How Illinois political insiders protected Madigan, rewarded themselves

By Dylan Sharkey

06/13/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison but his allies now run the Illinois House and Illinois Democratic Party. The rules he created to run his machine still work for new operators.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

By Patrick Andriesen

06/13/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentencing to 7.5 years for bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud ends his active role in Illinois politics. But his legacy of gerrymandering will continue to shape Illinois politics long after he’s behind bars.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Who in Springfield still owes Mike Madigan for getting elected?

By Joe Tabor, Jon Josko

06/12/2025

Think former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s influence ended when he resigned or was convicted of bribery? Maybe not. Fifty-seven Illinois General Assembly members who received funds from Madigan’s political committees are still in office.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Lawmakers just passed 2 bills making Illinois even worse for business

By Joe Tabor

06/12/2025

This legislative session members of the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill to make it easier to sue out-of-state businesses and a bill that would prevent state agencies from adopting eased workplace regulations. Illinois’ business climate is bad, but these bills could make it worse.

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

By Mailee Smith

06/11/2025

The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents employees in more than 200 school districts across the state, but it does a lot that defies expectations. Here are nine things you and its members likely misunderstand, most related to colluding with the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Chicago might join 209 voting to tax groceries: is your town on list?

By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis

06/10/2025

Over 200 Illinois towns have opted to charge a 1% grocery tax. Chicago is likely to follow. Local leaders have until October to decide whether to impose this regressive tax on people’s need to eat.

TAGS: grocery tax

Health Alliance closing costs Champaign 612 jobs; Illinois layoffs hit 1,477

By Patrick Andriesen

06/10/2025

Illinois companies announced 1,477 mass layoffs during May. The highest concentration of cuts impacted Champaign after one of the state’s largest health insurers, Health Alliance, announced it would end coverage and halt operations.

TAGS: jobs

Vallas: ‘Tax Illinois’ rich’ dogma is a dangerous delusion

By Paul Vallas

06/10/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson likes to parrot platitudes about taxing the rich to fix the city, CTA and Chicago Public Schools finances. But all three made bad decisions and did not adjust to post-pandemic realities. And the rich can move away.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Illinois lawmakers stall housing reforms, but avoid worst bills

By LyLena Estabine

06/10/2025

Illinois state lawmakers failed to advance bills that would have helped ease housing shortages and reduced costs. Legislators also rejected damaging measures that would have most hurt housing builders and boosted rents and mortgages.

Think Illinois spends millions on migrants? Wrong. It spends billions.

By Ravi Mishra

06/09/2025

Illinois will have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care by the end of 2025. Costs have shattered projections and left taxpayers poorer.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois

How Illinois political insiders protected Madigan, rewarded themselves

Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

Who in Springfield still owes Mike Madigan for getting elected?

Lawmakers just passed 2 bills making Illinois even worse for business

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

Chicago might join 209 voting to tax groceries: is your town on list?

Health Alliance closing costs Champaign 612 jobs; Illinois layoffs hit 1,477

Vallas: ‘Tax Illinois’ rich’ dogma is a dangerous delusion

Illinois lawmakers stall housing reforms, but avoid worst bills

Think Illinois spends millions on migrants? Wrong. It spends billions.

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