Illinois GDP grew 4.8% in 2nd quarter of 2025

By Ravi Mishra

10/03/2025

Illinois’ economy bounces back after early 2025 slump. Long-term growth is threatened by taxation, regulation and barriers to getting a job.

Illinois taxpayers each owe $38,800 for state’s unpaid bills

By Patrick Andriesen

10/03/2025

Illinois taxpayers in 2024 owed an average of $38,800 each, ranking No. 3 in the U.S. Illinois earned an “F” for fiscal management.

Record high: Chicago Teachers Union 2X political spending

By Mailee Smith

10/02/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union spent millions on failed school board candidates in its 2025 fiscal year. Not even 18% of its spending was on representing teachers.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago misses grocery tax deadline, saving shoppers $40M

By Dylan Sharkey

10/02/2025

Chicago missed the Oct. 1 deadline to extend the grocery tax. Grocery shoppers will save $40 million for at least six months starting Jan. 1, 2026.

TAGS: grocery tax

See what your Illinois school district superintendent made in 2024

By Lilly Rossi

10/01/2025

Illinois school district superintendent pay topped out at $537,197 in 2024. See your local superintendent's salary here.

TAGS: education, Illinois, property taxes

Illinois superintendent pay doesn’t match performance: district consolidation could help

By Lilly Rossi

10/01/2025

Superintendent salaries often do not reflect the district’s size, wealth or student performance. School district consolidation could help fix that.

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Pritzker blames Trump for cuts, but Illinois is high risk for recession

By Dylan Sharkey

09/26/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said state agencies need to trim 4%, blaming President Donald Trump and a slowing national economy. Illinois’ economic woes started long before Trump.

TAGS: Donald Trump, JB Pritzker

Just 4-in-5 businesses from 2015 likely still open in your Chicago neighborhood

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

09/26/2025

Chicago lost nearly 1-in-5 businesses between 2015 and 2024, translating to nearly 11,200 fewer businesses operating in the city. Of the city’s 98 neighborhoods, 80 lost 10% or more of their businesses. Mag Mile lost 41% of its stores.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, small business

More than 3-in-4 Illinois lawmakers get money from Illinois Federation of Teachers

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2025

The Illinois Federation of Teachers has poured more than $11 million into state lawmakers’ campaigns. Lawmakers then did IFT’s bidding on more than 2-in-5 bills in 2025, with what they wanted often hurting students’ and parents’ best interests.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Illinois

Illinois GDP grew 4.8% in 2nd quarter of 2025

Illinois taxpayers each owe $38,800 for state’s unpaid bills

Record high: Chicago Teachers Union 2X political spending

Chicago misses grocery tax deadline, saving shoppers $40M

See what your Illinois school district superintendent made in 2024

Illinois superintendent pay doesn’t match performance: district consolidation could help

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Pritzker blames Trump for cuts, but Illinois is high risk for recession

Just 4-in-5 businesses from 2015 likely still open in your Chicago neighborhood

More than 3-in-4 Illinois lawmakers get money from Illinois Federation of Teachers

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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