Chicago unemployment is highest in nation

By Bryce Hill

08/15/2024

Nearly 100,000 Chicago-area residents are out of work, and at 6.2% the Chicago metro area has the highest unemployment rate of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas. Illinois as a whole isn’t doing much better, with a 6.1% unemployment rate.

TAGS: Chicago, unemployment

Chicago’s average rent rises to $2,200, up 46% in 10 years

By Benjamin O'Donnell

08/15/2024

Rent is unaffordable for half of Chicagoans, averaging $2,200 a month. The key to affordable housing is to build more housing, but that won’t happen until city government reduces its role.

TAGS: affordable housing

Pension reform vote coming to suburban Chicago township

By Patrick Andriesen

08/14/2024

Barrington Township will be the first local government in Illinois to give taxpayers a vote on reforming the single-largest property tax driver in the state: public pensions. The advisory referendum will be on the ballot Nov. 5.

TAGS: Barrington, pension reform

3-in-10 Chicago public school teachers send their children to private school

By Hannah Schmid, Jon Josko

08/14/2024

Nearly 31% of public school teachers in Chicago send at least one of their kids to private school. What does that say about the quality of a public-school education in Chicago?

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Pritzker to show Democrats how he thinks big about taxes, budgets, deficits

By Patrick Andriesen

08/13/2024

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $53.1 billion state budget imposes $1.1 billion in new taxes on Illinoisans and still manages to underfund public pensions. He’s boosted state spending by $15 billion in six years. Housing, jobs and population are all suffering.

TAGS: DNC: Democratic National Convention, JB Pritzker

Democratic National Convention just in time to wave goodbye to Chicagoans

By Dylan Sharkey, Kurtis Karg

08/12/2024

The Democratic National Convention is coming to Chicago to highlight the party’s platform. Delegates are likely to see moving vans that highlight what those policies have done to the Windy City and the rest of Illinois.

TAGS: DNC: Democratic National Convention

Illinois Policy Institute sues over state law violating employers’ freedom of speech

By Patrick Andriesen

08/12/2024

Illinois law now forbids employers from discussing ‘religious or political matters’ with employees. The Illinois Policy Institute is suing because that restriction on its free speech threatens its ability to operate.

TAGS: free speech

Chicago population hits lowest point since 1920

By Bryce Hill

08/09/2024

At the 1920 Census, Chicago’s population was 2.7 million, up over 516,000 in a decade. More than 100 years later, Chicago’s population is 2.66 million, a loss of 128,034 from nine straight years of decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans get food benefits, up 13.5% since 2019

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

08/08/2024

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or more than 1-in-7 state residents – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in March 2024. Alexander and Pulaski counties led the state with 34% of residents receiving SNAP benefits.

TAGS: food stamps, SNAP

Illinois Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers spend a lot, but not on teachers

By Mailee Smith

08/07/2024

The federal filings of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, reveal questionable spending, with little spent on representing teachers, millions spent on politics and deficit spending while the big boss got $500K.

TAGS: AFT: American Federation of Teachers, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, unions

Illinois

Chicago unemployment is highest in nation

Chicago’s average rent rises to $2,200, up 46% in 10 years

Pension reform vote coming to suburban Chicago township

3-in-10 Chicago public school teachers send their children to private school

Pritzker to show Democrats how he thinks big about taxes, budgets, deficits

Democratic National Convention just in time to wave goodbye to Chicagoans

Illinois Policy Institute sues over state law violating employers’ freedom of speech

Chicago population hits lowest point since 1920

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans get food benefits, up 13.5% since 2019

Illinois Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers spend a lot, but not on teachers

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