Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/04/2019

Chicago is the most corrupt city, and Illinois the second-most corrupt state, in the nation, according to a recent report by the University of Illinois at Chicago. But corruption in Illinois is more than a buzzword. It comes with social and economic costs. Not only does corruption lessen residents’ faith in the government, it decreases...

Cash-strapped Illinois counties chase down unpaid tickets from 1980s

08/01/2019

Illinois counties are hiring debt collectors to track down people who may owe money for older, unpaid traffic tickets. One woman accused of owing money would have been just 14 when the ticket was issued.

Illinois bill would allow fast-food restaurants to accept food stamps

By Brad Weisenstein

07/19/2019

Homeless, disabled and elderly Illinoisans who can’t easily cook a meal could get help by using food stamps at fast-food restaurants.

TAGS: food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tom Demmer

Nearly $2.5B in Illinois public pension payments flow to 70K out-of-state retirees

By Vincent Caruso

06/25/2019

Florida is the top destination for Illinois retirees collecting a public pension.

TAGS: income tax, municipal pensions, outmigration, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes

Illinois’ rich millennials are moving to other states

06/23/2019

Youthful wealth, energy and talent that could help Illinois recover is leaving the state at the nation’s second-highest rate. State leaders’ thirst for new taxes will make the problem worse.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, jobs, millennials, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

All Illinois metro areas saw population shrink in 2018

By Bryce Hill

04/17/2019

New Census data reveal that for the first time on record, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, metro areas, outmigration, population, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois voters could eliminate townships that share city limits under bill

By Ben Paoletti

04/02/2019

Illinois townships often spend more on administration than services when they cover the same territory as a local municipality. One bill would make it easier for voters to change that.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Tom Demmer, townships

Study: Illinois property taxes still second-highest in nation

By Vincent Caruso

02/26/2019

For the second year in a row, a WalletHub study found Illinois’ high property tax burden is second only to New Jersey.

TAGS: income tax, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

State of the state 2019: Past mistakes show path to better future for Illinois

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

01/22/2019

Reversing the state’s outmigration of residents and encouraging the job creation Illinoisans need to thrive – and the state needs for stable revenues – require lawmakers to rein in government overspending and resist calls for tax hikes that would further depress Illinois’ economic growth.

Chicago anticipated to be nation’s weakest major housing market in 2019

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

12/06/2018

A study by realtor.com ranks the Chicago region’s housing market slowest of 100 U.S. metro areas for 2019. That stat could be fixed, or made worse.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, home price index, housing, property taxes, taxes

Florida

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

Cash-strapped Illinois counties chase down unpaid tickets from 1980s

Illinois bill would allow fast-food restaurants to accept food stamps

Nearly $2.5B in Illinois public pension payments flow to 70K out-of-state retirees

Illinois’ rich millennials are moving to other states

All Illinois metro areas saw population shrink in 2018

Illinois voters could eliminate townships that share city limits under bill

Study: Illinois property taxes still second-highest in nation

State of the state 2019: Past mistakes show path to better future for Illinois

Chicago anticipated to be nation’s weakest major housing market in 2019

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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