Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Jotaka Eaddy endorses Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate Jotaka Eaddy, founder of Win with Black Women and a nationally renowned business executive, social impact strategist and investor, today endorsed Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate. “All of us win when we elect Robin Kelly to the U.S. Senate,” Eaddy said. “Robin is a proven fighter…
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John Harrell formally announces candidacy to succeed La Shawn Ford at West Side rally Community, religious, and elected leaders endorse Harrell for the 8th State House District at a press conference held at Macarthur Restaurant, 5412 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Monday, April 11, 2025 Chicago, IL – John Harrel formally announced his candidacy for the…
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We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language By Maria Pappas Understanding Cook County’s property tax system can be a challenge even for people born and raised here. Words like “assessments,” “exemptions,” and “multipliers” aren’t part of everyday conversation. For many homeowners, deciphering a tax bill feels like solving a puzzle. Now…
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How My Office Handles Billions — And Protects Every Penny By Maria Pappas Cook County Treasurer Two times a year, my office mails nearly 1.8 million property tax bills and collects over $18 billion. That’s not a typo — $18 billion. As Cook County Treasurer, I oversee the second-largest property tax collection and distribution system…
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Video Podcast on Trump’s problems with Jeffrey Epstein, Netanyahu’s coalition in jeopardy In the Video podcast, political columnist Ray Hanania and former Congressman Bill Lipinski discuss the Jeffrey Epstein controversy and its impact on President Trump; open rebellion among some MAGA Republicans including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene over foreign aid and Epstein, the issue of…
Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN By Maria Pappas If you own property in Cook County, there’s one number you should always know: your PIN. That’s short for Property Index Number—a 14-digit code assigned to every piece of real estate in the county. It’s tied to the legal description…
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Property tax bills delayed in Orland Township Orland Township Assessor Rich E. Kelly made the following announcement Monday, June 30, 2025: When Cook County’s second installment property tax bills are sent on time, tax bills hit mailboxes in late June and are due around August 1, 2025. This year, however, the mailing and due dates…
Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Navigating the complexities of the property tax system in Cook County can be daunting for homeowners. My hope is this column makes it less intimidating by breaking down a complex process into simple concepts….
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Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas plans to postpone the Annual Tax Sale for seven months, during which time she hopes to work with legislators on comprehensive property tax foreclosure reform measures. At Pappas’s urging, the Illinois General Assembly last week passed legislation that allows…
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Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know! By Maria Pappas Since I first stepped into my office 27 years ago, one question has repeatedly come up: “Why do my property taxes always go up?” It’s a valid concern. At…
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State GOP Chair Salvi applauds Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed the House of Representatives with the unwavering support of Illinois Republicans. A big thank you to Congressman Darin LaHood, Congressman Mike Bost, and Congresswoman Mary Miller for their leadership. This landmark legislation locks in key provisions of the Tax Cuts…
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The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners By Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas After analyzing over 2 million Cook County property tax appeals filed between 2021 and 2023, researchers in my office uncovered a troubling trend: the system shifted nearly $2 billion in…
The $2 billion wealth transfer: How Cook County’s property tax appeals system rewards businesses at the expense of homeowners Nearly $2 billion in property taxes shifted onto homeowners from businesses over just three years, with a disproportionate share of the added burden falling on lower-income Black and Latino homeowners, a first-of-its-kind analysis by the Treasurer’s…
When it comes to voting on property tax referendums, the few decide for the many There are two types of referendums — binding and advisory. The government is legally required to act on binding referendum results. Advisory referendums aren’t legally binding and are often used to measure public opinion before making a governmental decision. That…
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Illinois has many better options than Pritzker’s choice to succeed Durbin By Ray Hanania Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who believes he can buy any election, any time for any amount of money, wants to buy the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Pritzker has pushed his Lieutenant Governor, Juliana Stratton, to run for the…
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You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago By Maria Pappas My office is managing about $122 million in potential refunds for property tax overpayments going back 20 years that I’m eager to send back to property owners. But determining who’s entitled to a refund isn’t simple. Most overpayments…
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Rashid, Porfirio host Town Hall Meeting April 19, 2025 Join State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid and State Senator Mike Porfirio to discuss legislative updates, the impact of federal changes on Illinois, and the continued efforts to fight for working families. The Town Hall meeting will be held on April, 19 2025 beginning at 12 NOON. It…
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Record Number of Property Tax Appeals Filed for 2024 Tax Year The Cook County Board of Review (CCBOR) has received a record number of property tax appeals, involving a nearly 41% increase in the total of Property Index Numbers (PINs) compared to the 2023 tax year. Appeals filed for tax year 2024 increased by 11%…
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