Illinois corruption package is light on needed reforms

By Joe Tabor

05/27/2021

Senate Bill 4, the likely vehicle for ethics reform in Springfield, offers slight improvements over the Madigan era. But if Illinois is serious about ending its culture of corruption, key points need more muscle.

TAGS: corruption, Democratic Party, ethics reform, Illinois

Bill giving state new powers to shut down private and public schools advances in General Assembly

By Amy Korte

05/27/2021

HB 2789 could threaten in-person instruction at public and private schools while the COVID-19 emergency order – or any other emergency order – persists.

TAGS: emergency, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois, private schools, teachers union

Hayli’s Law would protect lemonade stands from government in Illinois

05/26/2021

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

TAGS: Hayli Martenez, Illinois, lemonade stand, regulations

Government union bosses may get permanent special treatment in Illinois

By Mailee Smith

05/26/2021

A proposed Illinois constitutional amendment, SJRCA 11, would give government unions unchecked, unlimited power.

TAGS: collective bargaining, government unions, Illinois, strike

Year after George Floyd’s death, police contracts stop Illinois reform

By Mailee Smith

05/25/2021

It has been a year since George Floyd died beneath a Minneapolis police officer’s knee, setting off riots in Chicago and protests across Illinois. Lawmakers vowed reforms, but nothing will change as long as police contracts overpower state law.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, George Floyd, Illinois, police union

Illinois takes aim at private schools with new bill

By Amy Korte

05/25/2021

An amendment to Illinois House Bill 2789 could result in a flurry of complaints against private and public schools for alleged violations of COVID-19 protocols, provides harsh penalties, including punishing teachers, and expands state authority over private schools.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, private schools, teachers union

Illinois lawmakers seek to be nation’s first to put job-killing amendment in state constitution

By Mailee Smith

05/24/2021

A proposal in the Illinois General Assembly would prohibit right-to-work laws in Illinois, making Illinois the only state to ban worker freedoms in its constitution.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois, private sector, right to work, unions

One year later, Illinois’ jobs recovery from COVID-19 among slowest in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

05/22/2021

Job losses peaked in April 2020 amid COVID-19 and state-mandated shutdowns. In the year-long recovery since, Illinois’ has been among the nation’s slowest.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, recession, unemployment

Illinois recovery stalls as state sheds 4,000 private sector jobs in April

By Bryce Hill

05/21/2021

While total payrolls were up 300, private sector jobs took a beating in April and lost 4,000 positions. Illinois’ labor market completely stalled as the national economic recovery slowed.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois, jobs, recession

Illinois is under ‘extreme’ threat of drawing another Madigan election map

By Joe Tabor

05/20/2021

Illinois is listed as one of the states under ‘extreme’ danger of partisan gerrymandering of its state legislative and congressional redistricting maps. Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop that threat.

TAGS: gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, Mike Madigan

Illinois

Illinois corruption package is light on needed reforms

Bill giving state new powers to shut down private and public schools advances in General Assembly

Hayli’s Law would protect lemonade stands from government in Illinois

Government union bosses may get permanent special treatment in Illinois

Year after George Floyd’s death, police contracts stop Illinois reform

Illinois takes aim at private schools with new bill

Illinois lawmakers seek to be nation’s first to put job-killing amendment in state constitution

One year later, Illinois’ jobs recovery from COVID-19 among slowest in U.S.

Illinois recovery stalls as state sheds 4,000 private sector jobs in April

Illinois is under ‘extreme’ threat of drawing another Madigan election map

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students