Amendment 1 narrowly clears voter threshold to become law

By Dylan Sharkey

12/07/2022

Amendment 1 is now included in the Illinois Constitution after the State Board of Elections certified the Nov. 8 election results.

TAGS: Amendment 1

Springfield’s ‘bad Santas’ can’t kick sin tax habit

By Dylan Sharkey

12/07/2022

Bad habits are tough to break, and Illinois lawmakers can’t ditch their habit of depending on sin taxes to raise revenue.

TAGS: sin taxes

What you need to know about new Illinois laws taking effect in 2023

By Perry Zhao

12/06/2022

New laws signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are set to impact education, public safety, agriculture and labor

Report: Illinois government ethics complaints hit new record in 2022

By Dylan Sharkey

12/06/2022

Illinois’ Executive Inspector General reported a record number of complaints, some alleging financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest.

TAGS: ethics violation, OEIG: Office of the Executive Inspector General

Illinois ranks least tax-friendly state for middle-class families, 2nd-worst for retirees

By Patrick Andriesen

12/06/2022

Tax friendliness reports ranked Illinois as the most expensive for middle-class families and second most expensive for retirees. Analysts cited high property taxes, sales taxes and income taxes as cinching the bottom spots.

TAGS: Illinois, taxes

DCFS held kids in hospitals for months beyond doctors’ orders

By Dylan Sharkey

12/01/2022

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services held kids in psychiatric hospitals for far longer than needed because the agency couldn’t find them housing.

TAGS: DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services

3 things you need to know about latest SAFE-T Act changes

By Joe Tabor

12/01/2022

Lawmakers are set to consider an amendment to the controversial criminal justice reform law set to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are three things Illinoisans should know about the proposed changes.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

Report: 40% of Illinois small businesses behind on November rent

By Patrick Andriesen

12/01/2022

A new survey found Illinois reported the third-highest increase in small business rent delinquency nationwide during November, with 40% of respondents unable to pay rent on time or in full.

TAGS: small business

Bipartisan plan to pay off $1B deficit spares Illinois businesses from tax hike

By Dylan Sharkey

11/30/2022

More taxes on businesses and reductions in unemployment benefits were looming as a recession approached, but no longer. Lawmakers agreed to replenish Illinois’ unemployment insurance trust fund and avoid those pitfalls.

Illinois labor board says government unions cannot discriminate against nonmembers

By Mailee Smith

11/30/2022

Illinois government unions wrote the law that gives them a monopoly over all government employees in a unionized workplace. And that means they can’t discriminate against workers who choose not to be members.

TAGS: government unions, ILRB: Illinois Labor Relations Board

Illinois

Amendment 1 narrowly clears voter threshold to become law

Springfield’s ‘bad Santas’ can’t kick sin tax habit

What you need to know about new Illinois laws taking effect in 2023

Report: Illinois government ethics complaints hit new record in 2022

Illinois ranks least tax-friendly state for middle-class families, 2nd-worst for retirees

DCFS held kids in hospitals for months beyond doctors’ orders

3 things you need to know about latest SAFE-T Act changes

Report: 40% of Illinois small businesses behind on November rent

Bipartisan plan to pay off $1B deficit spares Illinois businesses from tax hike

Illinois labor board says government unions cannot discriminate against nonmembers

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