Pritzker proposes record-setting $56 billion budget

By Bryce Hill

02/18/2026

Spending proposal features $1 billion in updated revenue assumptions, $589 million in tax and fee hikes and $139 million in fund sweeps.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

02/17/2026

Amazon laid off 1,545 Illinois employees. That was most of 2,000 total layoffs across the state in January.

Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios

By Jack Knorr

02/17/2026

Illinois’ broken budgeting process allows legislators to hand taxpayer money to podcasting and production studios.

VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains

By Paul Vallas

02/17/2026

Roughly half of Illinois residents say they would leave the state if they could. That warning should be a wake-up call to state and local leaders.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option

By LyLena Estabine

02/13/2026

Giving police and fire retirees a pension cash-out option would help reduce long-term pension debt.

Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat

By Lilly Rossi

02/12/2026

Illinois is on pace to lose a seat in Congress based on new census data. International immigration and interstate migration are driving those projections.

5 ways state law empowers the Chicago Teachers Union and how it can change

By Gerrin Alexander

02/10/2026

The union's extraordinary power in Chicago is propped up by actions in Springfield.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Peace Initiative: Reducing violence with jobs

By Patrick Andriesen

02/10/2026

Gangs and prison often keep Chicago’s youth out of the workforce, but the Chicago Peace Initiative works to change that.

Chicago business activity growing for first time since November 2023

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

02/09/2026

Chicago employment situation improves after hitting lowest level since 2009 in December 2025.

The good and bad in Pritzker pension proposals

By LyLena Estabine

02/06/2026

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to handle Illinois’ pension crisis. Some build on proven reforms while others could delay real progress.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Chicago

Pritzker proposes record-setting $56 billion budget

Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January

Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios

VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains

New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option

Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat

5 ways state law empowers the Chicago Teachers Union and how it can change

Chicago Peace Initiative: Reducing violence with jobs

Chicago business activity growing for first time since November 2023

The good and bad in Pritzker pension proposals

7 things to know about public charter school laws in Illinois

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