Stacy Davis Gates makes over $273,000 but doesn’t pay her water bills

By Mailee Smith

10/15/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union president demands the “wealthy” pay their fair share but doesn’t apply that same principle to herself.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile

By Charlotte Rotkis

08/13/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extensive out-of-state travel raises questions about whether he’s prioritizing national exposure over challenges facing Illinois. During a 12-month stretch, he averaged one out-of-state trip per month.

Chicago Teachers Union president fails to pay her bills… again

By Lilly Rossi

07/24/2025

Despite Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates’ constant demands for “wealthy” taxpayers to pay their “fair share,” she is behind on her city water, sewer and trash bills once again. She makes $265,150 a year.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Nearly 32,000 Illinois government pensioners paid $100k-plus

By Patrick Andriesen

07/03/2025

State data shows 31,937 members of Illinois’ five pension systems collected $100,000 a year or more in retirement benefits during 2024. Some got over $500,000. See the full list below.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, pensions, taxes

Chicago speed cameras take $90.9 million from drivers in 2024

By Patrick Andriesen

06/10/2025

Chicago’s speed cameras issued $90.9 million in tickets and fees to drivers in 2024, down $11.3 million from 2023. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s is adding 50 new speed cameras to recover those fines, with 11 issuing tickets by the end of June.

TAGS: Chicago, speed cameras

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

By Hannah Schmid

05/12/2025

Chicago Teachers Union members have reason to question the leadership of President Stacy Davis Gates heading into the May 16 union election. Her many scandals have driven down the union’s reputation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

By Patrick Andriesen

12/30/2024

Chicago gang crime declined to its lowest level in the past two decades in 2023, but the numbers may be more about gangs fracturing and police losing their gang database. Still, more than 1-in-5 homicides were suspected of being gang related.

Chicago drivers face lower speed limit, more cameras after $28M fine drop

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2024

Chicago speed cameras sent drivers $28 million less in tickets through September than during the first nine months of 2023. Annual revenues could spike again under proposals to drop the citywide speed limit or boost the number of cameras.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s eventual pension payout could exceed $5M

By Bryce Hill

12/03/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pensions are worth an estimated $3.8 million after only four years as a teacher and one term as mayor. It could go even higher, depending on his next job moves.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, pensions

Freedom of Information Act

Stacy Davis Gates makes over $273,000 but doesn’t pay her water bills

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile

Chicago Teachers Union president fails to pay her bills… again

Nearly 32,000 Illinois government pensioners paid $100k-plus

Chicago speed cameras take $90.9 million from drivers in 2024

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

Chicago drivers face lower speed limit, more cameras after $28M fine drop

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s eventual pension payout could exceed $5M

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