State leaders block Pritzker from reimposing school mask mandate

By Joe Tabor

02/15/2022

Shortly after a downstate judge threw Pritzker’s mask mandates into question, a bipartisan committee voted against reimposing another K-12 school mask mandate.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

Illinois’ leisure and hospitality industry least recovered in Midwest, 7th worst in the nation

By Bryce Hill

02/15/2022

One-third of Illinois’ missing jobs are from the leisure and hospitality industry, but that sector’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery lags virtually every other state in the U.S.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, Illinois, restaurants

Lightfoot may keep Chicago mask mandate despite end to state requirement

By Patrick Andriesen

02/15/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot remained non-committal about lifting Chicago’s mask mandate Feb. 28 in line with the statewide mask requirement for all Illinoisans. Lightfoot said the city is "making tremendous progress" bringing down COVID-19 cases but may keep the mandate in place.

TAGS: Chicago, COVID-19, Lori Lightfoot, mask mandate

CTU-backed Amendment 1 would give teachers unions power over Illinois parents

By Mailee Smith

02/15/2022

Chicago Teachers Union takes credit for spreading the “new gospel” of union strike power across the nation. If the CTU-backed Amendment 1 passes in November, it will lock the union’s militant tactics into the state constitution, to the detriment of children and parents statewide.

TAGS: Amendment 1, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

IDES report detailing scope of Illinois unemployment fraud remains unpublished one year later

By Patrick Andriesen

02/14/2022

Nearly a year after Illinois lawmakers requested a comprehensive audit of state unemployment fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, IDES, the state agency in charge of issuing assistance, remains unable to tabulate how much money was lost to scammers.

TAGS: fraud, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security

Illinois last in Midwest to lift statewide mask mandate

By Patrick Andriesen

02/14/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker will end the statewide indoor mask mandate for most Illinoisans Feb. 28, joining the 39 other states who have already lifted COVID-19 restrictions on residents. Illinois will be the only state in the Midwest still mandating masks in schools at the state level.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, mask mandate

Pritzker ad fact check: No, the governor has never balanced a state budget

By Dylan Sharkey

02/11/2022

In one of his first re-election political TV ads, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker takes credit for passing a balanced budget. Budget documents tell a different story, showing a deficit instead of the reported surplus.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, federal aid, JB Pritzker

Illinois bill could create new 3-cent per gallon local gas tax

By Patrick Andriesen

02/10/2022

House Bill 4424 would give every Illinois municipal government the power to impose a 3-cent per gallon tax on gas without first gaining the approval of local taxpayers at the polls.

TAGS: gas tax, Illinois

Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28

By Patrick Andriesen

02/10/2022

Chicago and Cook County health officials announced plans to revoke pandemic masking and vaccination entry requirements by Feb. 28, the day Illinois’ statewide mask mandate will be lifted. Pritzker has warned Illinoisans to keep masks handy.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, COVID-19, mask mandate

Valentine’s Day gets pricier for Illinois couples in 2022

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2022

Couples’ wallets won’t feel the love this holiday as inflation soars and Illinois taxes kill the mood. Here’s how much extra a little romance will cost this Valentine’s Day.

TAGS: Illinois, Valentine's Day

Illinois

State leaders block Pritzker from reimposing school mask mandate

Illinois’ leisure and hospitality industry least recovered in Midwest, 7th worst in the nation

Lightfoot may keep Chicago mask mandate despite end to state requirement

CTU-backed Amendment 1 would give teachers unions power over Illinois parents

IDES report detailing scope of Illinois unemployment fraud remains unpublished one year later

Illinois last in Midwest to lift statewide mask mandate

Pritzker ad fact check: No, the governor has never balanced a state budget

Illinois bill could create new 3-cent per gallon local gas tax

Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28

Valentine’s Day gets pricier for Illinois couples in 2022

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students