The Long, Expensive Afterlife of Police Misconduct in Chicago
October 29, 2026
The city is turning legal settlements into long-term debt, adding another financial burden to a budget already under pressure.
Who can get ahead—and what stands in the way.
Follow the systems that shape access to education, housing, healthcare and opportunity. Our reporting examines who benefits, who faces barriers and what changes for people trying to move forward.
The city is turning legal settlements into long-term debt, adding another financial burden to a budget already under pressure.
The latest figures show another drop in Black representation following the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, even as applications to Harvard continue to rise.
Question 8 would end the state’s licensed recreational marijuana market while preserving medical access and limited adult possession. The decision could affect businesses, workers and public revenue.
A new University of Houston survey finds widespread concern about electricity, water and the infrastructure needed to support large data centers.
Voters will decide whether to allow single-family homes on smaller parcels of land. The proposal could expand housing construction, but changing zoning rules does not guarantee affordable prices.
The $189 million World Trade Centre road project promises dramatically shorter delays. But Dubai’s continuing growth will test how long those improvements last.
Rents are reaching record highs, but the cost of buying is rising even further beyond what most households can afford. For New Yorkers hoping to build wealth through homeownership, the financial gap is becoming difficult to cross.
The latest Census figures offer encouraging news, but nearly 8 million Black Americans still live below the poverty line. At what point do we stop celebrating small improvements and confront how much inequality remains?
Accuracy in Media is using undercover recordings and public pressure to challenge university diversity programs. Its campaigns are also changing who gets to hold colleges accountable.
New agreements with Houston-area school districts will allow more students to secure college admission with fewer application requirements. The partnerships could open doors, but affordability and degree completion will determine how much opportunity they actually create.
Mayor Brandon Johnson is proposing a new tax on large employers to help close the city’s budget deficit. Business leaders and City Council members are pushing back over concerns about hiring, investment and the cost of operating in Chicago.
More than a quarter of Microsoft’s workforce is eligible for voluntary buyouts as the company pours billions into artificial intelligence. The offers raise questions about what happens to workers when a company’s priorities change.
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