Chicago property taxes jump — but unevenly

By LyLena Estabine

03/05/2026

Some communities saw their bills rise 75% or more.

Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage

By Paul Vallas

01/27/2026

Record Cook County property tax hikes under Toni Preckwinkle expose a fundamentally broken system, benefitting insiders and costing everyone else.

TAGS: Toni Preckwinkle

Massive property tax hikes hurt Chicago’s low-income families

By LyLena Estabine

10/16/2025

Chicago homeowners on the South and West Sides are bracing for huge property tax hikes, driven by surging assessments and government spending tied to pensions.

TAGS: property taxes

Cook County homeowners paid $2 billion extra in property taxes because of appeal process

By LyLena Estabine, Cameron Jasper

08/15/2025

When a Cook County business successfully appeals their property taxes, the county just shifts that burden to homeowners. This meant an extra $2 billion in residential property taxes instead of a lower property tax levy.

Madigan tops naughty list of Illinois’ federal corruption targets in 2024

By Patrick Andriesen

12/24/2024

The nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, a woman who called herself “super mayor” and a collection of other self-serving public servants are among the highest-profile corruption cases in decades. Here’s the naughty list for 2024.

TAGS: corruption

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2024

Years of exorbitant political spending in Illinois – more than $24.3 million since 2010 – has secured an enormous amount of political influence for the Chicago Teachers Union. It is now the main political player not just in Chicago, but across the state.

Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing

By Benjamin O'Donnell

07/17/2024

Chicago doesn’t have enough housing, in part because restrictive regulations and zoning drive up costs and headaches for developers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has recommended solid fixes, but the city must restrict aldermanic power.

Former Ald. Ed Burke sentenced to 2 years for racketeering, bribery

By Dylan Sharkey

06/24/2024

Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, once the longest-serving member of the city council, was sentenced to two years in prison and pay a $2 million fine.

Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke Makes Illinois corruption naughty list

By Patrick Andriesen

12/22/2023

Chicago’s longest-serving alderman, the “ComEd Four” and a collection of public servants in some of the highest-profile corruption cases in decades.

TAGS: Chicago, Ed Burke

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

By Patrick Andriesen

11/20/2023

After serving more than half a century as a “fixture” on the Chicago City Council, former Ald. Edward Burke now faces 14 counts of federal corruption charges for allegedly abusing his finance chair position and aldermanic powers for personal gain.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Ed Burke

Edward M. Burke

Chicago property taxes jump — but unevenly

Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage

Massive property tax hikes hurt Chicago’s low-income families

Cook County homeowners paid $2 billion extra in property taxes because of appeal process

Madigan tops naughty list of Illinois’ federal corruption targets in 2024

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing

Former Ald. Ed Burke sentenced to 2 years for racketeering, bribery

Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke Makes Illinois corruption naughty list

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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