Did your state lawmaker take Chicago Teachers Union money?
Did your state lawmaker take Chicago Teachers Union money?
See how much campaign money your Illinois state representative and state senator received from the Chicago Teachers Union.
How’s my community? Measures of how your piece of Illinois is doing
How’s my community? Measures of how your piece of Illinois is doing
Here are data snapshots of Illinois communities, schools and government. See how well your tax dollars are performing in your city, county or school compared to others.
Downstate areas lag Chicago, Midwest in house building permits
Downstate areas lag Chicago, Midwest in house building permits
Out of 90 Midwestern metropolitan areas, Illinois has four in the bottom 10 for new housing per capita in 2023. Housing affordability is directly linked to getting units built.
DAILY LINKS / 10.28.2024
The Chicago Tribune: Hazy world of Springfield politics at center of ex-Speaker Madigan’s trial Chicago Sun-Times: Brandon Johnson won't say if he'll return Lil Durk's $150,000 campaign money, praises rapper's community work The Daily Herald: ‘It’s got to be a fair deal’: Arlington Heights legislators open to Bears funding if the team comes back to town The State Journal-Register: Great Lincoln's ghost! Study names Illinois the second-spookiest state in the U.S.How many new businesses does your Illinois county have?
How many new businesses does your Illinois county have?
New business applications in Illinois are up 47% compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019, but what does growth in your county look like?
VIDEO: Why housing is so pricey in Illinois
VIDEO: Why housing is so pricey in Illinois
Government restrictions on zoning and land use are making Illinois housing and rents more expensive then they need to be.
Planning a long Lollapalooza weekend? Expect ticket taxes of $91 to $1,001
Planning a long Lollapalooza weekend? Expect ticket taxes of $91 to $1,001
If you plan to be at Lollapalooza from Megan Thee Stallion to Blink-182, expect taxes to add $91 to the cost of general admission. Get a premium ticket and city, county and state sales and amusement taxes add $1,001 to the cost.
Chicago’s affordable housing crisis can be fixed without tax hikes
Chicago’s affordable housing crisis can be fixed without tax hikes
Chicago housing affordability is among the lowest in the Midwest, driven primarily by restrictive land-use policies and slow approvals. Low-income families have it worse than in other large Midwestern cities.
Vallas: 10 things you should know about Chicago crime today
Vallas: 10 things you should know about Chicago crime today
Independence Day weekend was bloody in Chicago. City leaders are doing little other than pointing fingers. Here are 10 things Chicagoans should know about the current crime problem.
Illinois lawmakers-turned-lobbyists become big barrier to work
Illinois lawmakers-turned-lobbyists become big barrier to work
Lawmaker to lobbyist is a well-worn path at the Illinois Statehouse. But the new job of some former state lawmakers is to get their former colleagues to make it harder for their former constituents to work.
How to get your Illinois driver’s license on your phone
How to get your Illinois driver’s license on your phone
Legislation allowing Illinois residents to carry a digital driver’s license or ID on their smartphone will take effect in 2025.
The Policy Shop: How government costs us affordable housing
The Policy Shop: How government costs us affordable housing
Government in Illinois has a lot to do with why housing costs are so high. Zoning and land-use reforms can boost the supply of affordable housing without forcing taxpayers to subsidize it.
Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing
Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing
Chicago doesn’t have enough housing, in part because restrictive regulations and zoning drive up costs and headaches for developers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has recommended solid fixes, but the city must restrict aldermanic power.