Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

By LyLena Estabine

08/17/2026

Reducing property taxes and bureaucratic holdups will lead to safer communities and more economic opportunities on Chicago's South and West sides.

Vallas: Pritzker for president? Check that Illinois baggage.

By Paul Vallas

05/26/2025

As Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker positions himself as the foil to President Donald Trump, a look at his record as governor is telling. What it is telling is not good.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, jobs, taxes

Poll: Taxes No. 1 issue for over half of Illinois voters, nearly half would move

By Patrick Andriesen

05/01/2025

More than half of Illinois voters said high taxes were the No. 1 concern for the state, according to an Illinois Policy Institute poll. Of those polled, nearly half said they would also move out of the state if given the chance.

TAGS: outmigration

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

04/01/2025

Illinois will impose the nation’s seventh-highest state and local tax burden on residents in 2025. Taxpayers on average will pay over 10% of their annual income to support government, according to WalletHub.

TAGS: Tax Day

Report: Illinoisans pay nation’s highest combined state, local taxes

By Patrick Andriesen

03/07/2025

Illinois families will pay the highest combined state and local tax burden in the nation this year on the median U.S. income. That’s $13,099, which will consume more than 16.5% of their money.

Illinois property taxes No. 2, double national average in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

03/01/2025

Illinois families will pay the second-highest property tax rate in the nation in 2025, spending more than double what the average American family will spend to stay in the same home. That’s driving Illinoisans away.

TAGS: property taxes

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

By Josh Bandoch, Larry Han

10/16/2024

Published Oct. 16, 2024 Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and...

White, Black communities lead Illinois’ population decline; Hispanic, Asian communities growing

By Bryce Hill

06/28/2024

Illinois’ Hispanic population is growing the most while the Asian population growing the fastest.

TAGS: population, U.S. Census Bureau

5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

01/26/2024

Seven of 13 Illinois metro areas added jobs from November to December 2023, led by the St. Louis area. Five metros still reported fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic.

Census

3 problems remain in mayor’s revised Chicago renter ordinance

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

Vallas: Pritzker for president? Check that Illinois baggage.

Poll: Taxes No. 1 issue for over half of Illinois voters, nearly half would move

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

Report: Illinoisans pay nation’s highest combined state, local taxes

Illinois property taxes No. 2, double national average in 2025

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

White, Black communities lead Illinois’ population decline; Hispanic, Asian communities growing

5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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