Promise of $10 million COVID-19 shot lottery fails to boost vaccinations

By Noah Shaar

07/03/2021

On July 8, Illinois will begin the “All in for the Win” lottery with $10 million in federal funds used as prizes to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. Three weeks after the shot lottery announcement, vaccination rates have dropped by more than half.

TAGS: COVID-19, lottery, vaccine

5 broken tax promises show why Illinois voters distrust Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’

By Adam Schuster

11/03/2019

From the lottery, to the tollway, to two “temporary” income tax hikes, Illinois politicians have a history of broken promises about how they tax and spend residents’ money.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, lottery, progressive income tax, tollway

State of Illinois loses $4 million in lottery revenue due to budget crisis

By John Kristof

07/10/2017

That total comes from $2.4 million lost due to the absence of Powerball ticket sales and $1.4 million lost due to the absence of Mega Millions ticket sales.

TAGS: budget, illinois lottery, lottery

Payments to Illinois lottery winners will be delayed without passage of state budget

By John Kristof

06/29/2017

The Illinois Lottery will cease awarding prizes over $25,000 if a budget is not signed by July 1.

TAGS: budget, illinois lottery, lottery

Powerball, Mega Millions to drop Illinois by June 30 due to budget crisis

By John Kristof

06/16/2017

Popular lotteries may stop gambling on Illinois.

TAGS: illinois lottery, lottery

Auditor general: Illinois Lottery made illegal $20 million prepayment just ahead of budget stalemate

By Amy Korte

05/24/2016

The Illinois auditor general found the Illinois Lottery in violation of a state finance law for paying $20 million to ensure that, even in the absence of a state budget, Illinois could continue to participate in the Mega Millions and Powerball games.

TAGS: illinois lottery, lottery

Illinois sitting on upward of $80 million in unpaid lottery winnings, attorney says

By Hilary Gowins

12/04/2015

Amid budget gridlock, Illinois lottery winners sue to have their winnings paid with interest and to prevent the state from selling more tickets it can’t pay out.

TAGS: budget, lottery

Illinois lottery winners to receive IOUs as lawmakers refuse reform

By Hilary Gowins

08/28/2015

A Springfield budget stalemate comes with embarrassing consequences for Illinois government.

TAGS: budget, illinois lottery, lottery

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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