6 ways Illinois lawmakers can ease the property tax pain
6 ways Illinois lawmakers can ease the property tax pain
Illinoisans shoulder some of the highest property taxes in the country. This burden is key to understanding the state's outmigration problem. Despite the failure of lawmakers to reverse this crisis, there remain a number of sound reforms waiting for consideration.
By Vincent Caruso
Madison County Board votes to have townships pay assessment costs
Madison County Board votes to have townships pay assessment costs
Some Madison County townships could see their costs go up, which could drive up property taxes.
By Brendan Bakala
‘Sinkhole city’: Accounting watchdog gives Chicago an F in fiscal health
‘Sinkhole city’: Accounting watchdog gives Chicago an F in fiscal health
A recent analysis ranked 75 of the most populated cities in terms of fiscal health - and placed the Windy City next to dead-last.
By Vincent Caruso
3 Illinois metros saw jobs loss, most saw labor force decline in 2017
3 Illinois metros saw jobs loss, most saw labor force decline in 2017
New state data shed a light on weak economic growth in metro areas across Illinois.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
Decatur jobs loss in 2017 among the worst in Illinois
Decatur jobs loss in 2017 among the worst in Illinois
Decatur is the fastest-shrinking city in the state since 2010, and saw some of the heaviest jobs losses among metro areas in 2017.
By Austin Berg
Illinois state lawmaker introduces bill to ban kratom
Illinois state lawmaker introduces bill to ban kratom
The herbal supplement is already prohibited for Illinoisans under the age of 18.
By Vincent Caruso
Sente bill bans tackle football for Illinoisans under age 12
Sente bill bans tackle football for Illinoisans under age 12
State Rep. Carol Sente, D-Vernon Hills, filed House Bill 4341 Jan. 25. The bill would create the CTE Prevention Act, and ban children under 12 years old from playing organized youth football.
By Brendan Bakala
3 McHenry County townships now under investigation
3 McHenry County townships now under investigation
The McHenry County state's attorney's office is investigating Nunda and Grafton townships for illegal misuse of taxpayer money, making them the second and third townships - after Algonquin Township - to be under investigation in McHenry County.
The audacity of broke
The audacity of broke
Illinois is broke. But leaders don’t act like it.
By Austin Berg
West Chicago teachers set to go on strike
West Chicago teachers set to go on strike
A government worker union in West Chicago will vote Jan. 26 whether to authorize a strike for District 94's 141 high school teachers. A strike would leave over 2,000 students in the lurch - a tactic not allowed in any of Illinois' neighboring states.
By Mailee Smith
Proposed bill would prohibit unfunded mandates, require revenue for all discretionary spending
Proposed bill would prohibit unfunded mandates, require revenue for all discretionary spending
The Taxpayer Fiscal Charter Act would demand funding transparency before spending bills make their way out of Springfield.
By Vincent Caruso