Despite slight decline, nearly 2M Illinoisans still receive food help

By Lauren Zuar

03/27/2025

Illinois enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program decreased slightly in December, but over 1.9 million residents still received benefits.

TAGS: SNAP

Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

03/27/2025

Typical property tax bill increased 78% on a Cook County residence since 2007. Median property values only rose 7.3%. That leaves residents paying $2,558 more a year in property taxes while their biggest investment fails to keep up with inflation.

TAGS: property taxes

Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.

By Patrick Andriesen

03/21/2025

Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $40,600 in city debt today, the second most among major U.S. cities. Add in the debt Illinois state leaders grew last year, and Chicago taxpayers owe nearly $80,000.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Illinois gasoline taxes 2nd highest in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

02/20/2025

Illinoisans pay the second-highest gas taxes in the nation at more than $0.84 per gallon. Only California charges its drivers more.

TAGS: gas tax

Food assistance need grows 12% in Illinois since 2019

By Lauren Zuar

02/19/2025

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans, with around half in Cook County, relied on federal food assistance in October 2024, marking a 12% increase in five years.

TAGS: SNAP

Greater Chicago hit hard as Illinois sees 2,342 mass layoffs in January

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

02/11/2025

Illinois companies announced 2,342 mass layoffs in January 2025, according to state reports. More than 9-in-10 job cuts impacted Cook and the collar counties.

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

01/28/2025

Published Jan. 28, 2025 Illinois Policy Institute Center for Poverty Solutions, in partnership with the Archbridge Institute By Joshua Bandoch, Ph.D., head of policy, Illinois Policy Institute and Justin Callais, Ph.D., chief economist, Archbridge Institute EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A low-income person’s ability to move up in society is worse in Illinois than in any other Midwestern...

Mass layoffs hit 14.7K Illinoisans in 2024, most from business closures

By Patrick Andriesen

01/15/2025

State reports show 14,723 Illinoisans lost their jobs because of mass layoffs during 2024, with two-thirds resulting from business closures.

TAGS: Illinois, unemployment

Another Cook County suburb gives voters say on Illinois issues

By Dylan Sharkey

01/09/2025

Wheeling Township voters will have a chance to weigh in on Illinois state lawmakers imposing unfunded mandates. After the April 1 election, nearly 650,000 Illinoisans’ concerns will have been represented by votes on some of the state’s most pressing issues.

Voters in northwest Cook County take up pension crisis, unfunded mandates

By Dylan Sharkey

01/07/2025

Palatine Township voters will take up some of the state’s most urgent issues at the April 1 election, telling state lawmakers where they stand on public pensions and unfunded state mandates.

TAGS: Cook County

Cook County

Despite slight decline, nearly 2M Illinoisans still receive food help

Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%

Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.

Illinois gasoline taxes 2nd highest in nation

Food assistance need grows 12% in Illinois since 2019

Greater Chicago hit hard as Illinois sees 2,342 mass layoffs in January

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

Mass layoffs hit 14.7K Illinoisans in 2024, most from business closures

Another Cook County suburb gives voters say on Illinois issues

Voters in northwest Cook County take up pension crisis, unfunded mandates

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