Census: 95% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

By Bryce Hill

01/22/2026

U.S. Census estimates showed Illinois lost residents to 32 states and Washington, D.C. – virtually all to lower-tax states.

TAGS: outmigration, taxes

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

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...

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

By Joe Tabor

09/26/2024

Published Sept. 26, 2024 Illinois is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Over a third of residents are considered “burdened” by housing costs, meaning they pay over 30% of their income on costs related to housing. That is a greater portion of residents burdened by housing than any other state in the Midwest....

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

By Hannah Schmid

09/19/2024

Student literacy is in trouble nationally, which is why Illinois is one of 35 states where just 1 in 3 – or fewer – of its fourth graders met reading standards in 2022.

Black and Hispanic students thrive in school model Chicago Teachers Union wants to eliminate

By Hannah Schmid

08/27/2024

Black and Hispanic students are around six times more likely to be proficient in reading at selective enrollment high schools compared to traditional public schools in Chicago. But the Chicago Teachers Union wants to eliminate these schools that are a lifeline to the city’s minority students.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

3-in-10 Chicago public school teachers send their children to private school

By Hannah Schmid, Jon Josko

08/14/2024

Nearly 31% of public school teachers in Chicago send at least one of their kids to private school. What does that say about the quality of a public-school education in Chicago?

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Census: 97% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

By Bryce Hill

11/01/2023

State-to-state migration estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showed Illinois lost residents to 36 states and Washington, D.C. Nearly all the former Illinoisans moved to lower-tax states.

5 problems with report implying Illinois is growing. Problem No. 1: it’s not

By Bryce Hill

10/25/2023

Authors left out key data that contradicted their findings to claim Illinois’ population is growing. Evidence Illinois is shrinking comes independently from the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois Department of Revenue and multiple moving companies.

Union member: Amendment 1 works against union interests

09/26/2022

A union member argues both government union members and taxpayers lose if Amendment 1 passes Nov. 8. He’s against it.

TAGS: Amendment 1

American Community Survey

Census: 95% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

Black and Hispanic students thrive in school model Chicago Teachers Union wants to eliminate

3-in-10 Chicago public school teachers send their children to private school

Census: 97% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

5 problems with report implying Illinois is growing. Problem No. 1: it’s not

Union member: Amendment 1 works against union interests

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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