Illinois corporate income tax rate hits No. 2 in U.S.
Illinois corporate income tax rate hits No. 2 in U.S.
Illinois businesses pay the nation’s second-highest corporate income tax rates. Chicago is considering taxing them more.
Merging downstate police, fire pensions helps but Illinois needs pension reform
Merging downstate police, fire pensions helps but Illinois needs pension reform
The Illinois Supreme Court voted to uphold a law consolidating 649 municipal police and firefighter pension funds. It may help the state’s pension woes, but amending the Illinois Constitution is needed for real solutions.
5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December
5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December
Seven of 13 Illinois metro areas added jobs from November to December 2023, led by the St. Louis area. Five metros still reported fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic.
Vallas: Ousting Chicago police from schools could boost violence
Vallas: Ousting Chicago police from schools could boost violence
The Chicago Board of Education is limiting students’ education options and now is putting their safety at greater risk. Bowing to the Chicago Teachers Union’s ‘defund the police’ ideology can expose students to more violence.
The Policy Shop: How Chicago became the Stolen Motor City
The Policy Shop: How Chicago became the Stolen Motor City
This edition of The Policy Shop is by writer Patrick Andriesen Detroit is the Motor City. Chicago is the Stolen Motor City. Car thieves and carjackers have gotten so bold, that a carjacking recently took place near Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Gold Coast mansion. The only reason the two suspects didn’t finish the crime was because they...
Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities
Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities
Published Jan. 25, 2024
Ron Kooyman
Ron Kooyman
“I’ve been in Chicago 30 years. I came to Chicago to do inner-city youth and children’s ministry. I was 36 years old then, and violence has gotten much worse since then. That’s horrendous for somebody to be killed by a couple of criminals in his own yard while putting [Christmas] lights on his house.” “Jose [Tellez]...
Union membership in Illinois hits record low
Union membership in Illinois hits record low
Public and private sector unions in Illinois saw another 27,000 workers reject union membership in 2023. Just 12.8% of public and private-sector workers chose union membership, the lowest it’s been in 34 years on record.
More than 2-in-5 Chicago low-income students chronically absent
More than 2-in-5 Chicago low-income students chronically absent
Chronic absenteeism rates are higher in Chicago than statewide, with 44% of low-income Chicago students missing at least 10% of their days in school.
4 Illinois schools closing without Invest in Kids scholarships, others at risk
4 Illinois schools closing without Invest in Kids scholarships, others at risk
With Invest in Kids scholarships expiring, four schools across Illinois already decided to close their doors for good. Futures for nearly 10,000 low-income students remain uncertain.
Illinois’ unemployment rate tied for 3rd-worst in U.S.
Illinois’ unemployment rate tied for 3rd-worst in U.S.
Illinois’ unemployment rate tied for third-worst in the U.S. in December 2023, despite job gains across most industries since last year. Illinois continues to lag the nation and nearly all its neighbors in job growth.
Township supervisor gets $224K, but salary drops to $25K if voters pick someone else
Township supervisor gets $224K, but salary drops to $25K if voters pick someone else
An embattled Chicago-area township supervisor is being accused of discouraging competition ahead of her campaign by cutting the position’s pay if she loses. It may be illegal, but someone would need to sue.
Chicago considers natural gas ban that could 2X heating costs
Chicago considers natural gas ban that could 2X heating costs
The Chicago City Council is considering an ordinance to effectively ban natural gas in most new buildings, including gas stoves. Energy providers warn the policy could double heating costs for Chicago homes.
18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families
18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families
Seven states enacted new private school choice programs in 2023 and 11 states expanded existing programs. But Illinois killed its Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program, ending the only help for nearly 10,000 low-income students.