Chicago drivers face lower speed limit, more cameras after $28M fine drop

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2024

Chicago speed cameras sent drivers $28 million less in tickets through September than during the first nine months of 2023. Annual revenues could spike again under proposals to drop the citywide speed limit or boost the number of cameras.

TAGS: Chicago

Cracking down on fare evasion can help deter Chicago transit crime

By Chris Coffey

10/31/2024

Washington, D.C., and New York City have cracked down on fare evasion because it is linked to serious and violent crime. The Chicago Transit Authority should do the same to curb its growing crime problem.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2024

Years of exorbitant political spending in Illinois – more than $24.3 million since 2010 – has secured an enormous amount of political influence for the Chicago Teachers Union. It is now the main political player not just in Chicago, but across the state.

Chicago speed cameras fined motorists over $102M in 2023

By Patrick Andriesen

04/29/2024

Chicago speed cameras hit motorists with over $102 million in fines during 2023, and $879 million total since they started flashing a decade ago. The mayor promised to eliminate the automated traffic cams, which issued a ticket every 20 seconds last year.

TAGS: Chicago

Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’

By Paul Vallas

02/23/2024

Illinois is on an upward path, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during his State of the State speech. True, by some measures. Not so much by too many measures that matter.

Opinion: Brandon Johnson’s ‘moderate’ problem

By Hilary Gowins

02/14/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faces many challenges, but his biggest may be the loss of faith from moderate voters. Without their trust, he’ll have a tough time getting the higher taxes he seeks March 19.

3 ways Chicago Mayor Johnson is likely to repay unions for bankrolling him

By Mailee Smith

08/24/2023

Nearly 83% of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s funding has been from unions, according to data obtained from Illinois Sunshine. More than half of that came from teachers unions. Here are three ways we could see him pay them back.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

What to know before Brandon Johnson becomes mayor of Chicago

By Patrick Andriesen

05/12/2023

Former Cook County Commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union lobbyist Brandon Johnson will be sworn in as the 57th mayor of Chicago May 15. Here’s what Chicagoans should know about his political ties, policy proposals and prospects.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Over 102K more Chicagoans voted by mail than 4 years earlier

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

04/27/2023

While total Chicago voter turnout hit a high April 4, in-person voting on Election Day reached the lowest level in Chicago mayoral runoff history. Most Chicagoans voting did so early or by mail.

TAGS: vote-by-mail

Chicago alderman pushes to cap union donations in city races

By Dylan Sharkey

04/13/2023

Chicago Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th ward, is working on an ordinance that would limit the amount unions can donate to a candidate in an election cycle.

Paul Vallas

Chicago drivers face lower speed limit, more cameras after $28M fine drop

Cracking down on fare evasion can help deter Chicago transit crime

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

Chicago speed cameras fined motorists over $102M in 2023

Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’

Opinion: Brandon Johnson’s ‘moderate’ problem

3 ways Chicago Mayor Johnson is likely to repay unions for bankrolling him

What to know before Brandon Johnson becomes mayor of Chicago

Over 102K more Chicagoans voted by mail than 4 years earlier

Chicago alderman pushes to cap union donations in city races

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students