Chicago aldermen fight Johnson’s $17.6B budget

(The Center Square) – Chicago City Council members are grilling department heads over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $17.6 billion budget for 2027, setting up what could be a contentious road to the Dec. 31 deadline.

Report author: Illinois has 'unique' debt problem

(The Center Square) – According to a new report, Illinois is one of five states with more than $30,000 in debt per capita.

Illinois Quick Hits: Report card shows gains following state change in benchmarks

(The Center Square) – After Illinois changed student assessment performance levels last year, the state board of education says student proficiency increased in all three tested subjects.

NYC woman critically injured after being stabbed multiple times while jogging along Brooklyn waterfront

A 28-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck while jogging along Brooklyn's Shore Parkway in New York City, and NYPD has no suspect identified.

Tinder killer who believed he was a warlock said he 'picked the wrong person' after murdering woman

Sydney Loofe's friend catfished her killer's girlfriend on Tinder, providing the first major break in the Nebraska murder investigation.

Questions still haunt Houdini’s Halloween death 100 years later

Harry Houdini's death 100 years ago was officially blamed on peritonitis, but theories about punches, mediums and murder still fuel debate today.

Over half of Chicago students below grade level in math, reading

Most CPS students struggle with math and reading. Nearly 2-in-5 were chronically absent.

The post Over half of Chicago students below grade level in math, reading appeared first on Illinois Policy.

Illinois public schools set record-high graduation rate, despite low math, reading scores

Yet 40% remain below grade level in reading and 60% in math.

The post Illinois public schools set record-high graduation rate, despite low math, reading scores appeared first on Illinois Policy.

Pritzker fact check: Was increasing the minimum wage the ‘right thing’ for Illinois?

The governor stands by his increase despite Illinois’ unemployment rate averaging third-highest in the U.S.

The post Pritzker fact check: Was increasing the minimum wage the ‘right thing’ for Illinois? appeared first on Illinois Policy.

4 Illinois counties to vote on an extra sales tax for schools

Property taxes haven’t declined when the extra County School Facility Occupation Tax was added.

The post 4 Illinois counties to vote on an extra sales tax for schools appeared first on Illinois Policy.