Will Lisa Madigan shut down Illinois state government?

By Austin Berg

04/14/2016

The Illinois attorney general – House Speaker Mike Madigan’s daughter – could play a major role in whether state lawmakers will pass a budget Illinoisans can afford.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Lisa Madigan

Preliminary jobs report: Illinois gains 14,700 jobs in March

By Hilary Gowins

04/14/2016

Illinois gained 14,700 jobs on net in March, according to a preliminary jobs report released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or IDES. March’s numbers mark three consecutive months of jobs growth in a state that had grown all too accustomed to job losses. More and more Illinoisans are looking for work – and...

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes

By Austin Berg

04/14/2016

Illinois' 859 local school districts consume nearly two-thirds of the $27 billion in local property taxes collected across the state each year.

TAGS: consolidation, property taxes

Record sealing for Illinois ex-offenders offers a better shot at employment, second chance

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/14/2016

An effective record-sealing policy can help nonviolent offenders find employment and stay away from crime.

TAGS: record sealing

Illinois employers report 900 layoffs, including continued losses in manufacturing

04/14/2016

Illinois’ March layoff report shows that almost a quarter of the 900 Illinoisans who will lose their jobs are manufacturing workers.

TAGS: jobs, WARN

Adult Redeploy has saved Illinois nearly $70 million in avoided prison spending

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/14/2016

By investing in community-based programs that treat nonviolent offenders’ drug and mental health problems, Illinois can avoid more costly expenditures on incarceration.

TAGS: adult redeploy, criminal justice reform

Illinois House passes bill to suspend fines for late license-plate renewal

By Amy Korte

04/14/2016

The Illinois House has passed a bill to prohibit charging late fees to vehicle owners who renew their registration late due to the secretary of state’s suspension of mailed reminders.

TAGS: license plate

Branded with a number on my name

By Scott Reeder

04/13/2016

When they let me out of prison, I held my head up high. Determined I would rise above the shame. But no matter where I’m living, the black mark follows me. I’m branded with a number on my name. —Merle Haggard

TAGS: criminal justice reform, reentry

New report shows high cost of AFSCME demands for Illinois taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

04/13/2016

A new report from the Heritage Foundation shows that in 2014 alone, collective bargaining between Illinois’ government-worker unions and Illinois officials inflated state and local government spending by $4 billion to $9 billion.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Illinois professionals can now renew their licenses online

By Amy Korte

04/13/2016

Switching to an electronic system from a paper-based licensing program is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars over the next few years – as well as provide better and faster service for the state’s licensed professionals.

TAGS: jobs, occupational licensing

Illinois

Will Lisa Madigan shut down Illinois state government?

Preliminary jobs report: Illinois gains 14,700 jobs in March

Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes

Record sealing for Illinois ex-offenders offers a better shot at employment, second chance

Illinois employers report 900 layoffs, including continued losses in manufacturing

Adult Redeploy has saved Illinois nearly $70 million in avoided prison spending

Illinois House passes bill to suspend fines for late license-plate renewal

Branded with a number on my name

New report shows high cost of AFSCME demands for Illinois taxpayers

Illinois professionals can now renew their licenses online

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