4 things wrong with how Illinois leaders want to change public schooling
4 things wrong with how Illinois leaders want to change public schooling
A report outlining public education reform in Illinois doesn’t address a core issue facing students: reading proficiency. It also lowers standards for students and threatens to muddle the understanding of students’ progress.
By Hannah Schmid
Chicago mayor spends $700K per ‘affordable’ apartment unit
Chicago mayor spends $700K per ‘affordable’ apartment unit
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first effort at building “affordable” housing is costing nearly $700,000 per unit. Similar units in the same area cost $126,583.
By Patrick Andriesen
Tom Sanderson
Tom Sanderson
“Sept. 19, I had to work late. And along the way back to my parking garage at Wells and Madison, I stopped at a 7-Eleven.” “There’s a guy on the ground there, panhandling. He asked me to get something for him and I said, ‘Sorry, I don’t have anything for you.’” “As I came back...
Johnson proposes 11 tax and fee hikes totaling $234M
Johnson proposes 11 tax and fee hikes totaling $234M
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget includes $233.9 million in tax hikes including rideshare prices and streaming services. It has already passed a key committee in the city council.
By Dylan Sharkey
Studies: Cook County No. 6 ‘judicial hellhole,’ lawsuit abuse costs each Illinois family $4,281
Studies: Cook County No. 6 ‘judicial hellhole,’ lawsuit abuse costs each Illinois family $4,281
Jackpot justice in Illinois recently drew the ire of two national groups. Cook County was labeled a leading “judicial hellhole.” Lawsuit abuse imposes a $4,281 cost on each Illinois household. State lawmakers, trial lawyers and plaintiff-friendly courts are to blame.
By Jerry Barmore
Exclude staff costs, Chicago spending still spiked $3.6B in just 6 years
Exclude staff costs, Chicago spending still spiked $3.6B in just 6 years
Chicago’s 2025 budget is facing a nearly $1 billion gap. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to close it: increase taxes. The city’s rising non-personnel costs, now at $6.6 billion, will outpace its grant funding, squeeze taxpayers and increase regressive fees.
By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar
Chicago drivers face lower speed limit, more cameras after $28M fine drop
Chicago drivers face lower speed limit, more cameras after $28M fine drop
Chicago speed cameras sent drivers $28 million less in tickets through September than during the first nine months of 2023. Annual revenues could spike again under proposals to drop the citywide speed limit or boost the number of cameras.
By Patrick Andriesen
Atlas Van Lines: Illinois 3rd in nation for residents leaving
Atlas Van Lines: Illinois 3rd in nation for residents leaving
Illinois saw the third-highest rate of residents moving out in 2024 based on a survey by Atlas Van Lines. Jobs and taxes are among the top reasons people leave Illinois, which is also third in the nation for highest unemployment rate.
By Dylan Sharkey
National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons
National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons
NEA has lost nearly 400,000 members since its peak in 2009. It could be because just 9% of the union’s spending is on representing teachers – with the rest on politics, administration and other union leader priorities.
By Mailee Smith
Senior advisor to Brandon Johnson voted in Texas this November, raising questions about residency
Senior advisor to Brandon Johnson voted in Texas this November, raising questions about residency
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s senior advisor Jason Lee cast his vote in Texas this November, but Chicago city government requires its employees to reside within city limits.
By Austin Berg
Chicago business licenses hit lowest level since pandemic
Chicago business licenses hit lowest level since pandemic
Only the pandemic hurt Chicago business starts and sustainability more during the past decade. Maybe Mayor Brandon Johnson should stop treating businesses like the enemy?
By Patrick Andriesen
Only 6 of 15 Illinois metro areas gained jobs in October
Only 6 of 15 Illinois metro areas gained jobs in October
New data shows only six of 15 Illinois metropolitan areas added jobs in October as the state shed 2,400 jobs. Twelve metro areas reported higher unemployment than the national average.
By Patrick Andriesen
1,400% property tax hikes in Montgomery County on hold
1,400% property tax hikes in Montgomery County on hold
Montgomery County notified some residents they will not be facing 1,400% property tax hikes as originally planned. The sticker shock stemmed from a 2007 law.
By Dylan Sharkey