Illinois No. 3 for highest unemployment in October
Illinois No. 3 for highest unemployment in October
October job numbers for Illinois remained disappointing, with an unemployment rate that was third highest in the nation. There are 346,000 Illinoisans who need a job.
By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko
Chicago Teachers Union president paid over $269K but hides union financial records
Chicago Teachers Union president paid over $269K but hides union financial records
Public records show the Chicago Teachers Union and other union entities pay Stacy Davis Gates a very healthy salary. But union transparency ends there. CTU is refusing to show members how it spends their money, despite that mandate in CTU’s rules.
By Mailee Smith
Aggravated assaults hit 5-year high in Chicago during October
Aggravated assaults hit 5-year high in Chicago during October
Chicago’s violent crime hit the second-highest level in the past five years. Aggravated assaults increased the most during the past 12 months to hit a five-year peak. Most of the victims were Black.
By Patrick Andriesen
Vallas: Chicago Transit Authority is city’s 3rd budget crisis
Vallas: Chicago Transit Authority is city’s 3rd budget crisis
Chicago faces financial meltdowns on three fronts: the city budget, Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Transit Authority. The CTA faces a $577 million deficit, but it can be fixed.
By Paul Vallas
Swipe twice? Only Illinois shoppers might face credit-card inconvenience, depending on lawsuit
Swipe twice? Only Illinois shoppers might face credit-card inconvenience, depending on lawsuit
How Illinoisans use their credit or debit cards could change depending on the result of a lawsuit over certain fees impacted by a new state law. Illinois shoppers may be the only ones in the nation forced to swipe twice for each purchase, or they might see a little savings.
By Dylan Sharkey
Pekin passes grocery tax, taking away $1M in savings for shoppers
Pekin passes grocery tax, taking away $1M in savings for shoppers
Pekin and Normal have joined the list of local governments passing ordinances to replace the 1% statewide grocery tax when it expires.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform
Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform
Illinois is at risk of getting in costly trouble with the federal government over its Tier 2 public employee retirement benefits. Here’s a solution that doesn’t make the state’s monstrous public pension debt even worse.
By LyLena Estabine
Chicago Teachers Union spent $1.74M trying to take over Chicago school board
Chicago Teachers Union spent $1.74M trying to take over Chicago school board
The Chicago Teachers Union spent $1.74 million on its endorsed school board candidates. But most of them were defeated, signaling the unpopularity of CTU and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
By Mailee Smith
See if your lawmaker has taken money from the Chicago Teachers Union
See if your lawmaker has taken money from the Chicago Teachers Union
The Chicago Teachers Union has funneled nearly $1.6 to lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly. See if your lawmakers accepted CTU cash.
By Mailee Smith
Enough? Chicago aldermen to vote on mayor’s property tax hike
Enough? Chicago aldermen to vote on mayor’s property tax hike
Mayor Brandon Johnson broke a campaign promise by proposing a $300 million property tax increase to fund his $17.3 billion budget. On Thursday the city council will vote, and the signs are not good for Johnson.
By Matheus Cosso
Martin Sahagun
Martin Sahagun
“My name is Martin Sahagun. I’m the CEO of Sahagun Siles Partners. I have a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s in urban design.” “This city has provided me almost everything. Skyscrapers, nature, landscape. I always say if I didn’t move to Chicago, I might be in some other career. This city is a...
South Side gets 2.5X as many tickets per red-light camera as North Side
South Side gets 2.5X as many tickets per red-light camera as North Side
Red-light cameras on the city’s South Side issued the most tickets per intersection between October 2023 and September 2024, more than 2.5 times as many as cameras on the North Side. Citywide, fines are up to $61.4 million for past 12 months.
By Patrick Andriesen
Palos Park, another Chicago suburb might tax residents’ groceries
Palos Park, another Chicago suburb might tax residents’ groceries
Palos Park residents have a chance to save 1% on groceries starting in 2026, but the City Council is considering taking that away and taxing groceries. A series of towns are considering a local grocery tax.
By Dylan Sharkey