Illinois lawmakers hike toll roads and sales taxes to fund Chicago-area transit
	Illinois lawmakers hike toll roads and sales taxes to fund Chicago-area transit
	
		Illinois lawmakers passed a new plan to keep Chicago-area public transit running. The plan hikes sales taxes in the Chicago area but stops major service cuts for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace. 	
				
			By Dylan Sharkey, Ravi Mishra
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Capital One leads Illinois mass layoffs as companies announce 1,722 job cuts
	Capital One leads Illinois mass layoffs as companies announce 1,722 job cuts
	
		Illinois companies announced 1,722 mass layoffs in September, with restructuring at Capital One leading to the single largest loss of jobs statewide. 	
				
			By Patrick Andriesen
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Diana Graham
	Diana Graham
	
		Diana Graham has served as the president of the Lotus Neighbors for Action block club in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for nearly two decades. After 55 years of walking her block at Madison and Lotus, Miss Graham has become a cornerstone in her community. Whether it’s connecting people on her block with jobs, paying out of...	
		 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft
	Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft
	
		Lawsuits are mounting from homeowners, investors and counties. Unless lawmakers act, taxpayers could pay millions in damages over Illinois' unconstitutional tax sale system. 	
				
			By LyLena Estabine
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Just 2-in-5 Chicago students read at grade level under lowered proficiency standards
	Just 2-in-5 Chicago students read at grade level under lowered proficiency standards
	
		Chicago Public Schools students struggle in reading and math as just 2-in-5 read at grade level and about 1-in-4 do math proficiently. And that’s after Illinois lowered proficiency standards to make the numbers look better.	
				
			By Hannah Schmid
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Half of Illinois students reading at grade level, fewer in math under loosened standards
	Half of Illinois students reading at grade level, fewer in math under loosened standards
	
		Newly released data from state assessments show just half of Illinois public school students could read at grade level and 2-in-5 could do math proficiently in 2025. That’s after the state lowered proficiency standards to make the numbers look better. 	
				
			By Hannah Schmid
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		An Illinois wealth tax would be a legal disaster
	An Illinois wealth tax would be a legal disaster
	
		Illinois’ latest tax scheme, a 4.95% “wealth tax” on unrealized gains for billionaires, risks violating the state constitution, likely resulting in a long and costly legal battle.	
				
			By Ravi Mishra
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Illinois House Democrats push first-in-the-world wealth tax, streaming, concert taxes
	Illinois House Democrats push first-in-the-world wealth tax, streaming, concert taxes
	
		State lawmakers are rushing a first-in-the-world wealth tax on billionaires. They also want taxes on streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify and steep surcharges on concerts and ticketed events. 	
				
			By Dylan Sharkey
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Chicago Teachers Union spent $173K on poolside recording studio, won’t show audit to members
	Chicago Teachers Union spent $173K on poolside recording studio, won’t show audit to members
	
		Questionable spending plus the union’s refusal to release required annual audits should concern members.	
				
			By Mailee Smith
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Chicago-area Transit crisis: 7 principles to guide Illinois transportation reform
	Chicago-area Transit crisis: 7 principles to guide Illinois transportation reform
	
		Transit reform can support Illinois riders and taxpayers. These seven principles outline a path to affordability, accountability and efficiency.	
				
			By LyLena Estabine
		
	 
	
	
		
		
		
		
		Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities
	Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities
	
		While Aurora sits near the top of the safety rankings, Chicago lands near the bottom undermining claims by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.	
				
			By LyLena Estabine