August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

By Hannah Schmid

08/11/2023

Educators and other public school employees in Illinois can opt out of union membership in August and stop paying dues.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, opt out

Join thousands of public school employees who left their union

By Hannah Schmid

08/09/2023

Nearly 23,000 educators and other public school employees have chosen not to affiliate with their unions. You’re not alone if you choose to opt-out this August.

Illinoisans pay 2nd highest gas taxes in the nation

By Patrick Andriesen, Dylan Sharkey

08/09/2023

Illinoisans pay the nation’s second-highest gas taxes behind California thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s automatic gas tax hikes. Illinois motorists faced two hikes in 2023.

TAGS: gas tax

Pritzker Doles Out 19% Raises and $1,200 Stipend in Largest AFSCME Contract Ever

By Bryce Hill

08/08/2023

Illinois’ largest public employee union, AFSCME Council 31, finalized their second contract with Gov. J.B. Pritzker July 25. New pay raises will cost taxpayers $625 million.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, JB Pritzker

Up 40% or down 40%, Chicago property taxes all over the map

By Josh Bandoch

08/07/2023

Chicago’s residential property taxes between 2020 and 2021 were pretty volatile. Don’t be happy about a big drop, though, because it might mean your home isn’t worth as much.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2023

Despite statewide job gains in June, eight of Illinois’ metro areas lost jobs for the month. Most areas still haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic job levels.

No election? No break on Illinois back-to-school supplies

By Dylan Sharkey

08/02/2023

Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee are all having back-to-school sales tax holidays. Not Illinois, where state leaders saw the need during the 2022 election.

June cannabis sales highest of year, 3rd highest ever for Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

08/01/2023

Illinois dispensaries sold $136 million in marijuana during June, the highest of the year and third-best month ever for cannabis sales.

Over 4 of 5 Illinois lawmakers get money from teachers unions

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

07/31/2023

Since 2010, teachers unions have funneled nearly $20 million to current lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly, with the Chicago Teachers Union alone spending over $1.25 million.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, teachers union

One-third of Chicago Public Schools are less than half full

By Hannah Schmid

07/28/2023

Chicago Public Schools has a school utilization problem. Over 34% are less than half full, 57% are underutilized, and 5% are overcrowded. Just 35% are at ideal capacity. The Chicago Teachers Union is preventing solutions.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois

August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

Join thousands of public school employees who left their union

Illinoisans pay 2nd highest gas taxes in the nation

Pritzker Doles Out 19% Raises and $1,200 Stipend in Largest AFSCME Contract Ever

Up 40% or down 40%, Chicago property taxes all over the map

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

No election? No break on Illinois back-to-school supplies

June cannabis sales highest of year, 3rd highest ever for Illinois

Over 4 of 5 Illinois lawmakers get money from teachers unions

One-third of Chicago Public Schools are less than half full

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