Illinoisans rely on food stamps for Christmas dinner
Illinoisans rely on food stamps for Christmas dinner
This holiday season, nearly 2 million Illinoisans will rely on federal food assistance. Illinois is eighth in the country for highest reliance on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois ‘sin taxes’ rely on an unreliable naughty list
Illinois ‘sin taxes’ rely on an unreliable naughty list
State politicians like to pass laws they claim will make Illinoisans healthier by taxing their naughty habits. The taxes rarely are as lucrative as projected and hurt some more than others.
By Jess Plowman
Illinoisans in moving vans drives 10th straight population drop
Illinoisans in moving vans drives 10th straight population drop
People choosing to move out of Illinois led to the 10th consecutive year of population decline, new data from U.S. Census Bureau shows. Politicians can change that.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois population drops for 10th year in a row during 2023
Illinois population drops for 10th year in a row during 2023
People moving out of Illinois led to the 10th consecutive year of population decline, new Census Bureau data shows.
By Bryce Hill
Property taxes on ‘Home Alone’ house jump 57% in 1 year
Property taxes on ‘Home Alone’ house jump 57% in 1 year
The current owners Kevin McCallister’s house from “Home Alone” will pay more than $50,000 in property taxes this year. Illinoisans pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation on average.
By Dylan Sharkey
Holiday travel expected to be second-busiest ever
Holiday travel expected to be second-busiest ever
Holiday travel this year is expected to be the second-busiest since AAA started tracking it in 2000. For Illinoisans, it means driving across a state line could avoid the nation’s second-highest gas taxes.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction
Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction
The Chicago Board of Education approved a resolution on Dec. 14 which will eliminate selective enrollment schools in the Chicago Public Schools district. It is yet another attempt by the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies to limit parents’ choices in their children’s educations.
By Hannah Schmid
Vallas: Chicago Teachers Union war on public school choice hurts poor, minority students
Vallas: Chicago Teachers Union war on public school choice hurts poor, minority students
Let’s be clear on who will be impacted by this unrelenting attack on school choice: poor Black and Latino students.
By Paul Vallas
Illinois still hasn’t finalized contract with state workers
Illinois still hasn’t finalized contract with state workers
The contract negotiated between the state and AFSCME Council 31 was ratified by members in July. But the final contract has yet to be released, meaning taxpayers don’t yet know how much it will cost them.
By Mailee Smith
Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools
Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools
Innovation can help Chicago Public Schools improve academic proficiency, but it requires breaking up the centralized power built by the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools. Local control can improve student outcomes.
By Paul Vallas
Rob Calvin
Rob Calvin
Rob Calvin is a real estate agent with @properties. He’s concerned about how the proposed “mansion tax” will impact Chicago’s housing market, hurting properties well below the $1 million price point Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is targeting through a ballot question. “I was watching [the city council] on Oct. 4 when they got into the...