The debt never paid: Re-entry reforms for Illinois
The debt never paid: Re-entry reforms for Illinois
How to reform a broken criminal-justice system that prevents ex-offenders from achieving self-sufficiency
Chicago passes smokeless-tobacco ban for city ballparks
Chicago passes smokeless-tobacco ban for city ballparks
Chicago recently became the fourth city to ban smokeless tobacco at ballparks, and is home to the nation’s highest tobacco tax.
Teachers’ rights: What if someone doesn’t want to participate in CTU’s 1-day strike on April 1?
Teachers’ rights: What if someone doesn’t want to participate in CTU’s 1-day strike on April 1?
CPS teachers who are unsure about their options on April 1 can call 312-805-0969 for information or assistance.
Not forgiven, not forgotten: The injustice of Illinois’ scarlet letters
Not forgiven, not forgotten: The injustice of Illinois’ scarlet letters
Chicago ordinance with good intentions makes job-seeking harder for applicants who are young or black
Chicago ordinance with good intentions makes job-seeking harder for applicants who are young or black
The unintended consequences of a Chicago credit-check ordinance have harmed young and black workers, and show why lawmakers should focus on repealing the laws preventing employment for Illinoisans, rather than creating new ones.
Rinse and repeat
Rinse and repeat
Governments in Illinois can take your property without charging you with a crime
Governments in Illinois can take your property without charging you with a crime
A court decision involving the government’s seizure of more than $270,000 from two Chicagoans highlights major problems with civil asset forfeiture.
Reforms that get ex-offenders back to work – and keep them out of jail – could save Illinois millions
Reforms that get ex-offenders back to work – and keep them out of jail – could save Illinois millions
Even a very small reduction in recidivism – just 5 percent – would save Illinois taxpayers nearly $187 million over nine years. But if Illinois’ recidivism rate stays the same, taxpayers will pay approximately $5.7 billion for recidivism costs over the next five years.
Fitch downgrades Chicago, cites Illinois Supreme Court ruling on pension reform
Fitch downgrades Chicago, cites Illinois Supreme Court ruling on pension reform
The city’s rating from Fitch is now just one notch above junk status.
Madigan’s middle class: Pain for the many, perks for the few
Madigan’s middle class: Pain for the many, perks for the few
Middle-class Illinoisans who aren’t employed by the government are suffering, but Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan stands in the way of solutions.
Gold-plated pensions
Gold-plated pensions
Obey Madigan
Obey Madigan
Chicago area sees greatest population loss of any major U.S. city in 2015
Chicago area sees greatest population loss of any major U.S. city in 2015
Census data are sounding a warning signal that Chicago and Illinois policy leaders don’t necessarily want to hear.
Chicago telephone-tax hike should be eliminated in wake of pension ruling
Chicago telephone-tax hike should be eliminated in wake of pension ruling
In an effort to shore up pension debt, Chicago officials in 2014 adopted a pension-reform package that included raising the telephone tax. Though the Illinois Supreme Court struck down these changes, the tax hike remains.