Where have all the new homes gone?
Where have all the new homes gone?
Compared with Illinois’ pre-recession average, permits for new single-family and multiunit housing are down more than 60 percent.
Sears to cut 400 jobs, despite state, local tax breaks
Sears to cut 400 jobs, despite state, local tax breaks
Sears Holdings has dropped below the job threshold necessary to qualify for the $15 million in annual state tax credits for which it was once eligible.
Illinois’ economic growth is worse than during the Great Depression
Illinois’ economic growth is worse than during the Great Depression
Illinois’ total state economic activity has increased by only 4 percent since 2007, which is lower than the U.S.’ 10 percent GDP growth during the worst decade of the Great Depression.
Illinois has 4th-most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in U.S.
Illinois has 4th-most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in U.S.
Although Illinois hosts corporate headquarters of many large companies, its economy lags in blue-collar job opportunities.
Illinois has the worst personal income growth in the U.S.
Illinois has the worst personal income growth in the U.S.
Lawmakers’ proposed new and higher taxes would only make things harder for struggling Illinoisans.
Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks
Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks
Despite Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s spin, residents are fleeing Chicago, showing they feel they are better off elsewhere.
Bill regulating school buses heads to Rauner’s desk
Bill regulating school buses heads to Rauner’s desk
House Bill 3293, which would force any person or group that is not a school district, religious organization or transportation company, but that possesses a school bus, to change the appearance of the school bus, passed the Illinois General Assembly on the last day of spring session.
Rahm spins as Chicago reels from population flight
Rahm spins as Chicago reels from population flight
Middle class families are unwilling to live in a city where there aren’t enough jobs and the cost of living is too high.
Trampoline safety bill passes both Houses of the General Assembly
Trampoline safety bill passes both Houses of the General Assembly
The General Assembly hasn’t made significant traction on a balanced budget before session ends, but the Illinois Senate had time May 30 to pass a bill regulating trampoline safety.
1.8 million Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps
1.8 million Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps
March 2017 saw 15,000 more Illinoisans on food stamps than March 2016, while the number of Indiana SNAP recipients dropped from March 2016 to March 2017.
Chicago only major U.S. city to lose population from 2015 to 2016
Chicago only major U.S. city to lose population from 2015 to 2016
While major headlines broke over news that Chicago was the only one of America’s largest 20 cities to shrink from July 2015 to July 2016, most of Illinois’ other cities with 50,000 people or more also lost population.
College students were fleeing Illinois long before the budget impasse
College students were fleeing Illinois long before the budget impasse
Illinois lost 195,000 more college-bound students than it gained from 2000-2014.
Illinois has lost 195,000 millennial college students since 2000
Illinois has lost 195,000 millennial college students since 2000
Illinois lost more millennial college students than any other state except New Jersey between 2000 and 2014, and Illinois’ loss of young people appears to be accelerating.
Akuna Capital signed tax break deal with state of Illinois estimated to be worth $4.5M
Akuna Capital signed tax break deal with state of Illinois estimated to be worth $4.5M
In 2015, Chicago-headquartered Akuna Capital LLC signed a deal with the state of Illinois that state officials estimated to be worth $4.5 million. As part of the agreement, Akuna agreed to hire 10 new employees. The agreement states the new hires specialized in trading and software.