Latest News from Chicago City Wire

Martwick opponent talks campaign, hears concerns in neighborhood walks

By Justin Stoltzfus | Oct 3, 2017

Amelia Kessem has taken her campaign to unseat Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) to the streets of Chicago.

District 15 House hopeful sees taxes as equal-opportunity destroyer

By Justin Stoltzfus | Oct 2, 2017

Republican Amanda Biela has been out and about in Cook County at local events with constituents, particularly in Maine Township, during her campaign to unseat John D’Amico (D-Chicago) and represent District 15 in the Illinois House.

Martwick opponent vows to return state income tax to 3 percent

By Justin Stoltzfus | Sep 16, 2017

Ammie Kessem is taking the fight to Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) and hoping to take down Illinois' high taxes afterward.

D'Amico opponent in state House race sees voters primed for change

By Justin Stoltzfus | Sep 16, 2017

Amanda Biela has a message for Chicago voters: New options are out there.

Private equity partner Davis fined in Emanuel lobbying inquiry

By Justin Stoltzfus | Aug 1, 2017

The Chicago Board of Ethics has fined a private equity group's president for improperly lobbying Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Mayoral donor Abrams accused of ethics violation over email

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jul 27, 2017

James Abrams, a donor to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the husband of a city alderwoman, violated an ethics ordinance by lobbying without registering to do so, according to the Chicago Board of Ethics.

Economics prof: Credit ratings crushing, pensions punishing Illinois

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jul 18, 2017

There's nothing funny about the joke that Illinois' economy has become, Michael Hicks, a professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University, told the Chicago City Wire recently.

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Bad budget will backfire, Wirepoints founder contends

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jul 14, 2017

Mark Glennon of Wirepoints says the pain is only beginning

Summer jobs called beneficial for teens -- if they'll take them

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jul 11, 2017

One simple way to help combat youth crime is to employ young people in other ways, the coauthor of a Chicago youth study told the Chicago City Wire recently.

Old is new again at Dunning bar 'all about the beer'

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jul 11, 2017

A historic Dunning bar formerly known as Mug Shots has gotten a bit of a face-lift for its current manifestation as the Old 41 Saloon on Addison Street.

Illinois eyes another big loss without budget: Powerball, Mega Millions

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jun 28, 2017

lllinois could be in for more bad luck if no budget gets passed by the end of the day on Friday.

Illinois among states seen as on the precipice of a pension disaster

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jun 23, 2017

Officials in Springfield and around the country are talking about a “pension cliff” and trying to determine what will happen as large numbers of educators become fully vested in school district pension benefit systems.

Minimum wage hike not a solution to Illinois' woes, policy pro argues

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jun 11, 2017

Raising the minimum wage will make matters worse in Illinois, not better, Mike Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, told the Chicago City Wire recently.

AT&T denies bill would cut lifelines to seniors

By Justin Stoltzfus | May 2, 2017

If you take away telephone landlines, you take away lifelines for many senior citizens, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) argued recently regarding proposed legislation that would allow telecom companies to reallocate landline resources.

Financial pundit sees dark clouds over Windy City

By Justin Stoltzfus | Apr 23, 2017

USA Today’s Nathan Bomey has some experience covering municipal bankruptcy, and looking at the state of Chicago’s finances, Bomey’s sees only three options – and none of them are good.