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

This Thanksgiving, food stamps will buy nearly 14 percent of Illinoisans’ meals

11/21/2018

Food stamp participation has seen an encouraging decrease, but lagging economic growth leaves Illinois ranked highest among neighboring states in SNAP enrollment.

TAGS: food stamps, SNAP, unemployment

General Assembly passes bill expanding medical marijuana access as opioid alternative

By Eddie Damstra

06/07/2018

Lawmakers in Springfield are seeking to offer patients with debilitating conditions the option to replace opioids with medical marijuana.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, marijuana

Ill-timed computer glitch causes drop in Illinois food stamp rolls

By Vincent Caruso

12/21/2017

Some SNAP-dependent households saw their benefits disappear this holiday season.

TAGS: food stamps, SNAP

Cook County officials claim resolution of food stamp soda tax problems

By Brendan Bakala

08/18/2017

Retailers will now have to either program cash registers not to tax purchases made with food stamps, or implement a “manual override.”

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, food stamps, SNAP, soda tax

Cook County soda tax could cost Illinois $87 million in federal food stamp funding

By John Kristof

08/10/2017

Certain provisions of Cook County’s penny-per-ounce soda tax could cost Illinois more than $86 million in federal administrative funding.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, food stamps, SNAP, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

1.8 million Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps

By Brendan Bakala

05/30/2017

March 2017 saw 15,000 more Illinoisans on food stamps than March 2016, while the number of Indiana SNAP recipients dropped from March 2016 to March 2017.

TAGS: food stamps, Indiana, jobs, SNAP, unemployment

2 million Illinoisans struggle to put food on their tables

By Madelyn Harwood

12/25/2016

Recent data from the Illinois Department of Human Services show nearly 2 million Illinois residents need government assistance to put food on the table this holiday season, as the state continues to hemorrhage manufacturing jobs and other blue-collar opportunities. Each year’s end is a time for reflection.

TAGS: food stamps, jobs, SNAP

Hundreds on Medicaid waiting list in Illinois die while waiting for care

11/23/2016

Illinois has a Medicaid crisis. With an Obamacare Medicaid expansion program that continues to spiral out of control, newly obtained data confirm fears that the expansion program would prioritize able-bodied adults over the state’s truly vulnerable residents.

TAGS: health care, Medicaid

AFSCME: The 800-pound gorilla at the negotiating table

By Mailee Smith

11/14/2016

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees claims to be seeking a “fair contract” on behalf of Illinois state workers. But the power and influence exerted by the state’s largest government-worker union means the bargaining table almost always tilts in AFSCME’s favor. The reality is that AFSCME is the power player in negotiations...

Illinois Department of Human Services

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

This Thanksgiving, food stamps will buy nearly 14 percent of Illinoisans’ meals

General Assembly passes bill expanding medical marijuana access as opioid alternative

Ill-timed computer glitch causes drop in Illinois food stamp rolls

Cook County officials claim resolution of food stamp soda tax problems

Cook County soda tax could cost Illinois $87 million in federal food stamp funding

1.8 million Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps

2 million Illinoisans struggle to put food on their tables

Hundreds on Medicaid waiting list in Illinois die while waiting for care

AFSCME: The 800-pound gorilla at the negotiating table

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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