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

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

By Patrick Andriesen

10/13/2025

Chicago’s 2025 budget needed $345 million in fines, forfeitures and penalties. It was $99 million 30 years ago. What will the new budget extract from residents?

TAGS: budget, Chicago

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.

Chicago pensions carry more debt than 44 states

By LyLena Estabine

09/09/2025

Chicago’s pension systems carry over $53 billion in debt, leaving taxpayers with rising bills and no reform in sight.

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

Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling

By Paul Vallas

07/08/2025

A violent Independence Day weekend has Chicagoans worried about violent crime, but it was a spike and not a trend. Crime is falling, thanks to new law enforcement efforts.

TAGS: Chicago

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

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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.

Madigan tops naughty list of Illinois’ federal corruption targets in 2024

By Patrick Andriesen

12/24/2024

The nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, a woman who called herself “super mayor” and a collection of other self-serving public servants are among the highest-profile corruption cases in decades. Here’s the naughty list for 2024.

TAGS: corruption

Lori Lightfoot

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

Fines per Chicagoan more than triples since 1996 to prop up city budget

Without reforms, pension insolvency will eat Chicago alive

Chicago pensions carry more debt than 44 states

Chicago Teachers Union president fails to pay her bills… again

Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling

Chicago speed cameras take $90.9 million from drivers in 2024

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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

Madigan tops naughty list of Illinois’ federal corruption targets in 2024

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