Report: Illinoisans pay nation’s highest combined state, local taxes

By Patrick Andriesen

03/07/2025

Illinois families will pay the highest combined state and local tax burden in the nation this year on the median U.S. income. That’s $13,099, which will consume more than 16.5% of their money.

Illinois lawmakers attack parents’ constitutional rights

By Mailee Smith

03/06/2025

House Bill 2827 would require all Illinois private schools to report personal information about students to local and state authorities – a prime example of Illinois government overreach and an infringement of parents’ constitutional rights.

Illinois’ emergency reserves lowest in nation

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

Illinois is dead last of the 50 states in its ability to handle a financial crisis. It couldn’t last a month. The rainy-day fund that should be its primary reserve, and that Gov. J.B. Pritzker lauded himself for refilling, could barely cover two weeks.

Pritzker’s $1.5B wish for cash quickly vanishes

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

The latest forecast from the Illinois General Assembly estimates Illinois will have $737 million to $1.2 billion less in revenue than Gov. J.B. Pritzker hopes to spend.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Every 9 minutes, 21 seconds, Illinois loses another resident

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

Illinois continues to lose residents to other states. Another Illinoisan left every 9 minutes and 21 seconds from July 2023 to June 2024.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Parents would see what children are learning under school transparency bills

By Dylan Sharkey

03/06/2025

Illinois schools would be required to share curriculum materials with parents under a pair of bills in Springfield. State Rep. Amy Grant’s House Bill 3806 and state Sen. Andrew Chesney’s Senate Bill 2080 require school materials be made available to parents.

TAGS: public schools

Pritzker pushes $13B pension benefit hike in his budget

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

Newer state employees would get a $13 billion pension benefit boost if Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal passes. What should be a minor fix is being used to create an even bigger Illinois pension mess.

TAGS: budget, Illinois, JB Pritzker

Chicago mayor adds 50 speed cameras to put $11.4M in his budget

By Patrick Andriesen

03/05/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to add 50 new speed cameras to city streets during the coming year to add $11.4 million from fines and fees to his deficit budget.

Half of states let cities declare bankruptcy. Here’s why Illinois might want to.

By Lilly Rossi

03/05/2025

Illinois has some of the highest property taxes in the country. Chapter 9 would allow local governments to address the root cause.

How the April 1 elections can help fix Illinois’ property taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

03/05/2025

More than 600,000 Illinoisans will have a chance to send a message to state leaders on the most daunting issues, including Illinois’ property taxes.

Illinois

Report: Illinoisans pay nation’s highest combined state, local taxes

Illinois lawmakers attack parents’ constitutional rights

Illinois’ emergency reserves lowest in nation

Pritzker’s $1.5B wish for cash quickly vanishes

Every 9 minutes, 21 seconds, Illinois loses another resident

Parents would see what children are learning under school transparency bills

Pritzker pushes $13B pension benefit hike in his budget

Chicago mayor adds 50 speed cameras to put $11.4M in his budget

Half of states let cities declare bankruptcy. Here’s why Illinois might want to.

How the April 1 elections can help fix Illinois’ property taxes

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