Idaho giving students access to federal scholarships; Illinois should join

By Benjamin Hines, Lilly Rossi

02/24/2026

The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of school choice tax credits. Yet Illinois continues to lag the nation with no form of school choice.

TAGS: scholarships, school choice

Pritzker’s $56 billion budget relies on $700 million in new revenue

By Ravi Mishra

02/23/2026

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s $56 billion budget proposal for 2027 relies in more than $700 million in new revenue.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois job openings drop by 100,000 since September with 302,000 unemployed

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

02/20/2026

Illinois job openings are down by more than 100,000 since September.

Waste watch: Illinois uses temporary federal aid to fund ongoing social programs

By Geoff Feinstein

02/19/2026

Illinois lawmakers diverted at least $74 million in one-time pandemic relief funds to select social programs and nonprofits.

Pritzker proposes record-setting $56 billion budget

By Bryce Hill

02/18/2026

Spending proposal features $1 billion in updated revenue assumptions, $589 million in tax and fee hikes and $139 million in fund sweeps.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois’ increased revenue because of federal economy, not state lawmakers

By Ravi Mishra

02/18/2026

Higher tax revenue paints a better picture for Illinois’ budget, but increases have been driven by strong national economy, rather than local policy.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois at near record-low union membership in 2025

By Mailee Smith

02/18/2026

Just 13.1% of workers in Illinois were union members in 2025. Thousands of government workers have rejected union membership.

Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

02/17/2026

Amazon laid off 1,545 Illinois employees. That was most of 2,000 total layoffs across the state in January.

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.

Illinois

Idaho giving students access to federal scholarships; Illinois should join

Pritzker’s $56 billion budget relies on $700 million in new revenue

Illinois job openings drop by 100,000 since September with 302,000 unemployed

Waste watch: Illinois uses temporary federal aid to fund ongoing social programs

Pritzker proposes record-setting $56 billion budget

Illinois’ increased revenue because of federal economy, not state lawmakers

Illinois at near record-low union membership in 2025

Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January

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

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

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

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