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.

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%.

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

By Patrick Andriesen

12/30/2024

Chicago gang crime declined to its lowest level in the past two decades in 2023, but the numbers may be more about gangs fracturing and police losing their gang database. Still, more than 1-in-5 homicides were suspected of being gang related.

Vallas: Neighboring schools show why Chicago Teachers Union is so wrong

By Paul Vallas

06/14/2024

Students at a private school and a Chicago public school in the same neighborhood experience very different outcomes in their educations. Which one produces struggling students? The one dominated by the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: education

Black Chicagoans 20X likelier to be homicide victims; arrest rate hits record low

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

05/30/2024

Black Chicagoans were over 20 times more likely to become homicide victims during the past 12 months than their white peers, with 9-in-10 homicides on the South Side and West Side. Hopes of catching killers hit a new low.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicagoans suffer decade-high robberies, record-low arrest rate

By Patrick Andriesen

03/28/2024

Chicago saw more robbery victims in 2023 than in any year of the past decade, reporting 1 victim for every 250 residents. While crimes surged, robbery arrests hit a record low. Fewer cops is not helping.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Where are you most likely to get shot in Chicago?

By Patrick Andriesen

02/22/2024

Nearly 1 of every 900 Chicagoans was shot last year, and 1 in 5,000 killed by gunshot. Where was the greatest risk? The Austin neighborhood reported the most fatal shootings as well as the most shootings overall, with 1 shooting for every 414 residents

Mayor race pits school choice against more power for Chicago Teachers Union

By Dylan Sharkey

03/02/2023

Former Chicago Public School CEO Paul Vallas and Chicago Teachers Union lobbyist Brandon Johnson will advance to the April 4 runoff election. Both have very different views on public safety and education.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids, Paul Vallas

What you need to know about who’s running for Chicago mayor

By Joe Tabor, Perry Zhao

02/18/2023

Nine candidates are asking to be Chicago’s next mayor. The election is outside the normal election cycle, meaning voter turnout is low despite the mayor’s impact on crime, education, the economy and Chicagoans’ taxes. Here’s what to know about the nine candidates.

TAGS: Chicago

West Side

Performers emerge from Chicago’s projects by way of forklifts

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

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

Vallas: Neighboring schools show why Chicago Teachers Union is so wrong

Black Chicagoans 20X likelier to be homicide victims; arrest rate hits record low

Chicagoans suffer decade-high robberies, record-low arrest rate

Where are you most likely to get shot in Chicago?

Mayor race pits school choice against more power for Chicago Teachers Union

What you need to know about who’s running for Chicago mayor

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