Violent crime can hurt job opportunities in high-poverty neighborhoods

By Katie Crain, Jon Josko

10/20/2026

Policymakers can create conditions to help businesses and residents succeed.

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

By LyLena Estabine

08/17/2026

Reducing property taxes and bureaucratic holdups will lead to safer communities and more economic opportunities on Chicago's South and West sides.

Hope Center: Healing poverty with advice, jobs, houses

By Patrick Andriesen

02/02/2026

Chicago’s Roseland community is solving crime and poverty through a formula developed by the Hope Center: mentors, jobs and a home.

Performers emerge from Chicago’s projects by way of forklifts

By Patrick Andriesen

12/15/2025

Project out of the Projects helps aspiring Chicago musicians, event producers find their way by mixing practical job skills, performance experience and advice.

Vallas: Legislation buys CTA time to fix itself, but will it?

By Paul Vallas

11/04/2025

New taxes buy the Chicago Transit Authority some time, but state lawmakers failed fix anything that led to the crisis. Here are three ways city leaders can fix the CTA.

Chicago-area Transit crisis: 7 principles to guide Illinois transportation reform

By LyLena Estabine

10/28/2025

Transit reform can support Illinois riders and taxpayers. These seven principles outline a path to affordability, accountability and efficiency.

CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts

By Patrick Andriesen

10/14/2025

Chicago Transit Authority violent crime hit its second-highest level since 2015, while the arrest rate dropped. CTA crime is threatening federal funding.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

National award recognizes Center for Poverty Solutions’ job co-op

By Eddie Kornegay

08/04/2025

The Illinois Policy Institute’s Center for Poverty Solutions received national backing for a job co-op that will target Chicago’s most beleaguered neighborhoods. The effort will help communities liberate themselves from government dependence.

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

By Patrick Andriesen

08/04/2025

Chicago homicides were at a decade low for the 12 months through June, but also down was the arrest rate from 42% to 27%.

Vallas: Work-study changes futures of Chicago’s at-risk youth

By Paul Vallas

07/25/2025

Summer jobs programs are not enough to keep Chicago’s youth out of trouble. To reach their potential, a year-round answer is needed. Paid apprenticeships or other work-study need to become part of public education.

South Side

Violent crime can hurt job opportunities in high-poverty neighborhoods

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

Hope Center: Healing poverty with advice, jobs, houses

Performers emerge from Chicago’s projects by way of forklifts

Vallas: Legislation buys CTA time to fix itself, but will it?

Chicago-area Transit crisis: 7 principles to guide Illinois transportation reform

CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts

National award recognizes Center for Poverty Solutions’ job co-op

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

Vallas: Work-study changes futures of Chicago’s at-risk youth

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

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Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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