There are 9,081 fewer students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, driven by declines in Black and Hispanic students. The big drop ends a blip in annual enrollment declines.
Monthly Chicago speed camera violations climbed to their highest level in more than three years during July 2025 following Mayor Brandon Johnson’s introduction of 22 new cameras. More cameras in new locations gave Johnson more cash.
The Chicago Teachers Union posted a social media memorial tribute to Assata Shakur, a convicted cop killer who fled to Cuba and was wanted as a terrorist. It drew sharp condemnation from Chicago aldermen and multiple governors.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s task force outlined 39 ways to raise up to $1.65 billion to close Chicago’s 2026 budget deficit. More taxes is the wrong answer.
Illinois’ pension crisis won’t be solved without constitutional reform. Waiting for Tier 1 members to completely leave the system would take decades and cost taxpayers billions in unsustainable benefits.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said state agencies need to trim 4%, blaming President Donald Trump and a slowing national economy. Illinois’ economic woes started long before Trump.
The Chicago Teachers Union is shutting down school choice by attacking charter schools, hurting Black and Latino families who rely on them. Their actions put power over student success.
Chicago lost nearly 1-in-5 businesses between 2015 and 2024, translating to nearly 11,200 fewer businesses operating in the city. Of the city’s 98 neighborhoods, 80 lost 10% or more of their businesses. Mag Mile lost 41% of its stores.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers has poured more than $11 million into state lawmakers’ campaigns. Lawmakers then did IFT’s bidding on more than 2-in-5 bills in 2025, with what they wanted often hurting students’ and parents’ best interests.
Illinois students could be denied donor-funded scholarships for tutoring and other academic services because opponents are spreading misinformation about how the program works. Here are the facts about four of their fictions.
States are pushing to consolidate elections into fewer election days. Aligning municipal with gubernatorial and federal elections streamlines voting and could increase voter turnout.
New taxes on Uber, automatic property tax hikes and higher liquor taxes are all being pushed as Chicago leaders seek to spend $1 billion more than they will have.