Federal school choice program included in U.S. House budget reconciliation bill

By Hannah Schmid

05/16/2025

A federal bill is cause for hope for 15,000 low-income Illinois students who lost their private school scholarships in 2023. That’s when teachers unions got state lawmakers to kill the Invest in Kids program.

TAGS: school choice

Illinois payroll tax would kill jobs, reduce wages

By Bryce Hill

05/16/2025

Illinois state lawmakers are considering a statewide payroll tax that would raise business costs, reduce wages and kill jobs. Workers are already taxed on their income, meaning this would tax their wages twice.

Illinois sees 1,023 mass layoffs, over half from business closures

By Patrick Andriesen

05/16/2025

Illinois companies announced 1,023 mass layoffs in April, with more than half from business closures. One-fifth of Illinois job cuts resulted from a lost contract to manage McCormick Place in Chicago.

Nearly all Illinois communities smaller since 2020; Chicago loses nearly 30K

By Bryce Hill

05/15/2025

Since 2020, 84% of Illinois communities have lost population. Small towns were hit hardest by population declines in 2024, while Chicago’s migrant crisis helped offset people choosing to leave.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Illinois lawmakers push new $2.7B sales tax on haircuts, Netflix, Uber and other services

By Bryce Hill, Dylan Sharkey

05/15/2025

Illinois lawmakers are looking to expand sales taxes to include things such as streaming services, gym memberships, vehicle repairs, hair care and other services to bail out Chicago’s failing transit systems and put more money in government budgets.

TAGS: sales tax

Why Chicago Teachers Union’s $7.3B tax hike will hurt all of Illinois

By Bryce Hill

05/15/2025

The Illinois Revenue Alliance, a group which includes the Chicago Teachers Union, has released a proposal to impose nine tax increases and hike statewide taxes by $7.3 billion annually. Some of CTU’s ideas are likely illegal and tax all Illinoisans for the union’s excesses.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

High school financial literacy course can reduce Illinois poverty

By Chris Coffey

05/15/2025

Research shows financial literacy boosts economic opportunity. The success of the University of Chicago’s FinEDge program shows it should be expanded.

Illinois can ease dentist shortage by passing student dental license reform

By Chris Coffey

05/15/2025

The Illinois Senate is considering a bill to allow dental students to practice under supervision with temporary licenses. Two-thirds of Illinois counties have a dentist shortage.

70 tax, fee hikes in 15 years. $110B from Illinois taxpayers. More coming?

By Lauren Zuar

05/14/2025

Illinois leaders keep using tax hikes as a budget quick-fix, but the state’s fiscal troubles – and the taxpayer burden – persist. Here are the 70 tax and fee hikes state leaders have imposed during the past 15 years.

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

By Hannah Schmid

05/12/2025

Chicago Teachers Union members have reason to question the leadership of President Stacy Davis Gates heading into the May 16 union election. Her many scandals have driven down the union’s reputation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois

Federal school choice program included in U.S. House budget reconciliation bill

Illinois payroll tax would kill jobs, reduce wages

Illinois sees 1,023 mass layoffs, over half from business closures

Nearly all Illinois communities smaller since 2020; Chicago loses nearly 30K

Illinois lawmakers push new $2.7B sales tax on haircuts, Netflix, Uber and other services

Why Chicago Teachers Union’s $7.3B tax hike will hurt all of Illinois

High school financial literacy course can reduce Illinois poverty

Illinois can ease dentist shortage by passing student dental license reform

70 tax, fee hikes in 15 years. $110B from Illinois taxpayers. More coming?

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

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