Chicago police officer’s murder underscores carjacking, car theft surge
Chicago police officer’s murder underscores carjacking, car theft surge
Chicagoans reported 2,619 fewer vehicle thefts during the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, but cases remain more than double what they were just a few years ago as arrests remain low. One carjacking took a police officer’s life.
By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko
Illinois Memorial Day drivers face 2nd-highest gas taxes in nation
Illinois Memorial Day drivers face 2nd-highest gas taxes in nation
AAA’s travel forecast estimates 43.8 million people will hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, nearly matching the 2005 record of 44 million people.
By Kurtis Karg
Illinois’ Black unemployment rate No. 2 in U.S.
Illinois’ Black unemployment rate No. 2 in U.S.
Black workers in Illinois face a tougher job market than peers nationally. Hispanic men, Asians face lower unemployment rates relative to peers in other states.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois leaders who pushed pro-union amendment thwart their own staffers
Illinois leaders who pushed pro-union amendment thwart their own staffers
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon are taking heat from staffers for killing legislation allowing the workers to unionize. Statehouse leaders are big on union rights, as long as it’s not in their offices.
By Dylan Sharkey
Editorial: Illinois’ very slow COVID-19 recovery painted as a win by state leaders
Editorial: Illinois’ very slow COVID-19 recovery painted as a win by state leaders
State leaders issued a report touting Illinois’ abandonment of representational government in favor of executive fiat during the pandemic as effective. They failed to take responsibility for job recovery lagging the nation by a year and seeing public schools suffer.
By Hilary Gowins
Illinois’ unemployment rate ties for 3rd-worst in the nation
Illinois’ unemployment rate ties for 3rd-worst in the nation
Illinois’ unemployment rate for April was near the highest in the U.S. Its recovery lags the nation by nearly a full percentage point.
By Jon Josko, Ravi Mishra
Illinois lawmakers plan to ban some food ingredients
Illinois lawmakers plan to ban some food ingredients
The Illinois Senate approved legislation banning four food additives, sending it to the House. Manufacturers will need to sell an alternate recipe in Illinois if the bill becomes law.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois lawmakers consider ‘Worker Freedom of Speech Act’ to restrict employers
Illinois lawmakers consider ‘Worker Freedom of Speech Act’ to restrict employers
A new bill in the Illinois General Assembly would ban employers from penalizing employees who do not show up to sponsored meetings. Employers could face $1,000 fines.
By Dylan Sharkey
Did neighbors leave your town last year?
Did neighbors leave your town last year?
Illinois continued to lose population last year, with people leaving 75% of the communities in the state. But what about your town? Did it lose or gain, and by how much?
By Brad Weisenstein
3 in 4 Illinois communities lost population in 2023
3 in 4 Illinois communities lost population in 2023
Chicago lost the most, but communities across Illinois lost population in 2023. Three-fourths of the cities and towns lost people.
By Ravi Mishra
9 years of decline: Expect Chicago to be No. 4 behind Houston by 2035
9 years of decline: Expect Chicago to be No. 4 behind Houston by 2035
Chicago lost 8,208 residents in 2023, the third-largest decline of any city in the nation. At this rate, the Second City will drop from No. 3 to No. 4 by 2035
By Bryce Hill
Chicago Teachers Union cuts class to lobby, costing taxpayers up to $141K
Chicago Teachers Union cuts class to lobby, costing taxpayers up to $141K
Chicagoans could end up paying between $93K and $141K to cover the cost of substitutes for the roughly 650 Chicago Public School teachers and staff who lobbied lawmakers May 15 in Springfield.
By Patrick Andriesen, Bryce Hill