Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate
Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate
After unanimous approval from the Illinois House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate has remained conspicuously silent on a bill meant to address one man’s dominance of a little-known network of government authorities.
By Austin Berg
CTBA pension plan: Unsound, unfair and unaffordable
CTBA pension plan: Unsound, unfair and unaffordable
A pension plan pushed by one Illinois think tank fails to reform the state’s broken pension system and risks repeating costly mistakes. Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker shouldn’t be fooled and should instead endorse meaningful, lasting reform.
By Adam Schuster
Restaurant group demands protection from food truck competition in Chicago
Restaurant group demands protection from food truck competition in Chicago
A trade organization is seeking to insulate the restaurant industry from competition in an Illinois Supreme Court battle over Chicago’s food truck regulations.
This Thanksgiving, food stamps will buy nearly 14 percent of Illinoisans’ meals
This Thanksgiving, food stamps will buy nearly 14 percent of Illinoisans’ meals
Food stamp participation has seen an encouraging decrease, but lagging economic growth leaves Illinois ranked highest among neighboring states in SNAP enrollment.
More than 19,000 Illinois government retirees receive pensions over $100K
More than 19,000 Illinois government retirees receive pensions over $100K
The average six-figure retiree contributed just over $160,000 toward their own pension over the course of their career.
By Janelle Cammenga
Village moves to seize popular Chinese restaurant for nonexistent developers
Village moves to seize popular Chinese restaurant for nonexistent developers
Chicago suburb failed once, but is trying again to redevelop its downtown and displace a business popular for more than 40 years. Without a developer, they only can hope that if they rebuild it, someone will come.
By Janelle Cammenga
Peoria cuts police and fire, moves toward new property fee to pay for pensions
Peoria cuts police and fire, moves toward new property fee to pay for pensions
The city of Peoria’s decision to eliminate 22 firefighter and 16 police positions came after 27 layoffs earlier this year. Both decisions and a proposed $50-$300 fee are because pension spending is crowding out services.
By Adam Schuster
Arizona voters show Illinois the path forward on pensions
Arizona voters show Illinois the path forward on pensions
For the second time, Arizona voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing changes to unearned future pension benefits.
By Adam Schuster
As nation celebrates small businesses, Illinois politicians take them for granted
As nation celebrates small businesses, Illinois politicians take them for granted
A history of tax hikes to prop up unsustainable spending makes Illinois a frosty climate for small businesses.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
Chicago slaps PlayStation users with expansion of 9 percent amusement tax
Chicago slaps PlayStation users with expansion of 9 percent amusement tax
PlayStation users will now see an extra 9 percent tax applied to some purchases on the platform.