Illinois’ unemployment continued a long-term trend of remaining higher than the national rate as 2025 ends with lost jobs as the nation gained.
Cook County’s delayed property tax bills are straining school districts with nearly $122 million in unexpected, unneeded costs.
Subsidies and rent control will make Illinois’ housing shortage worse. Lawmakers should focus on how they can boost supply.
A federal tax credit is expected to boost school donations. Public school foundations can obtain the funds to help Illinois students.
Illinois’ rushed, closed-door budgeting process funded $700,000 in taxpayer dollars to a research group promoting “decolonization.”
Chicago is splitting its 2026 “advance” pension payment, blaming delayed Cook County property taxes but raising concerns about pension stability.
Record Cook County property tax hikes under Toni Preckwinkle expose a fundamentally broken system, benefitting insiders and costing everyone else.
Illinois’ population grew by 16,108 in 2025 thanks to an influx of people migrating from other countries. But Illinoisans moving away offset most of that gain.
Illinois lawmakers gave $4.6 million to A Ray of Hope on Earth, a sports camp for children. The grants were 10 times the group’s 2023 budget.
The Chicago area climbed up two spots as a technology hub, surpassing Silicon Valley. Government can foster that growth.
Illinois’ strong colleges and workforce training help reduce unemployment and close skill gaps, ranking No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 3 nationally.
Illinois’ broken budgeting process allowed state lawmakers to spend $2.6 million on tennis and pickleball courts.
Illinois saw strong economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, largely tracking national trends.