Feds demand Chicago Teachers Union release audits

By Lilly Rossi

11/24/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union's secrecy and potential financial shenanigans have drawn the attention of the U.S. Congress.

Chicago Teachers Union pulls teachers out of class, away from students

By Lilly Rossi

11/06/2025

Chicago Teachers Union members were encouraged to skip class to lobby state lawmakers during the veto session. Politics over student learning, at taxpayers’ expense.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Pritzker vetoes 5th lowest of 16 Democrat-controlled states

By Lilly Rossi

11/04/2025

In Illinois, 99% of state bills passed by the Democratic supermajority become law with no objection by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Democracy suffers without checks and balances.

Chicago Teachers Union spent $173K on poolside recording studio, won’t show audit to members

By Mailee Smith

10/28/2025

Questionable spending plus the union’s refusal to release required annual audits should concern members.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

By Hannah Schmid

03/28/2025

Student literacy is in trouble nationally. Illinois is one of 41 states where just 1 in 3 or fewer of its fourth-graders met reading standards in 2024.

TAGS: public schools

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

By Hannah Schmid

09/19/2024

Student literacy is in trouble nationally, which is why Illinois is one of 35 states where just 1 in 3 – or fewer – of its fourth graders met reading standards in 2022.

Over 1M Illinois families rely on food stamps for Thanksgiving dinner

By Dylan Sharkey

11/21/2023

More than 1 million Illinois households will rely on federal food assistance for Thanksgiving. Eliminating the grocery tax could help those relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

TAGS: Thanksgiving

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

By Dylan Sharkey

02/14/2023

As Illinois pushes for more renewable energy, it comes with a fire hazard risk at battery storage centers. A battery storage facility explosion in Arizona hurt eight firefighters. There have been three other fires.

Illinois already has most extreme labor laws in U.S.

By Mailee Smith, Hannah Schmid

11/04/2022

Illinois law already allows some government union contracts to override state law. Amendment 1 would allow all government union contracts to do so.

TAGS: Amendment 1, labor, unions, workers rights amendment

How to stop gerrymandering in Illinois

By Joe Tabor, Aimee Morrissey

08/11/2022

Illinois can draw from other states’ experiences to solve its own gerrymandering problem. One solid solution is as close as Michigan.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, Illinois

New Mexico

Feds demand Chicago Teachers Union release audits

Chicago Teachers Union pulls teachers out of class, away from students

Pritzker vetoes 5th lowest of 16 Democrat-controlled states

Chicago Teachers Union spent $173K on poolside recording studio, won’t show audit to members

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

Over 1M Illinois families rely on food stamps for Thanksgiving dinner

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

Illinois already has most extreme labor laws in U.S.

How to stop gerrymandering in Illinois

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