Trashed again: Fitch joins Moody’s in declaring Chicago Board of Education credit ‘junk’

By John Klingner

07/28/2015

If the district can’t get its finances in order, expect more teacher layoffs, school closings and large tax increases on Chicagoans.

Don’t hold your breath, Springfield stoppage could last until 2016

By Lara Forsythe

07/25/2015

Political incentives to come to an agreement are few and far between.

Chicago pension reform ruled unconstitutional

By Ted Dabrowski

07/24/2015

The Illinois Supreme Court’s precedent has made it impossible for Chicago to stave off bankruptcy by making even the most meager reforms to government-worker pensions.

Hidden bill: Chicago taxpayers and the Windy City crisis

By Ted Dabrowski

07/21/2015

Each Chicago household is on the hook for more than $63,800 in future tax bills – much of it for services already rendered.

TAGS: sales tax

Illinois’ regional pain points revealed in county data on food-stamp dependency

By Michael Lucci

07/20/2015

Areas of Illinois that are driven by backbone industries such as manufacturing are being hollowed out. That reality is showing up in the form of government dependence.

TAGS: food stamps

Judges split on state-worker pay in absence of balanced budget

By Jeffrey Schwab

07/19/2015

UPDATED JULY 19: It’s almost inevitable that the state will violate either the Fair Labor Standards Act or the Illinois Constitution

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, David McSweeney, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Supreme Court, John Cullerton, Lisa Madigan, Mike Madigan

Growing tax burden will push people out of Cook County and Chicago

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

07/15/2015

City officials are pushing property-tax hikes, sales-tax hikes, and even a commuter tax and financial-transaction tax.

TAGS: sales tax

New bill would suspend Illinois lawmaker pay during budget impasse

By Heather Weiner

07/09/2015

It is wrong that the General Assembly doesn’t have to feel the impact of their actions when they are responsible for other Illinoisans not receiving paychecks.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, David McSweeney, John Cullerton, lawmaker pay, Mike Madigan

Onslaught of Chicago debt downgrades continues

By Ted Dabrowski

07/09/2015

The pension shortfall per Chicago household stands at $33,500 each.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Cook County judge rules some state workers get minimum wage in absence of budget

By Heather Weiner

07/07/2015

Figuring out who qualifies for the payments will be a logistical nightmare, according to the state comptroller’s office.

TAGS: budget, minimum wage

Cook County

Trashed again: Fitch joins Moody’s in declaring Chicago Board of Education credit ‘junk’

Don’t hold your breath, Springfield stoppage could last until 2016

Chicago pension reform ruled unconstitutional

Hidden bill: Chicago taxpayers and the Windy City crisis

Illinois’ regional pain points revealed in county data on food-stamp dependency

Judges split on state-worker pay in absence of balanced budget

Growing tax burden will push people out of Cook County and Chicago

New bill would suspend Illinois lawmaker pay during budget impasse

Onslaught of Chicago debt downgrades continues

Cook County judge rules some state workers get minimum wage in absence of budget

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