New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
Giving police and fire retirees a pension cash-out option would help reduce long-term pension debt.
Valentine’s Day: No love for Chicago taxpayers
Valentine’s Day: No love for Chicago taxpayers
Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes
Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes
State lawmakers voted to hike road tolls in 2027, even though the state has billions in the road fund it’s not using. Some drivers are reconsidering their commutes; Laura Valdez explains why she cut toll roads out of her routine years ago.
Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat
Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat
Illinois is on pace to lose a seat in Congress based on new census data. International immigration and interstate migration are driving those projections.
Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances
Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances
Pro-growth policies and fiscal responsibility can ensure Illinois’ long-term budget health. Here’s how state leaders can do it.
Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups
Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups
Some Illinois lawmakers handed money to their local business associations. Should everyone’s taxes subsidize certain groups because their lawmakers had clout?
Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation
Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation
Illinois in the top ten for largest racial wealth gaps. Disparities in income, education and poverty drive the state’s racial wealth gap.
Illinois improves on one company’s list for people leaving
Illinois improves on one company’s list for people leaving
Fewer Illinoisans moved out in 2025, according to United Van Lines. Illinois was No. 2 for departures in 2024 and No. 9 last year.
Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped
Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped
White County joined Rock Island in altering tax sale rules to stop equity theft. The moves are intended to protect them from an unconstitutional state law.
5 ways state law empowers the Chicago Teachers Union and how it can change
5 ways state law empowers the Chicago Teachers Union and how it can change
The union's extraordinary power in Chicago is propped up by actions in Springfield.
Chicago Peace Initiative: Reducing violence with jobs
Chicago Peace Initiative: Reducing violence with jobs
Gangs and prison often keep Chicago’s youth out of the workforce, but the Chicago Peace Initiative works to change that.
Chicago business activity growing for first time since November 2023
Chicago business activity growing for first time since November 2023
Chicago employment situation improves after hitting lowest level since 2009 in December 2025.
Waste watch: Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
Waste watch: Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
Illinois lawmakers funded a Hispanic chamber of commerce connected to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Its chief opposes ICE deportations.