CTA proposes first fare hike in seven years: here’s by how much

By Ravi Mishra

10/16/2025

The Chicago Transit Authority’s 2026 budget includes scenarios dependent on state funding along with a 25-cent fare hike on bus and rail.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Unused office space could mean more Chicago housing

By LyLena Estabine

10/16/2025

New York City has seen success in converting office space into residences. Chicago should do the same.

TAGS: affordable housing

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

DoorDash, Uber, Ticketmaster and toll road hikes: $1.5 billion in potential taxes explained

By Ravi Mishra

10/15/2025

Prices for DoorDash, Uber, Ticketmaster and Illinois tolls might go up now to cover $1.5 billion for Illinois transit agencies. A real estate transfer tax for homes in the Chicago suburbs is also on the table.

Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

By Paul Vallas

10/15/2025

Chicago Transit Authority ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels. Crime and a budget shortfall make matters worse, but there are cost-effective ways to make it safer.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Illinois checks, balances? Not under Pritzker

By Lilly Rossi

10/13/2025

As veto session begins and power goes back to the Democratic majority state legislature, the consequences of a single-party state are more evident than ever.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Michael Madigan begins prison term

By Dylan Sharkey

10/13/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s 7.5-year federal prison sentence started Oct. 13 for his role in a bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison, Illinois’ largest utility.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

10/13/2025

Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.

Illinois grows enough pumpkins for 8B pumpkin-spice lattes

By Dylan Sharkey

10/10/2025

Illinois can take credit for plenty of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes. The state produces enough pumpkins to make nearly 8 billion pumpkin spice lattes, the most pumpkins in the U.S.

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

By LyLena Estabine

10/08/2025

If Chicago’s pension systems become insolvent, the city will have to reduce benefits or make serious cuts to city services. The only way out is constitutional reform.

Illinois

CTA proposes first fare hike in seven years: here’s by how much

Unused office space could mean more Chicago housing

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

DoorDash, Uber, Ticketmaster and toll road hikes: $1.5 billion in potential taxes explained

Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

Illinois checks, balances? Not under Pritzker

Michael Madigan begins prison term

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Illinois grows enough pumpkins for 8B pumpkin-spice lattes

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

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