Illinois Federation of Teachers is failing students

By Hannah Schmid

04/07/2025

Students in large school districts unionized by the Illinois Federation of Teachers underperform the state average in reading and math.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

9 things Illinoisans should know before letting ‘Homeschool Act’ become law

By Mailee Smith

04/03/2025

House Bill 2827 would regulate both homeschool families and private schools in Illinois. Its extensive provisions have generated historic opposition. Here are nine things you should know about how it will impact education, privacy and your family.

Bensenville voters reject grocery tax with 90% voting ‘no’

By Dylan Sharkey

04/03/2025

With 90% voting “no,” Bensenville voters shot down a grocery tax proposal. Illinois’ statewide grocery tax is ending at the end of 2025, but some local leaders want it to stay.

TAGS: grocery tax

Chicago mayor praises school with just 2% adept readers as example of his values

By Hannah Schmid

04/03/2025

Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated Dyett High School where only 2% of tested students can read at grade level – and none can do math at grade level – as a “great example” of a schooling model the Chicago Teachers Union’s tentative contract plans to boost.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates

By Dylan Sharkey

04/02/2025

Illinois townships are sounding the alarm on the state’s biggest issues. Eight townships voted in support of state lawmakers fixing the state’s pensions crisis, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates.

Illinois drivers face some of nation’s highest costs, expected to grow

By Ravi Mishra

04/01/2025

Fears have grown that more efficient cars mean less money for Illinois to fund roads. But the state already collects higher revenues than ever while burdening drivers with high taxes and fees.

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

04/01/2025

Illinois will impose the nation’s seventh-highest state and local tax burden on residents in 2025. Taxpayers on average will pay over 10% of their annual income to support government, according to WalletHub.

TAGS: Tax Day

Illinois governors abuse budget projections, leaving taxpayers damaged

By FJ Hilgart

03/31/2025

Illinois lawmakers can’t budget responsibly if they don’t know how much they have. Governors have a history of fudging the numbers to get what they want.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois tipping bill could cut earnings for restaurants, servers

By Dylan Sharkey

03/28/2025

State politicians might eliminate the tipped minimum wage, putting tipped workers on the $15 per hour wage. But with higher wages come higher costs for businesses, which could raise prices or cut jobs.

TAGS: minimum wage

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

By Hannah Schmid

03/28/2025

Student literacy is in trouble nationally. Illinois is one of 41 states where just 1 in 3 or fewer of its fourth-graders met reading standards in 2024.

TAGS: public schools

Illinois

Illinois Federation of Teachers is failing students

9 things Illinoisans should know before letting ‘Homeschool Act’ become law

Bensenville voters reject grocery tax with 90% voting ‘no’

Chicago mayor praises school with just 2% adept readers as example of his values

Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates

Illinois drivers face some of nation’s highest costs, expected to grow

Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025

Illinois governors abuse budget projections, leaving taxpayers damaged

Illinois tipping bill could cut earnings for restaurants, servers

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

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