 more for diesel than they were a year ago. Gas taxes eat more than one-fifth of every tank.

TAGS: gas prices, gas tax, JB Pritzker, motor fuel tax, taxes

Amendment 1 will cost typical Cook County homeowner $2,933

By Bryce Hill

06/20/2022

See how much more you can expect to pay in property taxes unless voters reject the first question atop Illinois’ ballot Nov. 8.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Cook County

Chicago’s combined state and local taxpayer debt burden worst in the nation

By Justin Carlson

06/07/2022

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting reports every Chicagoan is on the hook for $135,700 when combining city and state debt.

TAGS: Chicago, tax burden, Truth in Accounting

Cook County board gives itself 10% raise, automatic future pay increases

By Francesco Rahe, Patrick Andriesen

06/03/2022

The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted May 24 to increase its members’ salaries 10% in December, followed by automatic annual pay increases each year up to 3%. Civic groups say the perpetual pay hikes pose future concern.

TAGS: Cook County Board, lawmaker pay

Cook County seeks to implement permanent guaranteed income

By Patrick Andriesen

05/31/2022

Cook County officials promised to make the nation’s now-largest publicly-funded guaranteed income experiment permanent May 18 shortly after introducing the initiative. The trial will start accepting applicants in the fall.

TAGS: Cook County, UBI: Universal Basic Income

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2022

Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would spend $20 million to add license plate monitoring cameras to 6,600 miles of highways in 22 counties. Civil rights groups fret about abuse. Illinois State Police can’t say they increase safety.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, speed cameras

Lightfoot orders her name on $12.5M in gas, transit cards

By Patrick Andriesen

04/21/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s name will be on 150,000 prepaid gas and transit cards she plans to raffle off to Chicagoans. She’s trying again after aldermen initially rejected the $12.5 million proposal as an election stunt.

TAGS: Chicago, gas prices, Lori Lightfoot

Illinois House passes bill to scan license plates on highways

By Dylan Sharkey

04/12/2022

The Illinois House approved a law calling for the installation of license plate reading cameras. Big Brother just wants to solve crime.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, license plate recognition camera

4 of Illinois’ past 10 governors went to prison

By Hannah Schmid

04/11/2022

Four of the past 10 former Illinois governors are among the public officials who have been convicted of offenses in Illinois. The state needs stricter ethics reforms to change its culture of corruption.

TAGS: corruption, governors, Illinois, prison

Cook County

New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County

Illinois drivers pay $35 more to fill up on gas than one year ago

Amendment 1 will cost typical Cook County homeowner $2,933

Chicago’s combined state and local taxpayer debt burden worst in the nation

Cook County board gives itself 10% raise, automatic future pay increases

Cook County seeks to implement permanent guaranteed income

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

Lightfoot orders her name on $12.5M in gas, transit cards

Illinois House passes bill to scan license plates on highways

4 of Illinois’ past 10 governors went to prison

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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