Every Illinois metro area lost people in 2023; Chicago 3rd worst in nation

By Bryce Hill

03/15/2024

Illinois’ population decline crisis has now spread to every major metropolitan area in the state. Chicago continued losing residents in 2023.

Illinois politicians want extra $25M for Democratic National Convention security in Chicago

By Dylan Sharkey

05/03/2023

Illinois’ congressional Democrats asked for an additional $25 million to pay for security at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Host cities typically receive $50 million.

TAGS: DNC: Democratic National Convention

Illinois home building lags virtually every other state during past decade

By Bryce Hill

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

State Farm to slash nearly 900 IT jobs in Illinois

By Vincent Caruso

03/07/2018

The insurer will downsize its IT division in Bloomington while adding tech jobs in other states.

TAGS: Bloomington, jobs, unemployment

Chicago City Council aims to crowd ballot with needless referendums

By Chris Lentino

07/17/2016

City Council violates procedural rules and plays political games to put popular, but toothless, measures on the ballot and protect the mayor and bureaucrats from any real challenges to their power.

TAGS: ballot, ballot referendums, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Rahm Emanuel

Illinois taxpayers paying for billionaires’ stadiums

06/02/2016

Taxpayers will shell out $36 million for Soldier Field in 2016, in addition to footing the bill for U.S. Cellular Field. And the city of Chicago is still pushing a plan for DePaul University that would cost an initial $55 million for a new basketball stadium.

TAGS: cronyism, tax credits

Illinois corruption watch: February 2016

03/07/2016

Illinoisans’ confidence in their state government is the lowest of residents of any state in the nation, and corruption stories from February 2016 don’t help.

New Cook County hotel tax will make visiting Chicago even pricier

By Amy Korte

12/31/2015

Cook County’s new 1 percent hotel tax will raise Chicago’s combined hotel tax to 17.4 percent in 2016.

TAGS: Chicago, hotel tax

The Chicago squeeze: Property taxes, fees and over 30 individual taxes crush city residents

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

12/08/2015

Chicagoans are the most-taxed residents of any major city in Illinois and pay the 10th-highest property taxes compared to taxpayers in other large U.S. cities.

Illinois’ migration and economic crises revealed in 2014 U-Haul pricing

By Michael Lucci

06/04/2015

Americans once stampeded into Illinois in search of opportunity. Now, the opposite happens.

Atlanta

Every Illinois metro area lost people in 2023; Chicago 3rd worst in nation

Illinois politicians want extra $25M for Democratic National Convention security in Chicago

Illinois home building lags virtually every other state during past decade

State Farm to slash nearly 900 IT jobs in Illinois

Chicago City Council aims to crowd ballot with needless referendums

Illinois taxpayers paying for billionaires’ stadiums

Illinois corruption watch: February 2016

New Cook County hotel tax will make visiting Chicago even pricier

The Chicago squeeze: Property taxes, fees and over 30 individual taxes crush city residents

Illinois’ migration and economic crises revealed in 2014 U-Haul pricing

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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