7 ways Illinois lawmakers just made it easier to work

By Rich Witzel

07/18/2025

The Illinois General Assembly passed seven bills that expand the ability of professionals to work in Illinois. Lawmakers need to keep going and reduce the number of government permission slips needed to earn a living.

710k Illinoisans avoid work advancement to keep welfare benefits

By Sachi Gaonkar

07/17/2025

Welfare programs are structured poorly and punish people for working to climb out of poverty. An estimated 710,000 Illinoisans have intentionally hurt their own economic advancement to keep welfare benefits.

TAGS: welfare

Illinois lawmakers making $128K for 70 days of work

By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis

07/17/2025

While Illinois families face one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, the nation’s highest property taxes and the highest state and local tax burden, state lawmakers just gave themselves another raise. They get $128,000 for 70 days of work.

TAGS: lawmaker pay

Illinois loses 1,782 jobs, with 390 layoffs at Chicago job search firms Monster, CareerBuilder

By Brad Weisenstein

07/15/2025

Illinois saw 1,782 mass layoffs in June. Two merged Chicago job search firms, Monster and CareerBuilder, is sending 390 workers searching for new jobs.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

What you need to know about welfare work requirements in Illinois

By Jack Knorr

07/15/2025

Congress just put work requirements in place for some receiving federal health care and food assistance benefits. What does that mean for the 1-in-4 Illinois residents currently on Medicaid?

TAGS: welfare

Congress gives school choice back to Illinois’ low-income students

By Hannah Schmid

07/14/2025

Illinois state lawmakers listened to teachers unions and killed school choice for over 15,000 low-income students in 2023. Now Congress has restored a scholarship program for needy kids, but Illinois leaders must allow families to access the money.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

Chicago mayor pushes for granny flats citywide to boost affordable housing

By LyLena Estabine

07/14/2025

Legalizing additional dwelling units across Chicago would expand housing options, support families and boost affordability without changing the character of single-family neighborhoods. Chicago’s mayor is ready to move on the issue.

TAGS: affordable housing, Chicago

Illinois ranked No. 1 for cell phone taxes – before latest hike

By Charlotte Rotkis

07/11/2025

Illinoisans paid the highest state and local taxes for wireless cell phone services in the nation in 2024 – $136 per family more than the average. An increase in Illinois’ telecommunication tax July 1 just made them even higher.

TAGS: cell phone tax, Illinois, taxes

Is Chicago Teachers Union about to grab more control of statewide union?

By Lilly Rossi

07/11/2025

Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery won’t be seeking reelection, and three other executive board members have submitted resignations. Those vacancies give the Chicago Teachers Union an opening to gain more power over the statewide union.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Pension debt limits teacher pay, hurts recruitment in Illinois

By LyLena Estabine

07/09/2025

Money that could help address the teacher shortage is often the first to get cut in pursuit of keeping up with government pension debt. Supporting Illinois teachers will require constitutional pension reform and protecting Tier 2 cost savings.

TAGS: education, pensions

Illinois

7 ways Illinois lawmakers just made it easier to work

710k Illinoisans avoid work advancement to keep welfare benefits

Illinois lawmakers making $128K for 70 days of work

Illinois loses 1,782 jobs, with 390 layoffs at Chicago job search firms Monster, CareerBuilder

What you need to know about welfare work requirements in Illinois

Congress gives school choice back to Illinois’ low-income students

Chicago mayor pushes for granny flats citywide to boost affordable housing

Illinois ranked No. 1 for cell phone taxes – before latest hike

Is Chicago Teachers Union about to grab more control of statewide union?

Pension debt limits teacher pay, hurts recruitment in Illinois

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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