Why Indiana’s population grows faster than Illinois’

By Michael Lucci

02/02/2016

Illinois’ weak jobs growth is driving more residents to other states on net than Illinois gains from other states, from natural growth in births or from international immigration.

TAGS: outmigration

CPS’ postponed bond sale poses questions for Chicago and Emanuel

02/02/2016

Amid CPS’ postponed $875 million bond sale, Chicagoans should question whether the district can fill its budget hole and whether Emanuel will stand up for Chicago taxpayers or give in to more teachers union demands.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools

IEA, IFT, SEIU executives supported skipping pension payments

By Amy Korte

02/01/2016

Government-worker union officials filed papers with the Illinois General Assembly in favor of the “pension holiday” that contributed to the state’s $111 billion pension debt.

TAGS: pensions

5 reasons why Chicago can’t afford to get steamrolled by another CTU contract

By Ted Dabrowski

02/01/2016

CPS is broke. To preserve funding for the classroom and Chicago's children, and to keep CPS from going belly up, CPS officials must broker significant concessions from the union.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, pensions

Illinois manufacturing workers earn less money, see less growth than Indiana peers

By Michael Lucci

02/01/2016

Federal data show how Illinois workers suffer under their state’s anti-manufacturing status quo.

TAGS: manufacturing

CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low

By Michael Lucci

01/31/2016

Caterpillar Inc.’s announcement of 670 layoffs comes amid the loss of a quarter of the manufacturing jobs in Peoria and Tazewell counties since 2008.

New proposal would hold schools accountable for ensuring students can read

By Ted Dabrowski

01/31/2016

Across the state, only 36 percent of third-grade black children read at grade level in 2014, while only 39 percent of Hispanic children met the standards. Yet state education rules force 4th grade children to advance to the next grade – whether they’re reading-ready or not.

TAGS: college readiness, education

Low-income entrepreneurs suffer most when government makes it harder to start a business

By Mark Adams

01/30/2016

Chicago’s many bureaucratic barriers to starting a business shield established businesses from competition and keep low-income entrepreneurs from getting ahead.

TAGS: Chicago, licensing, regulations

Caterpillar Inc. closing 5 plants, cutting 670 jobs

By Austin Berg

01/29/2016

The East Peoria, Ill., plant will be the hardest hit, losing 230 jobs for office and production workers. As neighboring states grow factory work, Illinois is approaching an all-time low for manufacturing jobs.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, unemployment

Pennsylvania close to passing Illinois as 5th-largest state in U.S. for jobs and population

By Michael Lucci

01/29/2016

Unlike Illinois, Pennsylvania has actually recovered the number of jobs it lost during the Great Recession, and now has 40,000 more jobs than it had at its pre-recession peak. Illinois, on the other hand, still has 90,000 fewer jobs than it had before the recession, the worst jobs recovery in the U.S.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, outmigration, population

Illinois

Why Indiana’s population grows faster than Illinois’

CPS’ postponed bond sale poses questions for Chicago and Emanuel

IEA, IFT, SEIU executives supported skipping pension payments

5 reasons why Chicago can’t afford to get steamrolled by another CTU contract

Illinois manufacturing workers earn less money, see less growth than Indiana peers

CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low

New proposal would hold schools accountable for ensuring students can read

Low-income entrepreneurs suffer most when government makes it harder to start a business

Caterpillar Inc. closing 5 plants, cutting 670 jobs

Pennsylvania close to passing Illinois as 5th-largest state in U.S. for jobs and population

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

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Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students