Building owners oppose Chicago renters ordinance | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council may vote on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s modified Protecting Renters Ordinance next Wednesday, but advocates for apartment and building owners are not on board. The council’s housing and real estate committee passed a modified version of the ordinance by a vote of 12 to 9 on Wednesday. The […]
Report: Speed cameras ticket drivers every 48 seconds | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A new report says speed cameras in Chicago led to someone getting a ticket once every 48 seconds in 2025. Illinois Policy Institute analysis found that Chicago brought in $64.2 million in speed camera revenue last year, 25.7% more than the $59.6 million collected in 2024. “Chicago added 50 new speed […]
Diesel in Midwest could soon reach $7 after refinery issues | Illinois
(The Center Square) – An Exxon Mobil fuel refinery southwest of Chicago went offline over the weekend, causing a halting of production and driving already heightened fuel costs even higher for Midwestern motorists, who likely won’t see prices ease until days later. The cost for a regular gallon of fuel in Illinois was $4.53 Tuesday, […]
Father pushes bill to change high school transfer rules | Illinois
(The Center Square) – An Illinois father says his daughter is at the center of legislation to shift transfer eligibility decisions from the Illinois High School Association to principals. Dan Matzen told The Center Square his daughter, Makayla, transferred from Morris Community High School to Yorkville Christian High School for reasons that did not involve […]
State ends FY26 with $1B in excess; other data shows Illinois ‘lags’ | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A state commission report showed Illinois brought in more revenue than expected to begin the 2027 fiscal year. A co-chair of the commission says the increase in funds and multiple new credit upgrades are in part a result of lawmakers adding and expanding taxes and fees for residents yearly. The Commission […]
NASCAR’s Chicago exit draws praise from Illinois fiscal advocate | Illinois
(The Center Square) – NASCAR will not return to the streets of downtown Chicago in 2027, a decision one Illinois fiscal policy advocate says could save taxpayers money as the city and state face ongoing budget pressures. The NASCAR Chicago Street Race debuted in 2023 and ran for three years through 2025. After taking a […]
091426 UNION GROWTH (copy) | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A new study says union membership is rising and helping taxpayers along the way. The 12th annual State of the Unions study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign said the U.S. added more than 411,000 union workers last […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois remembers Sept. 11, 2001 | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Memorial ceremonies were scheduled across the state on Friday, marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the United States that happened Sept. 11, 2001. A n annual moment of remembrance ceremony was scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at the September 11 Memorial Walkway of Southern Illinois in Belleville. The […]
House GOP again calls for ethics reforms after legislative watchdog resigns | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Following confirmation that the state’s top ethics watchdog overseeing lawmakers in Springfield filed to resign, GOP state lawmakers in the House are again calling for strong reforms to legislative ethics standards and rules. Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey confirmed Tuesday he filed his resignation late last month, leaving the role vacant […]
DHS disputes report on immigration enforcement impact | Illinois
(The Center Square) – University of Illinois Chicago researchers say heightened federal immigration enforcement corresponded with about $1.26 billion in foregone retail and restaurant activity in Cook County, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security dismissed the correlation between a good economy and illegal immigration. Matthew Wilson co-authored the report by UIC’s Great Cities Institute […]