Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

By Bryce Hill, Justin Carlson

08/17/2023

The state finally surpassed January 2020 job levels after 37 states had already done so, including all of Illinois’ neighbors except Michigan.

Vallas: Youth crime is on the rise in Chicago – and CTU’s school closures may be to blame for the trend

By Paul Vallas

08/14/2023

Rising crime in Chicago is being driven by an increase in youth crime – as a result of the Chicago Teachers Union’s policies and agenda, which undermine police and public safety.

TAGS: crime, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

By Hannah Schmid

08/11/2023

Educators and other public school employees in Illinois can opt out of union membership in August and stop paying dues.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, opt out

Up 40% or down 40%, Chicago property taxes all over the map

By Josh Bandoch

08/07/2023

Chicago’s residential property taxes between 2020 and 2021 were pretty volatile. Don’t be happy about a big drop, though, because it might mean your home isn’t worth as much.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes

Illinois’ unemployment rate for June is 5th-worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

07/27/2023

Illinois added 8,400 jobs in June, but unemployment remained high compared to the rest of the nation. The state still hasn’t recovered the jobs it had before the pandemic.

TTX joins major companies leaving Chicago

By Dylan Sharkey

07/14/2023

Rail car company TTX is heading for North Carolina, adding to the list of corporations formerly headquartered in Chicago. Companies such as McDonald’s and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange could be next.

Vallas: Only school choice can revive Chicago’s education system, save our kids

By Paul Vallas

07/10/2023

With the public education system failing students, the only way to ensure all children have access to a good education is to expand educational options for all.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids

Chicago has 2nd-highest commercial property taxes in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

07/07/2023

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and progressive allies said the city can find fiscal flexibility by taxing big business. The city is already home to the second-highest commercial property taxes in the nation.

TAGS: corporate income tax

Vallas: Chicago teens are dying, committing more crimes: work-study can fix that

By Paul Vallas

06/29/2023

Much attention is rightly being paid to how city policy can address the need to provide young people with meaningful opportunities for work. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant

By Mailee Smith, Patrick Andriesen

06/26/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Illinois state worker Mark Janus in 2018 gave government workers the ability to stop funding government union politics. Chastened unions could have reformed. Instead, they got extreme.

Brandon Johnson

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

Vallas: Youth crime is on the rise in Chicago – and CTU’s school closures may be to blame for the trend

August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

Up 40% or down 40%, Chicago property taxes all over the map

Illinois’ unemployment rate for June is 5th-worst in U.S.

TTX joins major companies leaving Chicago

Vallas: Only school choice can revive Chicago’s education system, save our kids

Chicago has 2nd-highest commercial property taxes in U.S.

Vallas: Chicago teens are dying, committing more crimes: work-study can fix that

5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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