Why is taking a selfie with your ballot illegal in Illinois?

By Dylan Sharkey

03/25/2025

Sharing your civic duty on Instagram or Facebook could mean jail time. Snapping a picture with your ballot and sharing it is a felony in Illinois.

Bensenville asking voters about grocery tax; what’s your town’s plan?

By Dylan Sharkey

03/24/2025

Voters near O’Hare International Airport will have a chance to weigh in on whether to keep or cut the 1% grocery tax. The statewide tax ends in 2026, but nearly 50 communities have already passed their own 1% grocery tax.

TAGS: grocery tax

Illinois loses jobs in January, metro areas lag U.S. job growth

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

03/24/2025

Illinois’ job market continued to struggle in January as the national economy grew. The job troubles were seen in eight of Illinois’ 13 metropolitan areas, with Champaign-Urbana hit the hardest.

TAGS: unemployment

Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.

By Patrick Andriesen

03/21/2025

Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $40,600 in city debt today, the second most among major U.S. cities. Add in the debt Illinois state leaders grew last year, and Chicago taxpayers owe nearly $80,000.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans

By Chris Coffey

03/21/2025

Opportunity stalls in Illinois as the state lags other Midwestern states on four key indicators of social mobility. The state trails the rest of the region on entrepreneurship, economic growth, institutions and the rule of law.

Lemont Township residents’ $22 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot

By Bryce Hill

03/21/2025

A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Lemont Township voters would like to fix $22 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.

TAGS: Lemont Township

Palos Township’s $83M pension crisis on the ballot

By Bryce Hill

03/21/2025

A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Palos Township voters would like to fix $83 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.

TAGS: Palos Township

Winfield Township $50 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot

By Bryce Hill

03/21/2025

A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Winfield Township voters would like to fix a nearly $50 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.

Homer Township’s $7M pension crisis on April 1 ballot

By Bryce Hill

03/21/2025

A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Homer Township voters would like to fix $7 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.

TAGS: Homer Township

Illinois has too many unemployed chasing too few jobs, ranks 5th worst

By Chris Coffey, Jon Josko

03/21/2025

Illinois’ job market struggles continued with almost 50,000 more unemployed workers than there were job openings in January – the fifth-worst ratio in the nation.

Illinois

Why is taking a selfie with your ballot illegal in Illinois?

Bensenville asking voters about grocery tax; what’s your town’s plan?

Illinois loses jobs in January, metro areas lag U.S. job growth

Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.

Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans

Lemont Township residents’ $22 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot

Palos Township’s $83M pension crisis on the ballot

Winfield Township $50 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot

Homer Township’s $7M pension crisis on April 1 ballot

Illinois has too many unemployed chasing too few jobs, ranks 5th worst

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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