Bipartisan majority of Illinois voters support criminal-justice reform, study shows
Bipartisan majority of Illinois voters support criminal-justice reform, study shows
New polling shows large majorities of Illinois Republican and Democratic voters think the state’s criminal-justice system needs a major overhaul.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Chicago’s new cigarette tax will lead to more black-market sales and violence, alderman say
Chicago’s new cigarette tax will lead to more black-market sales and violence, alderman say
South and West Side aldermen believe that an increase in the tobacco tax will lead to an increase in black-market sales and violence. They're right.
By Chris Lentino
Total student-loan debt in Illinois is approaching $50 billion
Total student-loan debt in Illinois is approaching $50 billion
More than 1.7 million Illinoisans hold student-loan debt.
By Ted Dabrowski
New congestion-alleviating proposal from Springfield would add extra lanes, accessible via toll
New congestion-alleviating proposal from Springfield would add extra lanes, accessible via toll
Under one proposal for I-55, tolls in new lanes would increase at peak congestion times, giving drivers an incentive to stay off the road, and allowing the highway to operate at higher capacity and traffic to move faster.
By Mark Adams
Susan Trieschmann
Susan Trieschmann
“… After I sold my catering business I was going to meetings with young offenders here in Evanston. At every single meeting I heard kids say they wouldn’t have done what they did if they had a job. And I was sick of hearing that story over and over again without having anywhere to send...
Illinois’ incredible, shrinking business establishments
Illinois’ incredible, shrinking business establishments
From the first quarter of 2001 until the second quarter of 2015, business establishment growth has been 34 percent while jobs growth has been only 1 percent.
By Michael Lucci
Gov. Bruce Rauner: Illinois can save $500M on purchases
Gov. Bruce Rauner: Illinois can save $500M on purchases
Streamlining the way Illinois buys goods and services could save the state $500 million annually.
By Mark Fitton
Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote
Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote
Aldermen say they want oversight, but they don’t want anyone to be able to audit them. What do they have to hide?
By Austin Berg
Daniel McClure
Daniel McClure
“I’m 96 years old. Would you believe it? “This will tell you how old I am: I was one of the first black machinists in Chicago … I mopped floors at a canning company, and the owner’s son was a really nice guy. He taught me how to use a drill press in secret. No...
Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to
Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to
State-run teacher pensions have a shortfall of $37,000 per student, while Chicago's shortfall totals $24,000.
By Ted Dabrowski
Chicago teachers highest paid among nation’s 50 largest school districts
Chicago teachers highest paid among nation’s 50 largest school districts
Among the U.S.’ 50 largest school districts, CPS teachers’ pay ranks No. 1 for teachers with a bachelor’s degree and five years’ experience, No. 2 for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree, and No. 3 for first-year teachers with a master’s degree.
By Amy Korte
Illinois EPA has stopped mailing vehicle emissions test notices
Illinois EPA has stopped mailing vehicle emissions test notices
Budget gridlock in Springfield has caused the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to stop mailing notices of vehicle-emissions-test requirements to vehicle owners.
By Amy Korte
Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies
Special Service Areas: Chicago’s little-known taxing bodies
Special Service Areas levy taxes on Chicagoans over and above the already steep taxes and fees imposed by the city.
By Chris Lentino