Was corruption at the heart of Illinois’ gas tax hike?

By Austin Berg

09/26/2019

The target, state Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, is as clouted as they come.

TAGS: corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Lori Lightfoot, Martin Sandoval, Mike Madigan

CTU’s mayoral candidate lost, and now it won’t deal with the winner

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2019

Chicago Teachers Union backed Toni Preckwinkle for mayor of Chicago, donating nearly $300,000 to her campaign in 2019. But Lori Lightfoot won – and now CTU is threatening to go on strike despite being offered a generous deal.

TAGS: contract, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Lori Lightfoot, strike, Toni Preckwinkle, unions

Watchdog: Illinois fiscal health 2nd worst in nation

09/25/2019

Illinois politicians have too often ignored the necessity of true pension reform and instead opted for tax hikes.

TAGS: budget, debt, taxes, Truth in Accounting

Feds raid home, offices of Illinois lawmaker close to Madigan

By Vincent Caruso

09/24/2019

A fourth political ally of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has become the latest target of an ongoing federal investigation.

TAGS: corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Martin Sandoval, Mike Madigan

Teacher strike easiest in Chicago among 10 largest U.S. school districts

By Mailee Smith

09/24/2019

Teacher strikes are illegal in 8 of the top 10 largest school districts in the nation. Maybe that’s why a third Chicago Teachers Union strike in seven years looms.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Pritzker wants statewide ban on flavored e-cigarettes

By Vincent Caruso

09/23/2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker voiced support of some state and local leaders’ efforts to outlaw use of flavored vaping juice amid nationwide alarm over teen e-cigarette use. Outlawing flavored vapes may not be the answer.

TAGS: e-cigarettes, JB Pritzker

Local pension bailout would make Illinoisans’ income tax bills rise as fast as their property taxes

By Austin Berg

09/20/2019

Bailouts reward bad behavior. Reform rewards residents. Lawmakers should bend toward the latter.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

East St. Louis faces interception of state funds for $2.2M pension debt

By Brad Weisenstein

09/19/2019

The southwestern Illinois city faces high crime and poverty rates, as well as a $5.5 million budget deficit. Now, $2.2 million owed to its firefighters pension threatens to halt the flow of state funds.

TAGS: East St. Louis, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes

Legal marijuana sales may be restricted from most of downtown Chicago

By Vincent Caruso

09/18/2019

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proposed zoning changes that would keep marijuana dispensaries out of most of the downtown business district after recreational use becomes legal on Jan. 1 in Illinois.

TAGS: Brendan Reilly, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, marijuana, zoning

Chicago considering ‘all-out ban’ on e-cigarettes

09/18/2019

Chicago City Council will consider a proposal that would ban electronic cigarettes citywide amid a nationwide spike in deaths and illnesses linked to the devices.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, e-cigarettes, Lori Lightfoot, Raymond Lopez, vaping

Lori Lightfoot

Was corruption at the heart of Illinois’ gas tax hike?

CTU’s mayoral candidate lost, and now it won’t deal with the winner

Watchdog: Illinois fiscal health 2nd worst in nation

Feds raid home, offices of Illinois lawmaker close to Madigan

Teacher strike easiest in Chicago among 10 largest U.S. school districts

Pritzker wants statewide ban on flavored e-cigarettes

Local pension bailout would make Illinoisans’ income tax bills rise as fast as their property taxes

East St. Louis faces interception of state funds for $2.2M pension debt

Legal marijuana sales may be restricted from most of downtown Chicago

Chicago considering ‘all-out ban’ on e-cigarettes

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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