Chicago mayor adds 50 speed cameras to put $11.4M in his budget

By Patrick Andriesen

03/05/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to add 50 new speed cameras to city streets during the coming year to add $11.4 million from fines and fees to his deficit budget.

Illinois judge rules mid-election attempt to stop challengers is unconstitutional

By Patrick Andriesen

06/05/2024

In a victory for Illinois voter choice, a permanent injunction was issued against a mid-election attempt by state leaders to prevent challengers from getting on the Nov. 5 ballot.

‘ComEd Four’ defendant convicted in bribery scheme could keep pension

By Patrick Andriesen

05/05/2023

Officials at the General Assembly Retirement System suspended Michael McClain’s legislative pension after he was convicted on nine counts of bribery in the ‘ComEd Four’ trial. Precedent suggests it may not be permanent.

TAGS: ComEd, Mike Madigan

Illinois shoppers pay highest sales tax in Midwest, 8th in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

02/09/2023

Illinoisans shopping for Valentine’s Day will pay the highest sales tax in the Midwest and eighth-highest in the nation.

TAGS: sales tax

SAFE-T Act’s end to cash bail paused by Illinois Supreme Court

By Patrick Andriesen

01/02/2023

The Illinois Supreme Court stayed a provision of the SAFE-T Act set to take effect Jan. 1 that would have eliminated cash bail statewide after a county judge ruled it would violate the state constitution. The high court said it planned an “expedited” review.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

Illinois Supreme Court rejects back pay for former state lawmakers

By Dylan Sharkey

09/23/2022

In a unanimous decision, the Illinois Supreme Court denied a lawsuit by two former state senators seeking back pay. The senators bragged about voting against the raises, then decided they deserved them after leaving office.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court

Pritzker appeals to Illinois Supreme Court after two courts derail his school mask mandate

By Brad Weisenstein

02/18/2022

A judge’s ruling threw Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s school mask mandate into chaos. Now that an appellate court has ruled against Pritzker, too, he’s taking his fight to keep masks on students to the Illinois Supreme Court.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker, mask mandate

High school parents sue to block Pritzker COVID-19 vax mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

01/14/2022

Illinois parents of athletes sued to prevent school districts and state powers from mandating vaccinations for high school students. The lawsuit argues such an order would be arbitrary and violate students’ rights.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, vaccine mandate

Illinois hits snags with new COVID-19 vaccine verification system

By Noah Shaar

08/18/2021

Vax Verify, Illinois’ new resident immunization portal, contains incorrect COVID-19 vaccine records. In a state where data leaks and hacks have been too common, the potential for health information being exposed is a reasonable worry.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, Vax Verify

Illinois unemployment accounts repeatedly hijacked by thieves

By Patrick Andriesen

08/06/2021

Unemployment benefits are being stolen by thieves who redirect the funds. Repeat victims say the problem is within Illinois Department of Employment Security computers, but the state won’t release data to pinpoint the problem.

Kwame Raoul

Chicago mayor adds 50 speed cameras to put $11.4M in his budget

Illinois judge rules mid-election attempt to stop challengers is unconstitutional

‘ComEd Four’ defendant convicted in bribery scheme could keep pension

Illinois shoppers pay highest sales tax in Midwest, 8th in nation

SAFE-T Act’s end to cash bail paused by Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court rejects back pay for former state lawmakers

Pritzker appeals to Illinois Supreme Court after two courts derail his school mask mandate

High school parents sue to block Pritzker COVID-19 vax mandates

Illinois hits snags with new COVID-19 vaccine verification system

Illinois unemployment accounts repeatedly hijacked by thieves

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