Carjacking outside Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mansion thwarted by stick-shift car
Carjacking outside Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mansion thwarted by stick-shift car
A Chicagoan was carjacked just outside Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Chicago mansion. Chicago carjackings have more than doubled since 2019, with the attackers rarely caught.
By Dylan Sharkey
Marlon Chamberlain
Marlon Chamberlain
“If someone comes out of the system and says, ‘I want to go back to school’ or ‘I want to go and do this,’ if you continue to tell that person ‘no,’ it’s almost like you’re forcing them to go back to what they know.”
Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California
Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California
Illinois’ excise tax on wine is more than 4 times higher than the same bottle in New York or California. Buying in Chicago adds extra tax layers, hitting 6 times the taxes of other big cities.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools
Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools
House Bill 4417 requires an annual “Workplace Readiness Week” in all Illinois high schools, which focuses not on getting kids ready for jobs but on the labor movement’s role in the workplace.
By Mailee Smith
Over $23 million in tech devices missing from Chicago Public Schools
Over $23 million in tech devices missing from Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools Inspector General’s report showed 77,505 devices were lost or stolen during the 2021-2022 school year. At 36 schools, every single student device was gone.
By Hannah Schmid
Taxpayer advocates push fixes for Chicago’s massive pension debt
Taxpayer advocates push fixes for Chicago’s massive pension debt
At a press conference, a new alliance said failure to address Chicago’s pension problems will threaten public services, fail retirees and push taxes higher so more people are encouraged to leave Illinois.
By Jess Plowman
Chicago’s casino nearly $10M short of 2023 expectations
Chicago’s casino nearly $10M short of 2023 expectations
Bally’s temporary casino in Medinah Temple handed Chicago $3 million since its opening in September, $9.6 million below original projections.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago can fix pensions but needs taxpayer voices – not just their money
Chicago can fix pensions but needs taxpayer voices – not just their money
Chicago's public pension crisis is the target of a new group called the Taxpayer Pension Alliance, which includes the Illinois Policy Institute. The alliance's launch included this statement by the institute's head of policy.
By Josh Bandoch
Vallas: Fix Chicago’s affordable housing needs without tax hikes
Vallas: Fix Chicago’s affordable housing needs without tax hikes
They call it a “mansion tax” that can “Bring Chicago Home,” but those are false labels that hide a tax threat to the city’s economic health. There are better ways to create affordable housing and help homeless Chicagoans.
By Paul Vallas
Vallas: Chicago violent crime up again, as city cuts police officers
Vallas: Chicago violent crime up again, as city cuts police officers
Chicago’s status as the nation’s murder capital was retained in 2023. So, what are city leaders doing about it? Cutting cops.
By Paul Vallas