Taxpayers in the city of Chicago now owe more than $37 billion in unpaid pension costs after debts soared by at least $1.8 billion over the last 12 months.

Data outlined in the city’s annual comprehensive financial report further highlights that the city’s four employee pension funds representing police officers, firefighters, municipal employees and laborers jumped by 5% in 2023.

More than a month after Mayor Brandon Johnson faced questions over why his campaign fund spent more than $30,000 on personal grooming, records show he’s continuing to pay a South Side makeup artist out of his political committee.

In a disclosure report filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections on Friday, Friends of Brandon Johnson reported making 11 payments totaling $8,200 to Makeup Majic in April, May and June.

Armed with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that scaled back a key federal bribery statute, lawyers for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan argued in a new filing Monday that 14 counts of the indictment are “fatally infirm” and should be dismissed, in part because there is no proof that the once-powerful Democratic leader agreed to use his official position for personal gain.

The 73-page filing largely mirrors the defense’s motion to dismiss in February 2023, which had yet to be ruled on by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey. Instead, the judge ordered the parties to renew their submissions in light of the Supreme Court’s decision last month in the case of former Portage, Indiana, Mayor James Snyder.

With an eye toward the future of a Republican Party dominated by former President Trump and his legions of MAGA supporters, Trump has named 39-year-old Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate on the GOP’S 2024 national ticket.

The former president, who made his greatly anticipated and high-stakes announcement on Monday as the Republican National Convention kicked off in swing-state Wisconsin’s largest city, will now share the ticket with one of his top supporters in the Senate and a one-time Trump critic who has transformed into a leading America First disciple.

Nearly 300,000 ComEd customers were without power as of 10:30 p.m. Monday across the Chicago area as a dangerous line of storms produced widespread tornado watches and warnings.

ComEd reported via its outage map that power was out for 281,254 customers Monday night.

More than 1.5 million Illinois consumers may soon be paying a lot more for water.

According to the Citizens Utility Board, Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water customers are affected by proposed rate hikes, which could cost households nearly $30 a month.

The official name of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s new project is the Restorative Justice Community Court Center.

But Chief Judge Timothy Evans has a simpler name for it.

Mundelein High School District 120 again will seek voter approval to fund improvements at the 63-year-old facility, but at a reduced amount.

Voters on Nov. 5 will be asked to allow the district to borrow $149.5 million by issuing bonds, money that would be used to replace aging infrastructure, upgrade instructional spaces — including for skilled trades — make safety and security improvements, and address overcrowding.

Choosing the right college to attend is a task that requires careful consideration from both parent and student. Academic programs, cost, location, and opportunities are a few factors that come to mind before even filling out an application.

Finding a college worth the price tag can be especially challenging when colleges are not upfront with tuition costs, leaving families in the dark. According to Money, the prices colleges advertise may be reduced through the use of scholarships and grants. Private institutions in particular are known for this.