Is Illinois Ready for Ranked-Choice Voting?
Bill sponsors are pushing the plan in both houses of the Illinois legislature. But history suggests they should be careful what they wish for.
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10 Essential Illinois Books
From Gwendolyn Brooks in Chicago to David Foster Wallace in Normal, Robert Coover in Herrin to Edgar Lee Masters on the Spoon River, the state is a microcosm of America...
Here’s What the Loop Could Look Like Post-Pandemic
Office vacancy rates in the Loop during the pandemic have surpassed their ’70s peak. So what’s it going to take to bring people back?
Why the Chicaaaaago Accent Is Really a New York One
Robert Forster's tough-guy long vowels got him typecast as a cop, like Chicagoans Dennis Farina and Dennis Franz. But Forster is from upstate New York. So what gives?
Clout Diversifies the Illinois Legislature
Michael Madigan's retirement is off to a rough start. His handpicked replacement—26-year-old Edward Guerra Kodatt, the infrastructure manager of Madigan protege Ald. Marty Quinn—stepped down after less than 72 hours...
How Fred Hampton Gave Way to Obama
Judas and the Black Messiah doesn't just track the Black Panther's betrayal, but the birth of a coalition that elected Mayor Harold Washington and our 44th President.
The Handoff That Wasn’t
Mike Simmons made headlines for his upset appointment over Rep. Kelly Cassidy. Lost in the scuttlebutt: Springfield's never seen anything like him before.
How the Dems Outgrew Mike Madigan
Ousting him as House speaker is just the beginning of the party's renovation. Next up: ditching him and his outdated tactics from the chairmanship.
Where Illinois Is Losing Population
More people left our state than any other in the 2010s. Part of the problem: Unlike elsewhere, there's been no urban growth to offset rural decline.
How to Succeed in Politics Without Winning an Election
Two weeks into a new term, State Sen. Heather Steans is retiring, leaving political allies to pick her replacement. On the Far North Side, that’s simply how it’s done.