Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

09/19/2025

Illinois showed slow job growth as the state trailed national trends. Unemployment was at 4.4% in August, slightly above the national rate

Federal scholarship could help rural Illinois students find education options

By Hannah Schmid

09/19/2025

A new federal scholarship tax credit program could be a lifeline to students in rural Illinois. They may have limited educational options, but the federal money could boost those options through tutoring or other services if Gov. J.B. Pritzker allows it.

Congressional Democratic leader wants Illinois to super-gerrymander maps

By Dylan Sharkey, Jerry Barmore

09/18/2025

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wants Illinois state lawmakers to redraw congressional district maps to offset Republican gains from mid-decade remapping in Texas. Illinois lawmakers aren’t eager to do it.

Chicago Ald. Quinn pushing ‘decoy’ ordinance to block granny flats

By LyLena Estabine

09/18/2025

Ald. Marty Quinn’s proposed ordinance would restrict additional dwelling units in Chicago to just 20% of the city and add costly labor mandates. It also boosts each alderman’s power over what Chicagoans can do with their own homes.

Nuclear energy gives Illinois economic power, if it will allow new plants

By Ravi Mishra

09/17/2025

A slew of private investments in nuclear energy signals opportunity, yet Illinois remains one of only 12 states that limits production. The state needs to lift its ban on new reactors.

TAGS: nuclear energy

Peoria Heights mayor vetoes grocery tax as Chicago considers it

By Brad Weisenstein

09/16/2025

Peoria Heights’ mayor vetoed a grocery tax, saying the village would not balance its budget on the backs of families at the grocery checkout. Now Chicago is considering taking $73.5 million through the tax.

TAGS: Chicago, grocery tax, taxes

$3.3B in road funds sit idle, yet Illinois drivers face record-high gas taxes

By Ravi Mishra

09/16/2025

If Illinois state lawmakers are not going to spend the $3.3 billion sitting in the state’s road fund, drivers should get a break from the taxes going into it. Illinois gasoline taxes are No. 2 in the U.S.

Studies not enough to cut administrative bloat in Illinois schools

By Lilly Rossi

09/15/2025

The Illinois State Board of Education is giving school districts an incentive to study consolidation, but a flawed process still stands in the way. The state has too many school districts, driving up administrative costs and property taxes.

Tinley Park teachers union may strike Sept. 22

By Lilly Rossi

09/12/2025

District 146 Educators Council has voted to authorize a strike. If an agreement is not reached, teachers in Tinley Park could strike as soon as Sept. 22.

TAGS: teachers union

Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties

By Lauren Zuar

09/12/2025

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dropped by 3.2% in May. Still, nearly 2 million Illinoisans relied on federal food aid, with participation rates exceeding 30% in some Southern Illinois counties.

Illinois

Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

Federal scholarship could help rural Illinois students find education options

Congressional Democratic leader wants Illinois to super-gerrymander maps

Chicago Ald. Quinn pushing ‘decoy’ ordinance to block granny flats

Nuclear energy gives Illinois economic power, if it will allow new plants

Peoria Heights mayor vetoes grocery tax as Chicago considers it

$3.3B in road funds sit idle, yet Illinois drivers face record-high gas taxes

Studies not enough to cut administrative bloat in Illinois schools

Tinley Park teachers union may strike Sept. 22

Food aid feeds almost 2M statewide in May, 1-in-3 in southern counties

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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