The Chicago Bears have purchased the former Arlington Park Racetrack for $197.2 million. Chicagoans are still on the hook for $640 million for Soldier Field renovations from 2002.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to spend $440 million for universal preschool and other initiatives for low-income young children. But shouldn’t Illinois pay its old bills before taking on new expenses?
Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.
This week’s The Policy Shop is by Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute. Whether Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wins re-election or one of her eight challengers unseats her, the next mayor has a lot of work to do. What do Chicagoans want from the next mayor? Crime is...
After years of enhanced revenue from federal aid, a return to the basic principles of budgeting can put Illinois on the path to long-term financial stability
As Illinois pushes for more renewable energy, it comes with a fire hazard risk at battery storage centers. A battery storage facility explosion in Arizona hurt eight firefighters. There have been three other fires.
The incoming mayor will inherit a troubled Chicago Public Schools system, a strike-happy Chicago Teachers Union with an expiring contract, and a transition to a fully elected school board. Whoever is elected must put kids first.
Chicagoans are exponentially voting from home in the upcoming mayoral elections. Early voting is now available in all 50 wards, with 10 days left to seek a mail-in ballot.
Illinois Policy Institute’s documentary about the history of the Chicago Teachers Union and its political influence is now available. Here’s a study guide about what the union has done to education in the city.
Chicago Public Schools principals already make nearly 30% more than their peers in the rest of the state. A newly signed law allows them to unionize and push for even more.
Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting found Chicagoans are each responsible for the second-most debt in the nation. It again gave the city an ‘F’ grade despite improvements from one-time federal COVID-19 aid and unusually high pension investment returns.
Illinois lawmakers are considering granting noncitizens the right to vote in school board elections if their children are in the school district. Registering to vote would come with a warning about possible risks under U.S. immigration law.
The Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers have backed CTU lobbyist Brandon Johnson with more than $2.3 million in his run for Chicago mayor. The sitting mayor said CTU wants to take over City Hall.