Chicago City Wire

From Prairie State Wire

New session will reveal how serious Pritzker is about independent mapmaking

By Glenn Minnis | 13 hours ago

All eyes will be on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at the start of the new session to see if the Democratic leader has any intention of making good on his pledge to bring fair electoral mapmaking to the state.

Environmental activist brings urban cleanup project to Englewood

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 5, 2019

CNN political commentator Steve Cortes considers environmental activist Scott Presler’s recent foray into the Englewood neighborhood as a win-win situation.

Democratic Sen. Martinez demands answers from party chair Madigan

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 4, 2019

Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) is demanding that Democratic Party Chairman Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) take responsibility, one way or the other, for the cloud of corruption hanging over the state legislature.

Rep. Tarver's arrest raises doubts about his ability to govern, activist says

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 4, 2019

Chicago Guns Matter president and co-founder Rhonda Ezell questions whether Illinois state Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) is the right man for the job he holds, considering his recent misdemeanor charge​ of illegal possession of a firearm.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Congressional candidate Ives vows to assert her contempt for political corruption at the national level

By Glenn Minnis | 6 days ago

Illinois congressional candidate Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is vowing to continue to be a thorn in the side of longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago).

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois GOP calls for 'Democratic leaders to speak up' in light of new missteps by a Madigan associate

By Glenn Minnis | 9 days ago

The Illinois Republican Party is wondering how much longer longtime Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) can feign ignorance with the strong scent of corruption swirling all around him.

Environmental activist with 374,000 followers makes stop in Chicago to collect trash

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 27, 2019

Environmental activist Scott Presler was Chicago last weekend with a plan to clean tons of trash from city streets in Englewood.

Illinois political expert looks back on retiring Sen. Cullerton's career with sadness

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 21, 2019

While state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are reflecting on the career of retiring Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Republican political strategist Chris Robling respectfully laments a legacy that he believes did more harm to the state than good.

From Prairie State Wire

Chicago GOP Chairman Cleveland on Senate President Cullerton's departure: 'Good riddance'

By Glenn Minnis | 15 days ago

Chicago Republican Party Chairman Chris Cleveland is shedding no tears over the upcoming departure of longtime Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago).

From Prairie State Wire

ILGOP launches website to expose state Democrats' 'criminal enterprise'

By Glenn Minnis | 15 days ago

The Illinois Republican Party has launched a website aimed at exposing “the epidemic of Democratic corruption” across the state.

Chicagoans favor bankruptcy over taxes as city's debt continues to mount

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 14, 2019

A new poll finds that more than one out of every three Chicagoans support using some form of bankruptcy to address the city’s mounting debts, which include upward of $150 billion in unfunded pension liability.

Ald. Reboyras calls out Madigan's 'unethical, corrupt' tactics in second letter

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 14, 2019

Chicago Ald. and 30th Ward Committeeman Ariel Reboyras is not backing down in his escalating battle with Democratic Party Chairman Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) over naming a replacement for disgraced former Illinois state Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago).

From Prairie State Wire

GOP-driven Manufacturer’s Purchase Credit to save $40 million in operations

By Glenn Minnis | 23 days ago

Illinois House Republicans are intent on keeping the manufacturing industry positioned as one of the state’s largest economic drivers.

Ald. Reboyras takes issue with Speaker Madigan's handling of 36th Ward vacancy

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 12, 2019

Chicago Ald. Ariel Reboyras is threatening to take legal action against Democratic Party Chairman Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) should the House Speaker move forward with what Reboyras alleges is an “illegal and discriminatory effort to disenfranchise Latino voters” in the process of replacing disgraced former state Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago).

From Prairie State Wire

GOP: Hypocritical Pritzker 'should cut the act' on contempt for corrupt colleagues

By Glenn Minnis | 27 days ago

Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Joe Hackler is stunned by what he sees as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s unmatched hypocrisy.

CPS pension packages sweeter than private sector, IPI reports

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 31, 2019

With the average Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher receiving nearly $77,000 in annual pension benefits, the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) reports that a retired CPS educator makes back what they put into the system just five months into retirement.

From Prairie State Wire

Ideas Illinois chairman calls Pritzker's promotion of fair tax proposal 'inappropriate at best,' illegal at worst

By Glenn Minnis | 1 month ago

As chairman of the Vote No on the Blank Check Amendment, Greg Baise is demanding that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker put an end to what he sees as an abuse of state taxpayers.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois property taxes continue to stifle housing market, IPI reports

By Glenn Minnis | 1 month ago

Housing sales in Illinois continue to lag below the national average as the state's rising property taxes have all but crippled the market.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Ives not surprised that Exelon, ComEd, Madigan are key figures in federal corruption probe

By Glenn Minnis | 1 month ago

Jeanne Ives is not surprised to hear that Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) may be at the heart of a widening public corruption probe centered on Commonwealth Edison's lobbying practices.

Chicago 'politicians can’t seem to live within their means,' 41st Ward GOP Committee candidate says

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 21, 2019

No matter how deep the city’s problems and debt load may run, Ammie Kessem thinks Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has to know that the options now being discussed simply are not viable.