Illinois bill would start removing occupational-licensing barriers for ex-offenders

By Bryant Jackson-Green

03/17/2016

HB 5973 would remove significant occupational-licensing barriers that make it harder for former offenders to support themselves and their families.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing

3 reasons why Illinois should reduce occupational-licensing requirements

03/16/2016

By reducing the licensing requirements that make it harder for people to enter many professions, Illinois could give more people access to jobs, bring down the cost of goods and services through increased competition, and attract more workers to the state.

TAGS: jobs, licensing, occupational licensing, unemployment

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

03/16/2016

In light of the Illinois General Assembly’s refusal to pass a balanced budget, the Unbalanced Budget Response Act is a prudent measure that would temporarily allow the governor to shift funds and reduce spending to balance the state’s budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois Constitution

Illinois gas prices show 2nd-highest increase in nation

By Hilary Gowins

03/15/2016

While Illinois motorists have seen the country’s second-highest increase in gas prices, Chicagoans pay even higher prices at the pump due to multiple layers of city, county and state taxation.

TAGS: gas tax

State not paying out on auto accident claims

By Mark Fitton

03/14/2016

Illinois’ budget gridlock has prevented the state from making payments on some 200 auto liability claims worth $560,000.

TAGS: budget

Growing Illinois workforce struggles to find jobs

By Austin Berg

03/11/2016

While new state numbers painted a rosier picture of 2015, Illinoisans are still struggling in a poor economic climate.

TAGS: jobs

Chicago State University students: Blame CSU administration for your troubles

By Ted Dabrowski

03/11/2016

CSU's bloated administration costs more than $3,600 per student, by far the highest of all Illinois' public colleges and universities. By comparison, the average MAP grant at CSU is $2,600 per student.

TAGS: budget, CSU: Chicago State University

Expanding record sealing and negligent-hiring protections offer ex-offenders a better shot at a second chance than “ban the box”

By Bryant Jackson-Green

03/10/2016

Letting nonviolent former offenders petition to have their records sealed and protecting businesses from negligent-hiring lawsuits would do more to encourage hiring ex-offenders than “ban the box” alone.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, record sealing

Illinois now home to the highest sales taxes in the Midwest

By Austin Berg

03/10/2016

Combined sales taxes in Illinois have leaped past those of every other state in the region.

TAGS: sales tax

Rauner: Madigan not ‘doing his job’

By Mark Fitton

03/09/2016

More than two-thirds of fiscal year 2016 has passed with the state lacking an overall budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Mike Madigan

Illinois

Illinois bill would start removing occupational-licensing barriers for ex-offenders

3 reasons why Illinois should reduce occupational-licensing requirements

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

Illinois gas prices show 2nd-highest increase in nation

State not paying out on auto accident claims

Growing Illinois workforce struggles to find jobs

Chicago State University students: Blame CSU administration for your troubles

Expanding record sealing and negligent-hiring protections offer ex-offenders a better shot at a second chance than “ban the box”

Illinois now home to the highest sales taxes in the Midwest

Rauner: Madigan not ‘doing his job’

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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