State Politics

The Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach has left to become the Cubs new manager. Dale Sveum will lead the Chicago Cubs next year. “…according to the Milwaukee Brewers media guide, he goes by the nickname of ‘Nuts.’… Sveum was said to … Continue reading →

Illinois’s greatest restaurant conglomerate is the creator of the world’s most mysterious sandwich. Somewhere in McDonald’s Oak Brook headquarters, someone knows why the McRib is back and when it will again disappear. It’s a mystery to the rest of us. … Continue reading →

Taxes on beer, wine and hard alcohol could soon be increased in the Chicago area. The Cook County board of commissioners moved closer to a $10.9 million tax hike on sprits, after yesterday’s meeting of the budget committee. “The only … Continue reading →

Sunday. Beer. Football. Tax Hike. Which one of these doesn’t belong? This weekend you can enjoy three and fight the fourth at Butch McGuire’s in Chicago, one of Illinois’s best bars. Chicagoans already pay the highest spirits tax in the … Continue reading →

Southern Illinois has a twisted and brutal history of labor conflict. While the coal industry has withered in that part of the state, loyalties still often lie with private labor in their battles with company management. Perhaps the faculty at … Continue reading →

Graduation rates are the most important performance factor within a school system. Illinois just saw its official graduation rate fall. Does this mean things are getting worse? Not exactly. But there are a number of officials with some explaining to … Continue reading →

Poor students of color attend schools that typically are low-performing. That’s true within almost every state or local context. But from state to state the performance of black, low income students varies significantly. That’s because of differences in public policy. … Continue reading →