Cook County businesses should require vax proof or COVID-19 test

By Dylan Sharkey

12/17/2021

Cook County businesses should be checking for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before letting anyone in their doors, the health department has declared.

TAGS: Cook County, COVID-19, vaccine mandate

Pritzker emergency No. 23 comes as Colorado drops masks

By Dylan Sharkey

12/14/2021

Illinois is far from finished with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statewide COVID-19 mandates, but another Democratic governor just said the emergency is over and the state shouldn’t be making people wear masks anymore.

TAGS: Colorado, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks

Masks off by holidays? Pritzker likely taking back his ‘gift’

By Patrick Andriesen

12/03/2021

New COVID-19 cases have surged across Illinois, leading some state leaders to question why the only state east of the Mississippi with a universal mask mandate is seeing worse case rates than those without a mandate.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks

Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money

By Adam Schuster

08/24/2021

Classrooms First Act would benefit virtually all Illinoisans including teachers, parents and students.

Illinois’ state budget practices earn poor marks from fiscal watchdog

By Justin Carlson

07/15/2021

A Volcker Alliance report on truth and integrity in state budgeting finds Illinois lacking. Debt, budget gimmicks and thin reserve funds gave the state poor marks.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker

Former Illinois Senate president returns to lobby for utility on energy bill

By Brad Weisenstein

06/09/2021

The former president of the Illinois Senate is now a lobbyist for a power utility. Illinois needs stronger rules on when their peers can return to sway state lawmakers.

TAGS: John Cullerton, lobbying, revolving door

Illinois loses 1 seat in Congress after 2020 Census shows first population drop in 200 years

By Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

04/27/2021

Illinois will lose one representative in the U.S. House. The state’s population declined for the first time in over 200 years, the 10-year U.S. Census count showed.

TAGS: outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Congress

Illinois to lose 1 seat in U.S. Congress, new Census shows

By Brad Weisenstein

04/26/2021

Illinois’ decade of population loss, with last year being the worst loss of people since World War II, will cost is one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Some thought the new Census would cost Illinois two seats in Congress.

TAGS: outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Congress

Civic Federation finds nearly 9,000 tax-guzzling government units in Illinois

By Justin Carlson

04/19/2021

A recent comprehensive analysis found the real number of government units in Illinois is 30% higher than the U.S. Census Bureau’s count. Too many government units mean too many taxes.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, Illinois, local government consolidation, school district efficiency

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans

By Adam Schuster

03/17/2021

Illinois has a chance to fix its state finances, thanks to federal relief. But unless pension growth is brought under control, both retirees and taxpayers will be at risk as debt continues to consume state services.

Colorado

Cook County businesses should require vax proof or COVID-19 test

Pritzker emergency No. 23 comes as Colorado drops masks

Masks off by holidays? Pritzker likely taking back his ‘gift’

Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money

Illinois’ state budget practices earn poor marks from fiscal watchdog

Former Illinois Senate president returns to lobby for utility on energy bill

Illinois loses 1 seat in Congress after 2020 Census shows first population drop in 200 years

Illinois to lose 1 seat in U.S. Congress, new Census shows

Civic Federation finds nearly 9,000 tax-guzzling government units in Illinois

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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