Teacher strike threats highlight fact that Illinois allows such walkouts

By Benjamin Hines

03/23/2026

Illinois is among the minority of states allowing teachers to strike. None of Illinois’ neighbors allow it.

Small businesses create all Cook County jobs since 2020

By Bryce Hill

11/26/2025

Chicagoans have even more to be thankful for on Small Business Saturday: small businesses created all Cook County’s net new jobs since the pandemic.

Chicago Teachers Union radicalism is officially statewide

By Lilly Rossi

11/20/2025

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates is bringing her militant agenda to 200 more school districts as president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Chicago Teachers Union radicalism is officially statewide

By Lilly Rossi

11/10/2025

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates is bringing her militant agenda to 200 more school districts as president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Mayor Johnson’s record-setting $1 billion TIF surplus highlights issues

By Bryce Hill

10/24/2025

Chicago Tax Increment Finance “surpluses” have increased more than ninefold in the past decade.

TAGS: Chicago, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

West Frankfort teachers union files strike notice

By Lilly Rossi

10/23/2025

West Frankfort’s local union and school board have been at the negotiation table for more than five months. If an agreement is not reached, teachers in West Frankfort could strike as soon as Oct. 26.

TAGS: teachers union

Johnson’s “Protecting Chicago” budget proposes nearly $500M in tax hikes

By Lauren Zuar, Ravi Mishra

10/21/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson describes the 2026 budget as “Protecting Chicago,” but his plan seems to do the opposite. Taxes on Artificial Intelligence, Uber rides and companies with 100+ employees are the biggest revenue sources.

Pritzker absolutely opposed to Johnson’s Chicago corporate “head tax”

By Patrick Andriesen

10/21/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker told the Chicago Economic Club Oct. 21 that he absolutely opposes Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to revive the corporate “head tax” as part of his new budget proposal.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes $21 per employee corporate “head tax”

By Patrick Andriesen

10/17/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed a $21-per-employee monthly tax on large companies to help fill a nearly $1.2 billion shortfall. Business leaders and even a former mayor say the “head tax” could kill job creation and new investment.

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

Rahm Emanuel

Teacher strike threats highlight fact that Illinois allows such walkouts

Small businesses create all Cook County jobs since 2020

Chicago Teachers Union radicalism is officially statewide

Chicago Teachers Union radicalism is officially statewide

Mayor Johnson’s record-setting $1 billion TIF surplus highlights issues

West Frankfort teachers union files strike notice

Johnson’s “Protecting Chicago” budget proposes nearly $500M in tax hikes

Pritzker absolutely opposed to Johnson’s Chicago corporate “head tax”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes $21 per employee corporate “head tax”

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

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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