Perspectives
Getting poorer while working harder: The ‘cliff effect’
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Stressing out about potentially losing benefits can prolong financial instability. Solving this problem will help low-paid workers and everyone else.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
A progressive income tax is Illinois’ best shot at solving budget crisis
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Ending the state’s flat income tax rate would reduce taxes for most while raising $2 billion in additional revenue a year, a new report says.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
Illinois Republicans try to lay low on repealing Obamacare
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With the GOP threatening health care coverage, especially for Medicaid recipients, activists are demanding answers from local lawmakers who are quietly supporting the bills.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
What’s at stake for Chicago and Illinois under President Trump
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Here’s a roundup of how the Trump administration’s stated policy goals would interact with local laws on immigrant and religious protections, healthcare, housing, education and law enforcement.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
Emanuel’s privatizing mental health clinic in Roseland raises concerns
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Activists call for a public hearing after news that a South Side public clinic will be managed by the nonprofit C4.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
Marijuana decriminalization only one modest step in ending war on drugs
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Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Movement for Black Lives have a common interest in taking bold action to change drug policies.
Education
Cutting benefits program for low-income families could cost CPS millions
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The cash-strapped school district eliminated a unit that helped eligible families sign up for public benefits. Now it could lose millions of dollars in state poverty grants, while thousands of children go without food and health insurance.
Education
Mix-up in poverty counts puts school budgets in jeopardy
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District officials are warning principals that their schools may lose poverty dollars due to an inexplicable undercount of low-income students this year.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
Rauner seeks to dismantle cost-saving homecare programs
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Continuing his crusade against unions, the governor is stonewalling contract negotiations with the mostly female and minority low-wage workers providing care for seniors, the disabled and children.
Criminal Justice
State budget cuts, other issues, may limit efficacy of drug policy change
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Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez says her office is going to prosecute fewer low-level drug cases and steer more people to treatment. But with state budget cuts for substance abuse treatment programs on the horizon and persistent racial disparities in drug-related arrests, advocates question whether the new policy can be effective.