The mayor’s top allies say beefing up the city’s direct mental health services will be a long-term project. That means new clinics won’t open overnight.
Government Finance & Accountability
A Pension ‘Fix’ Could Blow a Hole in City Budgets. Here’s Why Supporters Say It’s Worth It.
A group of bills moving through the legislature would balloon Chicago’s and Cook County’s pension benefits at a time when taxpayers are already being pressed.
Tax Hikes to Ebb for Many North Suburban Businesses, Leaving Homeowners on the Hook
Thousands of homeowners in north and northwest Cook County are in for sticker shock this fall, data shows
The Feds Are Pushing for Millions More Electric Vehicles on the Road, But Is Illinois Ready?
Gov. J. B. Pritzker’s administration says it welcomes the goal of increasing the number of electric vehicles by 2032 but is still examining the implications of a new proposed EPA standard.
Brandon Johnson Wants To Raise $800M in New Revenue. Can He?
Johnson has surfaced at least a half-dozen ideas to find more money to close the city’s structural deficit. All will face high hurdles in the way of implementation.
Illinois to Clawback $180M from Four Medicaid Insurance Companies
The refunded money, which could amount to $450 million over several years, will be used to pay for programs to hire and train more health care workers across Illinois.
$141M in Pritzker Projects Have Close Ties to Governor’s Allies But Face Serious Questions
Three projects under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois program, including a proposed port in beleaguered downstate Cairo, have benefited his friends or political allies. Pritzker insists the projects were funded on their merits.
Smoke Detectors Save Lives, But Chicago Slow to Toughen Rules
A joint investigation with Illinois Answers and the Chicago Tribune found that smoke alarms were absent, defective or missing batteries in 57 out of 87 fatal residential fires in Chicago from 2020 through 2022.
Fires Continue to Kill People in Unsafe Buildings as Chicago Ignores Problems with its Inspection System
As other cities across the country adopt innovative programs to fix problem buildings, Chicago lags behind
Lightfoot Made Headway on Pensions, but the Next Mayor Still Faces a Gaping Crisis
Mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson have given few hints on how they’d replenish the city’s severely depleted pension funds.