Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations

By Lilly Rossi

11/17/2025

Chicago Public Schools employees spent $23.6 million in tax dollars on lavish vacations at 5-star hotels and overseas trips. Much of it was without approval.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Pritzker should look to other states to develop a responsible reopening plan

By Amy Korte

05/01/2020

Uncertainty is amplifying the difficulty of the COVID-19 crisis, and Illinoisans need information on what a safe reopening will look like.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, executive order, small business

Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving

By Austin Berg

01/09/2020

Springfield lawmakers have yet to learn the lesson that money walks. And it’s not just to other states. Sometimes, it walks past the legal dispensary with a 40% tax rate and into a dealer’s house.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, decriminalization, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, legalization, marijuana, medical marijuana, Springfield, tax burden, taxes, THC

Chicago council member calls for decriminalization of magic mushrooms

By Vincent Caruso

10/22/2019

City leaders passed a resolution expressing support for expanding scientific and medicinal research on organic psychedelics in Chicago, with the goal of decriminalizing adult use of the plants and fungi.

TAGS: Brian Hopkins, Chicago, Chicago City Council, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, legalization, magic mushrooms

Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks

By Madelyn Harwood

06/03/2017

Despite Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s spin, residents are fleeing Chicago, showing they feel they are better off elsewhere.

TAGS: Chicago, outmigration, population, Rahm Emanuel, uhaul

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

By Madelyn Harwood

05/17/2017

By fixing cost drivers, decreasing the cost of doing business in Illinois, and easing the tax burden, Illinois can encourage jobs growth and stand a better chance at attracting and retaining younger people.

U-Haul prices reveal high demand to get out of Illinois

By Michael Lucci

05/10/2017

Illinois had a record loss of 114,000 residents to other states in 2016.

TAGS: outmigration, population, uhaul

Legal food carts roll into Chicago, but roadblocks abound

By Austin Berg

09/15/2016

So far, only two food carts have been licensed to sell tamales in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, food carts, jobs, regulations

Watch: Chicago cops impound Lyft car for picking up passenger near O’Hare

By Austin Berg

10/27/2015

Besides what appears to be retaliation against a citizen for exercising his First Amendment rights, the incident reveals the absurdity of Chicago’s ban on airport pickups for popular services such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar.

TAGS: rideshare

Denver

Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Pritzker should look to other states to develop a responsible reopening plan

Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving

Chicago council member calls for decriminalization of magic mushrooms

Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

U-Haul prices reveal high demand to get out of Illinois

Legal food carts roll into Chicago, but roadblocks abound

Watch: Chicago cops impound Lyft car for picking up passenger near O’Hare

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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