Total student-loan debt in Illinois is approaching $50 billion
Total student-loan debt in Illinois is approaching $50 billion
More than 1.7 million Illinoisans hold student-loan debt.
New congestion-alleviating proposal from Springfield would add extra lanes, accessible via toll
New congestion-alleviating proposal from Springfield would add extra lanes, accessible via toll
Under one proposal for I-55, tolls in new lanes would increase at peak congestion times, giving drivers an incentive to stay off the road, and allowing the highway to operate at higher capacity and traffic to move faster.
Susan Trieschmann
Susan Trieschmann
“… After I sold my catering business I was going to meetings with young offenders here in Evanston. At every single meeting I heard kids say they wouldn’t have done what they did if they had a job. And I was sick of hearing that story over and over again without having anywhere to send...
DAILY LINKS / 12.2.2022
Daily Herald: 25% of suburban Cook homeowners saw lower property taxes: See the median tax bill town by town Belleville News-Democrat: Illinois Supreme Court suspends law license of former St. Clair County judge The Center Square: Some warn of higher taxes with plan to pay down Illinois' unemployment debt Capitol News Illinois: Pretrial detention changes to SAFE-T Act will head to governor Chicago Tribune: Edward Burke, Chicago’s longest-serving alderman, is leaving City Council with a federal trial pending Chicago Sun-Times: Despite ban on lobbyists’ campaign money, Lightfoot took $53K from lobbyist’s companies WTTW: As Chicago Property Tax Bills Arrive, Study Examines Biggest IncreasesIllinois’ incredible, shrinking business establishments
Illinois’ incredible, shrinking business establishments
From the first quarter of 2001 until the second quarter of 2015, business establishment growth has been 34 percent while jobs growth has been only 1 percent.
Chicago Teachers Union (Simpsons Stonecutters)
Chicago Teachers Union (Simpsons Stonecutters)
Gov. Bruce Rauner: Illinois can save $500M on purchases
Gov. Bruce Rauner: Illinois can save $500M on purchases
Streamlining the way Illinois buys goods and services could save the state $500 million annually.
Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote
Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote
Aldermen say they want oversight, but they don’t want anyone to be able to audit them. What do they have to hide?
Daniel McClure
Daniel McClure
“I’m 96 years old. Would you believe it? “This will tell you how old I am: I was one of the first black machinists in Chicago … I mopped floors at a canning company, and the owner’s son was a really nice guy. He taught me how to use a drill press in secret. No...
Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to
Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to
State-run teacher pensions have a shortfall of $37,000 per student, while Chicago's shortfall totals $24,000.
Chicago teachers highest paid among nation’s 50 largest school districts
Chicago teachers highest paid among nation’s 50 largest school districts
Among the U.S.’ 50 largest school districts, CPS teachers’ pay ranks No. 1 for teachers with a bachelor’s degree and five years’ experience, No. 2 for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree, and No. 3 for first-year teachers with a master’s degree.
Illinois EPA has stopped mailing vehicle emissions test notices
Illinois EPA has stopped mailing vehicle emissions test notices
Budget gridlock in Springfield has caused the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to stop mailing notices of vehicle-emissions-test requirements to vehicle owners.
Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies
Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies
Special Service Areas levy taxes on Chicagoans over and above the already steep taxes and fees imposed by the city.
Pensions vs. higher education
Pensions vs. higher education
Skyrocketing pensions, bloated administrations are pricing students out of college degrees