Illinois COVID-19 school closures hurt math, reading scores

By Hannah Schmid

03/29/2022

SAT math scores dropped nearly 15%, and reading scores dropped 9% from 2019 to 2021 among Illinois high school juniors. Low-income and minority students saw bigger losses.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISAT: Illinois Standards Achievement Test, public schools, school closures

Illinois adds 19,600 jobs in February, still missing 178,300 jobs from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

03/29/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in February, but the state is still missing 21% of the jobs it lost in early 2020

TAGS: economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Illinois schools pay $8.8M in penalties for pension spiking

By Dylan Sharkey

03/25/2022

Illinois school districts paid out $8.8 million in penalties over two school years to cover salary and sick days in excess of what is allowed by law. Those are dollars taken from classrooms, but only hint at the full taxpayer cost.

TAGS: pension spiking, public schools, teachers union

81 of 102 Illinois counties lose population in 2021

By Bryce Hill

03/25/2022

Illinois’ record population decline affeced nearly all counties in 2021.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population

Nearly all Illinois metro areas lost population in 2021

By Bryce Hill

03/25/2022

Illinois’ record population decline affected virtually all of the state’s largest cities.

TAGS: Illinois, metro areas, outmigration, population

Only 1 Illinois metro area fully recovered its pandemic-related job losses

By Bryce Hill

03/24/2022

Bloomington is the only metro area to recover jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide mandated shutdowns. Illinois is still missing 200,100 jobs as of January 2020.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois adds 8,600 jobs in January, but still missing 200,100 from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

03/18/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in January, but the state remains far from a full recovery and still lags the nation.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

After two years of COVID-19, Illinois jobs growth seriously lags nation

By Bryce Hill

03/17/2022

Employment in nearly all of Illinois’ major industries are still lagging other states two years after the initial COVID-19 shutdowns rocked the economy.

Illinois tax rates rank No. 1: highest in U.S.

By Patrick Andriesen, Dylan Sharkey

03/15/2022

Illinoisans now pay the highest combined state and local tax rates in the nation. Those taxes take more than 15% of their household income each year.

Illinois missing nearly twice as many jobs as U.S.

By Bryce Hill

03/14/2022

Revisions show Illinois added 17,400 more jobs in 2021 than previously thought, but the state’s recovery still significantly lags the U.S. recovery rate.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Constitution of Illinois

Illinois COVID-19 school closures hurt math, reading scores

Illinois adds 19,600 jobs in February, still missing 178,300 jobs from pandemic

Illinois schools pay $8.8M in penalties for pension spiking

81 of 102 Illinois counties lose population in 2021

Nearly all Illinois metro areas lost population in 2021

Only 1 Illinois metro area fully recovered its pandemic-related job losses

Illinois adds 8,600 jobs in January, but still missing 200,100 from pandemic

After two years of COVID-19, Illinois jobs growth seriously lags nation

Illinois tax rates rank No. 1: highest in U.S.

Illinois missing nearly twice as many jobs as U.S.

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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