Full text: Gov. Rauner’s 2016 State of the State address

By illinoispolicy

01/27/2016

Transcript, provided by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office, of his 2016 State of the State address, as prepared for delivery, to the General Assembly on January 27, 2016.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, State of the State

Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations

01/21/2016

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed 2 percent tax and new regulations would harm Chicagoans trying to make ends meet by renting out space in their homes, as well as tourists looking for less expensive lodging.

TAGS: Airbnb, Chicago, taxes

2011 income-tax hike turned Illinois into a top 5 state for total tax burden, new study shows

By Michael Lucci

01/21/2016

Illinoisans handed over a larger portion of their earnings to state and local governments than did taxpayers in 45 lower-tax states in fiscal year 2012, according to a new Tax Foundation study.

GE rejects Chicago as home for corporate headquarters, cites pension debt

By Ted Dabrowski

01/14/2016

General Electric will move its corporate headquarters and 800 jobs to Boston, Mass., from Fairfield, Conn., noting its concerns about Chicago’s government-worker pension debt in its rejection of the Windy City.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

Chicagoans the most-taxed residents in Illinois, paying more than 30 city taxes

By Ted Dabrowski

01/07/2016

Not only are city officials making Chicagoans pay more for services that aren't working, they are making them shoulder the highest tax burden in the state.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago’s sales tax now highest in the nation

By Hilary Gowins

01/01/2016

The sales-tax hike Cook County officials approved in July takes effect Jan. 1, 2016, just in time for end-of-season holiday shopping deals.

TAGS: Chicago, sales tax, taxes

Heavy metals: Behind the fall of Illinois industry

By Austin Berg

01/01/2016

3 important criminal-justice reforms from 2015

By Bryant Jackson-Green

12/31/2015

In 2015, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law bills restricting the transfer of juvenile offenders to adult court, establishing rules for the use of body cameras by police, and creating an expedited process in Cook County to resolve cases involving certain low-level offenses.

TAGS: juvenile court, police body cameras

New Cook County hotel tax will make visiting Chicago even pricier

By Amy Korte

12/31/2015

Cook County’s new 1 percent hotel tax will raise Chicago’s combined hotel tax to 17.4 percent in 2016.

TAGS: Chicago, hotel tax

This Christmas, property taxes are robbing the McCallisters

By Austin Berg

12/22/2015

The fictional family from “Home Alone” has paid nearly $750,000 in property taxes since the film’s release, and real Illinois families are struggling under a massive local tax burden.

TAGS: property taxes

Cook County

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s 2016 State of the State address

Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations

2011 income-tax hike turned Illinois into a top 5 state for total tax burden, new study shows

GE rejects Chicago as home for corporate headquarters, cites pension debt

Chicagoans the most-taxed residents in Illinois, paying more than 30 city taxes

Chicago’s sales tax now highest in the nation

Heavy metals: Behind the fall of Illinois industry

3 important criminal-justice reforms from 2015

New Cook County hotel tax will make visiting Chicago even pricier

This Christmas, property taxes are robbing the McCallisters

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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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