Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios

By Jack Knorr

02/17/2026

Illinois’ broken budgeting process allows legislators to hand taxpayer money to podcasting and production studios.

Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate

By Josh Bandoch

02/17/2026

Illinois must cut its error rate nearly in half to avoid penalties.

VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains

By Paul Vallas

02/17/2026

Roughly half of Illinois residents say they would leave the state if they could. That warning should be a wake-up call to state and local leaders.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois “spending cuts” aren’t from good behavior

By Ravi Mishra

02/13/2026

Illinois lawmakers claim the state saved nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2026, but most “savings” are either from federal decisions or shifting costs, not serious fiscal restraint.

New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option

By LyLena Estabine

02/13/2026

Giving police and fire retirees a pension cash-out option would help reduce long-term pension debt.

Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes

By Jess Plowman

02/12/2026

State lawmakers voted to hike road tolls in 2027, even though the state has billions in the road fund it’s not using. Some drivers are reconsidering their commutes; Laura Valdez explains why she cut toll roads out of her routine years ago.

Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat

By Lilly Rossi

02/12/2026

Illinois is on pace to lose a seat in Congress based on new census data. International immigration and interstate migration are driving those projections.

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

By Ravi Mishra, Tom Demmer

02/12/2026

Pro-growth policies and fiscal responsibility can ensure Illinois’ long-term budget health. Here’s how state leaders can do it.

Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups

By Jack Knorr

02/11/2026

Some Illinois lawmakers handed money to their local business associations. Should everyone’s taxes subsidize certain groups because their lawmakers had clout?

Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation

By Josh Bandoch

02/11/2026

Illinois in the top ten for largest racial wealth gaps. Disparities in income, education and poverty drive the state’s racial wealth gap.

Illinois

Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios

Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate

VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains

Illinois “spending cuts” aren’t from good behavior

New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option

Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes

Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups

Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation

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