Land of 1,000 shrinking communities

By Bryce Hill

05/24/2019

Illinois’ lost people problem spreads to more than 1,000 communities in 2018

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois House bill would allow fast-food restaurants to accept food stamps

By Brad Weisenstein

05/10/2019

Homeless, disabled and elderly Illinoisans who can’t easily cook a meal could get help by using food stamps at fast-food restaurants.

TAGS: food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tom Demmer

Illinois ‘license to landscape’ bill is a pure protection racket

By Austin Berg

05/03/2019

Licensing should be the last resort. Instead, in the case of the landscape architects, it appears to be a grab for a different kind of green.

TAGS: employment, jobs, licensing, occupational licensing, unemployment

Energy company shelves $500M Illinois expansion, cites ‘anti-business’ climate

By Vincent Caruso

05/02/2019

An Illinois-based energy company will halt construction on a planned $500 million plant, a casualty of the Land of Lincoln’s hostile business environment.

TAGS: corporate income tax, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, progressive income tax, taxes, unemployment

Southwestern Illinois loses big chunk of population, with one exception

By Brad Weisenstein

04/25/2019

One Illinois county in the greater St. Louis area is losing so many residents it ranks No. 5 nationwide for population loss. Its neighboring county was one of the few in Illinois to grow.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, Monroe County, outmigration, population, St. Clair County

Illinois employment growth continues to lag the nation through the first quarter of 2019

By Bryce Hill

04/22/2019

Illinois’ total employment growth ranks 31st from December 2018 to March 2019. Continued population loss likely to follow poor job growth.

TAGS: employment, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

86 Illinois counties see population loss in 2018

By Bryce Hill

04/18/2019

Fleeing residents continue to fuel population loss, with Cook County leading the nation for population decline.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, jobs, outmigration, population

Wake-up call: Illinois shrinkage makes history

By Austin Berg

04/18/2019

The state’s punishing tax climate and ominous mountain of debt have repelled new jobs and investment. People follow.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

All Illinois metro areas saw population shrink in 2018

By Bryce Hill

04/17/2019

New Census data reveal that for the first time on record, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, metro areas, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Craft liquor may catch on quicker if Illinois changes law

By Joe Barnas

04/15/2019

Illinois House passes bill to open up opportunities for the craft distillery industry, freeing entrepreneurs to grow to meet growing demand.

TAGS: jobs, Jonathan Carroll, Liquor Control Act, Michael Zalewski, Tom Demmer