Rod Blagojevich sues so he can again seek election

By Noah Shaar

08/04/2021

Rod Blagojevich is out of federal prison, and now wants to be back on the ballot. Illinois’ former governor sued Aug. 2 for the right to run for public office again despite his conviction for public corruption.

TAGS: corruption, Illinois, Rod Blagojevich

Illinois infrastructure ranks high, but state finances pose big threat

By Noah Shaar

07/21/2021

With an abundance of freight lines and roadways, along with a reliable power grid, Illinois placed No. 1 in the U.S. for infrastructure. But state finances are a threat, and political pork needs to give way to projects that move the most people and goods.

TAGS: Illinois, infrastructure, spending

Black workers suffer most from Illinois’ slow recovery from COVID-19

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

07/19/2021

Some parts of Illinois’ job markets are recovering, but not for Black Illinoisans. Many jobs are still missing from before COVID-19, including over one-third of the leisure and hospitality jobs.

TAGS: black community, COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois home building lags virtually every other state during past decade

By Bryce Hill, Dom Moran

07/18/2021

New census data shows Illinois ranked 48th in the U.S. for new single-family home permits during the past decade.

TAGS: construction, homeownership, Illinois, real estate

Illinois state, local sales taxes rank 7th in U.S.

By Noah Shaar

07/17/2021

Illinoisans pay one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation when local and state sales taxes are averaged. The average rate of 8.83% was up slightly from a year earlier.

TAGS: Illinois, sales tax

$51,627 in unemployment benefits for average salaried parent in Illinois

By Noah Shaar

07/16/2021

Illinois employers are hurting from a lack of workers while the state unemployment rate remains high. When a parent can stay home and make $51,627 on unemployment, the prospects of getting more workers back to work this summer appear dim.

TAGS: Illinois, unemployment

Masks can be optional in Illinois school districts

By Patrick Andriesen

07/13/2021

Illinois schools can resume in-person learning without masks next month now that the state has clarified its guidance to acknowledge local school boards should decide which COVID-19 policies best fit their students.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, masks, public schools

Governor signs Hayli’s Law to protect lemonade stands from Illinois government

By Ann Miller

07/12/2021

When a child’s lemonade stand was targeted by government regulators, an 11-year-old entrepreneur fought back. Now Illinois law officially bars government from interfering with a child’s right to sell cold summer drinks.

TAGS: Hayli Martenez, Illinois, lemonade stand, regulations

Illinois may pay bonuses to get workers to take jobs again

By Noah Shaar

07/08/2021

To combat above-average unemployment, Illinois state leaders discussed a possible back-to-work bonus. The state would pay cash to those who go off unemployment.

TAGS: Illinois, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Only 1 in 10 Illinois students had access to in-person learning for eight months of the pandemic, CDC report finds

By Patrick Andriesen

07/01/2021

Illinois ranked 8th worst in the nation for offering students access to full-time in-person learning between September 2020 and April 2021 – less than any other Midwest state.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, teachers union