Latest News from Chicago City Wire

Madigan points to previous relationships with governors, says Rauner is the problem

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Jun 27, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner is “attempting to enact an extreme right agenda,” Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan recently told WGN News.

Financial pro says Illinois following Puerto Rico's footsteps financially

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Jun 1, 2017

Illinois appears to be heading south in more ways than one, a financial expert said on a Chicago-based radio show recently.

Galesburg treasurer would be last to hold his office if he has his way

By Cheyenne Dickerson | May 27, 2017

As the newly elected Galesburg treasurer, Elisha French's top priority while in office is to save taxpayer money, and in order to do that he wants to merge the duties of treasurer and the Finance Department, ultimately doing away with the his own position, he told Chicago City Wire.

Religious-political dichotomy comes to light on abortion bill

By Cheyenne Dickerson | May 12, 2017

Devoted Catholic politicians who nevertheless support ideologically opposed bills like House Bill 40 pose a conundrum for anti-abortion groups like the Pro-Life Action League.

Chicago pockets the green from bag tax meant to save environment, policy pro argues

By Cheyenne Dickerson | May 11, 2017

Chicago's recently implemented 7-cent tax on shopping bags is a greed measure, not a green one, a public policy group co-founder argues.

Biggest checks call the shots for Chicago aldermen, government group argues

By Cheyenne Dickerson | May 8, 2017

Chicago-area hotels had no reservations about contributing big chunks of change to city aldermen who made it almost impossible for Airbnb to find a home in the big city, a government accountability group said.

Revisions to 'loosened' food stamp rules urged

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Apr 30, 2017

Simplified reporting and "loosened eligibility by government bureaucrats" led to record-high enrollment in the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, Douglas Besharov, a professor at the University of Maryland told Chicago City Wire.

$26,000 property tax bill forces iconic Bronzeville hardware store's closure

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Apr 25, 2017

A longtime Bronzeville staple went out much the way it came in: to the smooth sounds of jazz music.

Bankruptcy bounces around as backup plan

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Apr 3, 2017

lllinois has tried going without a budget for years and compromising on a "grand bargain" that ended up being a bust, so now some are asking whether bankruptcy is a viable way out of the state's financial morass.

Bebart named 39th Deputy Ward's Republican committeeman

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Mar 30, 2017

Barry Bebart was recently appointed 39th Deputy Ward Republican committeeman for the Northwest Side GOP Club, reported club Chairman Matt Podgorski.

Chicago alderman faces criticism after hurling insults at Indiana

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Mar 17, 2017

Insults hurled by 45th Ward Alderman John Arena at both the state of Indiana and his own constituents have triggered a detailed response by a group that studies the economic climate of Illinois and Indiana.

Francis Parker field trip went too far, parent charges

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Mar 16, 2017

At least one parent has objected to a recent field trip in which Francis W. Parker School sophomores were encouraged to create political protest signs, many of which allegedly attacked the Trump Administration.

Chicken Parm with a side of political profanity

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Mar 12, 2017

An owner of the River North landmark restaurant Club Lago has taken outspoken and sometimes inflammatory political positions that might alienate some customers and encourage others.

For Grand Bargain, freeze on workers' comp wage seen as a start

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Mar 10, 2017

Putting a four-year freeze on the statewide average weekly wage paid in workers' compensation cases is one of the provisions in Illinois' so-called Grand Bargain that Eugene Keefe says he and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce can live with, at least for now.

Constitutional abuses cited in Chicago PD review

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Mar 5, 2017

The Chicago Police Department routinely engages in a pattern of excessive and sometimes-deadly force in violation of the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) charged in a recent report.

Alderman's support of subsidized housing draws community outrage in Jefferson Park

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Feb 22, 2017

A crowd of about 200 protestors gathered and lined the sidewalk in front of 45th Ward Alderman John Arena’s office on Feb. 21, objecting the construction of the proposed 10-story, 100-unit low-income subsidized housing project in the Jefferson Park neighborhood.

Liberty Justice Center sues Chicago over 2016 home-sharing ordinance

By Cheyenne Dickerson | Feb 19, 2017

The Liberty Justice Center (LJC) filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Chicago on Nov. 15, alleging that the constitutional rights of Chicago homeowners and renters are violated by a newly adopted ordinance that places a ban on home sharing by homeowners and renters, and imposes an elevated tax to those who rent for vacation purposes.