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The Newsroom runs PolitiFact Illinois, the local arm of the nationally renowned, Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking enterprise that rates the truthfulness of statements made by governmental leaders and politicians.

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PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Would Chicago’s Casino Tax Plan Raise City’s Take?

State Sen. Dave Syverson said a proposal to lower the effective tax rate on Chicago’s future casino would require the state to reduce its cut while allowing the city to raise taxes. That doesn’t quite square with the language in the bill.
Dec 15, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Ives Wrongly Calls Casten’s Public Town Halls ‘Invite-Only’

In an attack on Democratic Rep. Sean Casten, the GOP congressional hopeful suggested Casten limits access to his public events. Her own evidence belies that claim.
Dec 5, 2019 3:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Evidence Lacking for Pritzker’s Pension Buyout Claim

The governor said a study estimated the state’s pension buyout program could save up to $25 billion, but his office won’t provide the “proprietary” study.
Nov 24, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Has Illinois Been Losing Population for Nearly a Century?

Speaking about the importance of attracting young people to attend Illinois universities, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state has lost population in all but one of the last 95 years.
Nov 8, 2019 1:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Trump ‘Dead Wrong’ About the Change in Murders in Chicago

Trump claimed Chicago has lagged the nation in reducing murders over the last two years. The opposite is true: Chicago’s progress has contributed to and even outpaced the national decline.
Oct 29, 2019 4:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Durbin Mostly on Track with Claim on Illinois Deportations

Illinois’ senior senator said fewer than 20% of individuals deported from Illinois were charged with a serious crime. Federal data supports that, but it comes with a few caveats.
Oct 27, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: No, 30% of the Nation’s Poor Don’t Reside in California

Speaking about Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to tax income at graduated rates in Illinois, Republican state Rep. Mark Batinick criticized another state with a similar tax system, claiming California is home to a third of those living in poverty nationwide. That's way off.
Oct 20, 2019 2:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Are Chicago Public School Teachers Among the Nation’s Highest Paid?

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the pay increase the city is offering Chicago’s teachers would add to compensation that already exceeds what most other school districts in the country pay.
Oct 11, 2019 6:00 AM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Durbin Mostly on Target with Claim about Police Support for Expanding Background Checks

Speaking about legislation that would require background checks for all gun sales, Illinois’ senior senator said not only does the public overwhelmingly support it — police officers do too.
Oct 4, 2019 12:00 PM
PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Bernie Sanders Says 49% of ‘New’ Income Goes to the Top 1%

The presidential candidate told a crowd of Chicago Teachers Union members that the nation’s richest 1% are seeing nearly half of all income growth. That’s an updated version of an even more striking figure he’s used in the past.
Sep 29, 2019 2:00 PM

PolitiFact

Fact-Check: Would Chicago’s Casino Tax Plan Raise City’s Take?

Fact-Check: Ives Wrongly Calls Casten’s Public Town Halls ‘Invite-Only’

Fact-Check: Evidence Lacking for Pritzker’s Pension Buyout Claim

Fact-Check: Has Illinois Been Losing Population for Nearly a Century?

Fact-Check: Trump ‘Dead Wrong’ About the Change in Murders in Chicago

Fact-Check: Durbin Mostly on Track with Claim on Illinois Deportations

Fact-Check: No, 30% of the Nation’s Poor Don’t Reside in California

Fact-Check: Are Chicago Public School Teachers Among the Nation’s Highest Paid?

Fact-Check: Durbin Mostly on Target with Claim about Police Support for Expanding Background Checks

Fact-Check: Bernie Sanders Says 49% of ‘New’ Income Goes to the Top 1%