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

By Patrick Andriesen

05/28/2026

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

Proposed amendment does nothing to curb gerrymandering in Illinois

By Joe Tabor

04/29/2026

If state House Democrats were serious about protecting our votes, they would require competitive elections and remove politicians from the process.

44K international migrants offset 40K Illinoisans leaving last year

By Bryce Hill

01/27/2026

Illinois’ population grew by 16,108 in 2025 thanks to an influx of people migrating from other countries. But Illinoisans moving away offset most of that gain.

TAGS: outmigration, population

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

01/13/2026

Causes, costs, how to set the state free

Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations

By Lilly Rossi

11/17/2025

Chicago Public Schools employees spent $23.6 million in tax dollars on lavish vacations at 5-star hotels and overseas trips. Much of it was without approval.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

By Patrick Andriesen

05/20/2025

Illinois state lawmakers must be super speed readers, because who would vote on something they hadn’t read? They were given an average of 67 seconds per page to read the past nine state budgets, but last year received only 26 seconds per page.

Pritzker touts economic growth while proposed budget risks it

By FJ Hilgart

05/01/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal slashes general funds for economic development while relying on federal dollars to mask the cuts. This move raises doubts about the governor’s fiscal priorities.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

04/01/2025

Illinois will impose the nation’s seventh-highest state and local tax burden on residents in 2025. Taxpayers on average will pay over 10% of their annual income to support government, according to WalletHub.

TAGS: Tax Day

Chicago area gets over 96K international migrants in 2024; 238K since 2020

By Bryce Hill

03/12/2025

Chicagoland’s population has been boosted by international migrants in recent years. But 347,000 residents left for other states since April 2020.

TAGS: outmigration, population, property taxes

64 of Illinois’ 102 counties see populations drop in 2024

By Bryce Hill

03/12/2025

While Illinois’ total population grew slightly last year, many areas of the state experienced population decline. People moved out of state from half the counties.

TAGS: outmigration, population, taxes

Hawaii

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

Proposed amendment does nothing to curb gerrymandering in Illinois

44K international migrants offset 40K Illinoisans leaving last year

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

Pritzker touts economic growth while proposed budget risks it

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

Chicago area gets over 96K international migrants in 2024; 238K since 2020

64 of Illinois’ 102 counties see populations drop in 2024

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