Illinois currently has an estimated $429 billion in pension liabilities, which is the most in the nation, according to a recent report.

Even though the state spends about $10 billion a year on pensions, Illinois is still trailing the rest of the nation in terms of making pension payments. 

Brandon Johnson strode into a conference room this month at Malcolm X College, where scores of mostly West Siders had gathered to hear how Chicago’s newly minted mayor will align his unapologetic progressivism with the dollars-and-cents realities of the city’s $16.4 billion budget.

The crowd of at least 100 at the community budget roundtable listened raptly as the mayor dared them to imagine: “How about a budget that creates more than enough for revenue?” It was a nod to his stirring orations during the campaign where he often promised his dinner table will be “big enough” for all Chicagoans.

On the final day of March last spring, Chicago Public Schools officials abruptly yanked a principal from his school and sent a letter to families and staff revealing an investigation had resulted in “substantiated findings” against him.

School district leaders insisted they couldn’t say more because of privacy concerns, leaving the school community at Lindblom Math and Science Academy hanging on TV news reports with rumors and little information about what the principal had done. The principal said he was left devastated and ashamed, especially because his daughter attended the school he led.

It’s enough to make you nostalgic for the good old days of last week when regular gas cost an average of $3.80 a gallon in Illinois.

As of Monday, rates averaged $4 a gallon statewide, the highest this year since $4.10 in mid-April, AAA reported.

Forty people, mostly teenagers, were charged with misdemeanors after Chicago police said a large group became disorderly on Sunday night.

Police responded to the South Loop’s 100-block of West Roosevelt Road at about 8 p.m. where they said the group gathered. Police said the group became disorderly and disregarded verbal commands by officers.

Stolen mail costs Americans a shocking amount of money, and the criminals aren’t getting caught.

CBS 2 has been reporting on the problem for years, and now, by following a trail of data, has learned why the process of securing the mail is failing.

Starting this year, any child born or adopted will get 50 dollars put into their account.

The state set aside $2.5 million to initiate two college savings programs, ‘Bright Start’ and ‘Bright Directions.’

The program’s official name is 529 — like a 401K but for educational expenses.