Hopes for fixing the state's massive pension shortfall—and its current budget shortfall—were unceremoniously dashed today. It's a huge setback for reformers, but not a shocking one. Read more
The effects of lead poisoning show up on rap sheets and grade books, and Chicago has long had some of the worst problems with it in America. The costs of remediation are substantial, but the savings could be much greater. Read more
Over two decades, the city was wracked by violence. The policies that fed attacks, and those that resulted from it, changed the landscape of Chicago—and Baltimore. Read more
The new governor's criminal justice-reform proposals could be popular with his opponents, while his controversial "employee empowerment zones" will be a tough sell with the courts. Read more
