From tragedy to transformation: Kevon Williams and the fight for opportunity on Chicago’s West Side

By Patrick Andriesen

05/29/2026

Kevon Williams does workforce and community work on his native West Side of Chicago.

Fewer homes on market, higher prices for Illinois buyers

By LyLena Estabine

01/08/2026

Elevated prices thanks to low inventory continued to create problems for Illinois homebuyers in November.

TAGS: housing market, property taxes

4 myths about federal scholarship tax credit program

By Hannah Schmid

09/25/2025

Illinois students could be denied donor-funded scholarships for tutoring and other academic services because opponents are spreading misinformation about how the program works. Here are the facts about four of their fictions.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, JB Pritzker

How Chicago’s election timing suppresses voting

By Gerrin Alexander, Austin Berg, Jon Josko

03/26/2025

Disproportionate and low voter turnout presents challenges for municipal democracy nationwide. However, a straightforward reform acknowledged by scholars and policymakers – aligning the timing of municipal elections to coincide with general elections – offers a clear solution to enhance voter participation significantly. Research shows the timing of local elections influences voter turnout, which subsequently impacts...

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2025

Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships mostly go to Black, Hispanic students

By Mailee Smith

10/23/2023

Low-income students from across Illinois receive Invest in Kids scholarships, with the majority going to Black and Hispanic students.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Illinois pension costs impair spending on roads, public services

By Patrick Andriesen

11/23/2022

Illinois taxpayers spent $3.3 billion more on public pensions between 2017 and 2022 than state forecasts said they would. Had that money not evaporated, it could have paid to repave 150,000 miles of roads or for nearly 25,000 full-ride scholarships.

TAGS: government spending, pensions

How to eliminate Illinois’ pension debt without hurting retirees

By Dylan Sharkey

02/09/2022

Illinois lawmakers haven’t taken up pension legislation in nearly a decade. It’s time to give voters a chance to fix the problem driving state fiscal woes. A constitutional amendment can fix the unsustainable public pension systems.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions, Tier 3

Illinois police, firefighters push back on state control of pensions

By Patrick Andriesen

12/06/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to consolidate local police and firefighter pensions from across downstate Illinois, but beneficiaries are suing because the state is notorious for poor pension management.

TAGS: consolidation, government unions, Illinois, pensions

Illinois’ rising property taxes driven by $75 billion local pension debt

By Adam Schuster

09/27/2021

Rapidly rising property taxes and growing pension costs leave homeowners asked to pay more to get less. Relief requires structural pension reform, starting with a constitutional amendment.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions, property taxes

Carbondale

From tragedy to transformation: Kevon Williams and the fight for opportunity on Chicago’s West Side

Fewer homes on market, higher prices for Illinois buyers

4 myths about federal scholarship tax credit program

How Chicago’s election timing suppresses voting

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships mostly go to Black, Hispanic students

Illinois pension costs impair spending on roads, public services

How to eliminate Illinois’ pension debt without hurting retirees

Illinois police, firefighters push back on state control of pensions

Illinois’ rising property taxes driven by $75 billion local pension debt

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