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Mitsubishi plant stopping production at its plant in Normal, IL

This article was written by Lindsey Hess and featured on Fox Illinois on July 25, 2015 A major blow was dealt to central Illinois manufacturing on Friday. Mitsubishi Motors says it plans to stop production at its plant in Normal. The company’s spokesman said Friday the Japanese automaker reviewed its global supply chain, and decided...

Incarceration perpetuates poverty cycle

This article was written by Scott Reeder, and featured in the Galesburg Register-Mail on July 23, 2015.  “Ma’am I’ve got some good news for you. Your grandson is being released from prison.” I made that phone call about 15 years ago after covering a session of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and watching the board...

BREAKING NEWS: Cook County judge strikes down 2014 Chicago pension law

CHICAGO (July 24, 2015) – Today a Cook County judge struck down a 2014 pension law aimed at reforming two of Chicago’s ailing city retirement funds. Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman released the following statement on the judge’s ruling: “After the Illinois Supreme Court’s disappointing decision striking down the state’s modest effort to bring...

Illinois’ criminal justice system and the need to reform

Our Criminal Justice Policy Analyst, Bryant Jackson-Green, joined WTAD-AM with Sean Secrease and Quaid to discuss criminal-justice reform in Illinois.

Packing Illinois prisons tears families apart

This op-ed was featured in the Chicago Sun Times on July 17, 2015. On Thursday, President Barack Obama became the first sitting American president to visit a federal prison. His visit, intended to raise awareness of the need for criminal justice reform, was preceded earlier this week by a speech he delivered at NAACP’s annual...

Ruling on Chicago pension law expected Friday

A Cook County judge is expected to rule Friday on the legality of a 2014 pension law aimed at reforming two of Chicago’s underfunded city retirement systems.

State comptroller promises paychecks for state workers

This interview was featured on WSIL-TV on July 10, 2015.  The state comptroller’s office has promised to issue paychecks to state workers next week. But the lack of a state budget deal is creating legal hurdles. Two courts have given opposing opinions on whether state workers should be getting paid right now. The attorney general claims it’s...

Illinois Policy Institute’s Bryant Jackson-Green on “How Illinois can heed President Obama’s call for criminal justice reform”

CHICAGO (July 17, 2015) – On Thursday, President Barack Obama became the first sitting American president to visit a federal prison as part of his efforts to raise awareness about much-needed criminal justice reform. In today’s Chicago Sun-Times, the Illinois Policy Institute’s Bryant Jackson-Green writes about what Illinois can do to heed that call for...