Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

By Hilary Gowins

02/08/2024

Editor’s note: There is a lot of information coming at you every day, but not a lot of context. The Illinois Policy Institute is launching "Our Perspective" to give you our take on topics of the day so you can better shape your take on them.

TAGS: housing market, real estate

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

By Josh Bandoch

01/25/2024

Published Jan. 25, 2024

Chicago considers natural gas ban that could 2X heating costs

By Patrick Andriesen

01/23/2024

The Chicago City Council is considering an ordinance to effectively ban natural gas in most new buildings, including gas stoves. Energy providers warn the policy could double heating costs for Chicago homes.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California

By Dylan Sharkey

01/15/2024

Illinois’ excise tax on wine is more than 4 times higher than the same bottle in New York or California. Buying in Chicago adds extra tax layers, hitting 6 times the taxes of other big cities.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Chicago, sin taxes

Illinoisans expected to bet $300 million on holiday football

By Dylan Sharkey

12/29/2023

Illinoisans will have wagered more than $300 million on football during December, or roughly $25 a person. Illinois is the second-largest sports betting market in the nation.

Illinois population drop, departures among worst in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

12/29/2023

Illinois lost 83,839 residents who moved to other states, one of the highest rates in the U.S. and driving a 10th consecutive year of population decline. It ranks near the bottom on multiple other population measures, too.

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

By Hannah Schmid

12/26/2023

Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.

TAGS: Cook County

‘This Christmas’ your gift from Chicago is 9% tax, even if ‘Home Alone’

By Dylan Sharkey

12/21/2023

Streaming holiday movies or music? Chicago taxes it as the same rate as enjoying the same thing in person. The 9% amusement tax has included streaming services since 2015.

5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

By Joe Tabor

12/04/2023

Employment is the clearest path out of poverty, but these five low-income professions face more occupational licensing burdens than others in Illinois.

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

By Patrick Andriesen

11/20/2023

After serving more than half a century as a “fixture” on the Chicago City Council, former Ald. Edward Burke now faces 14 counts of federal corruption charges for allegedly abusing his finance chair position and aldermanic powers for personal gain.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Ed Burke

New York

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Chicago considers natural gas ban that could 2X heating costs

Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California

Illinoisans expected to bet $300 million on holiday football

Illinois population drop, departures among worst in U.S.

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

‘This Christmas’ your gift from Chicago is 9% tax, even if ‘Home Alone’

5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

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