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

Illinois pension crisis would devour ‘millionaire tax’

By Bryce Hill

10/29/2024

Illinois needs to spend $4.9 billion more annually to pay for pensions, but the “millionaire tax” would only raise an estimated $3-$4.3 billion. That’s too little for the pension bills and would leave nothing for property tax relief.

‘Millionaire’ tax would be $2-$3.3 billion short of providing any property tax relief

By Bryce Hill

10/22/2024

Illinois’ state budget needs more than $6.3 billion to cover its own shortfalls before it can provide property tax relief to Illinoisans.

No current teachers voted to make Chicago Teachers Union their union

By Mailee Smith

08/30/2024

Chicago teachers were handed a union without the ability to choose for themselves. It’s the result of a system that props up government unions at the expense of the members they are supposed to serve.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Freedom of Information Act

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

Illinois pension crisis would devour ‘millionaire tax’

‘Millionaire’ tax would be $2-$3.3 billion short of providing any property tax relief

No current teachers voted to make Chicago Teachers Union their union

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

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