Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

By Bryce Hill

06/04/2020

Record April job losses hurt some communities even more than Illinois’ statewide decline of 13.4%.

Pritzker lifts 10-person limit on religious gatherings after facing legal pressure

05/29/2020

After being asked by the U.S. Supreme Court to reply to religious groups’ objections, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he was ending the 10-person limit on religious gatherings.

TAGS: IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, JB Pritzker, stay at home order, U.S. Supreme Court

Pritzker’s toilet removal contractor gets nearly $9M in COVID-19 work

05/28/2020

The contractor who removed toilets from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mansion in a $331,000 property tax scandal received a nearly $9 million COVID-19 contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contractor hadn’t worked with the Corps in 76 years.

TAGS: federal investigation, JB Pritzker, property taxes, tax fraud

Chicago may soon allow in-law flats, coach houses for first time since 1957

By Robert Brutvan

05/26/2020

Chicago introduces an ordinance to remove restrictions on accessory dwelling units, paving the way to encourage entrepreneurship and further combat the city’s affordable housing crisis

TAGS: Chicago City Council, regulations, zoning

Metra ridership down 97% from COVID-19

05/26/2020

Very few people have been commuting to work since Illinois’ stay-at-home order began at the end of March, which could mean tax and fare troubles are ahead for Chicago’s mass transit.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, Metra

Illinois bill would make Election Day a holiday, but only for government workers

05/21/2020

Tucked into sweeping vote-by-mail legislation is a holiday provision that would make Nov. 3, 2020, a holiday for all state and local government workers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, government unions, public sector, vote-by-mail

These lawmakers will decide whether to criminalize small business owners who defy Pritzker order

05/19/2020

Small business owners trying to save their livelihoods could face up to a year in prison under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s new emergency rules, unless a key committee fights back.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, small business

Opposition to Pritzker’s lockdown spreading rapidly

By Brad Weisenstein

05/15/2020

Opposition to Pritzker’s order is growing, as small business owners sue to challenge the governor’s ability to order them into ruin.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, reopen, small business, stay-at-home

Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ relief amounts to $6 for low-income Illinoisans

By Bryce Hill

05/13/2020

An Illinoisan making $12,400 a year would still pay nearly $1,800 in state and local taxes under the governor’s plan – a higher share of their income than residents of all but two states.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax

3-in-4 Illinoisans support reopening small businesses immediately

By Brad Weisenstein

05/13/2020

Small businesses have struggled since their doors were forced to close March 21. A new poll shows 75% of Illinoisans want them to be allowed to reopen now.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, executive order, JB Pritzker, reopen, small business

Chicago

Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

Pritzker lifts 10-person limit on religious gatherings after facing legal pressure

Pritzker’s toilet removal contractor gets nearly $9M in COVID-19 work

Chicago may soon allow in-law flats, coach houses for first time since 1957

Metra ridership down 97% from COVID-19

Illinois bill would make Election Day a holiday, but only for government workers

These lawmakers will decide whether to criminalize small business owners who defy Pritzker order

Opposition to Pritzker’s lockdown spreading rapidly

Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ relief amounts to $6 for low-income Illinoisans

3-in-4 Illinoisans support reopening small businesses immediately

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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