Every 9 minutes, 21 seconds, Illinois loses another resident

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

Illinois continues to lose residents to other states. Another Illinoisan left every 9 minutes and 21 seconds from July 2023 to June 2024.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Parents would see what children are learning under school transparency bills

By Dylan Sharkey

03/06/2025

Illinois schools would be required to share curriculum materials with parents under a pair of bills in Springfield. State Rep. Amy Grant’s House Bill 3806 and state Sen. Andrew Chesney’s Senate Bill 2080 require school materials be made available to parents.

TAGS: public schools

Pritzker pushes $13B pension benefit hike in his budget

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

Newer state employees would get a $13 billion pension benefit boost if Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal passes. What should be a minor fix is being used to create an even bigger Illinois pension mess.

TAGS: budget, Illinois, JB Pritzker

Chicago mayor adds 50 speed cameras to put $11.4M in his budget

By Patrick Andriesen

03/05/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to add 50 new speed cameras to city streets during the coming year to add $11.4 million from fines and fees to his deficit budget.

Half of states let cities declare bankruptcy. Here’s why Illinois might want to.

By Lilly Rossi

03/05/2025

Illinois has some of the highest property taxes in the country. Chapter 9 would allow local governments to address the root cause.

How the April 1 elections can help fix Illinois’ property taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

03/05/2025

More than 600,000 Illinoisans will have a chance to send a message to state leaders on the most daunting issues, including Illinois’ property taxes.

Illinois is Midwest’s biggest people loser

By Bryce Hill

03/05/2025

Most neighboring states are gaining residents from people moving across state lines. Even of the states losing people, Illinois is losing at a significantly faster rate.

Illinois’ So-Called ‘Millionaire Tax’ Makes All Taxpayers a Target

By Matheus Cosso

03/05/2025

The “millionaire tax” will increase Illinois’ tax burden without necessarily increasing public funds. Revenue intended for education may fall short of expectations and will likely be absorbed by school administration before reaching students.

TAGS: millionaire tax

Teachers unions don’t want teachers evaluated on how well students are learning

By Hannah Schmid

03/04/2025

Democrats in the Illinois Senate filed a bill to remove student academic growth data as a measure for teacher evaluations. The Illinois Federation of Teachers backs the bill – another effort by the union to obstruct accountability.

TAGS: public schools

Teachers unions pushing bills to damage Illinois charter schools

By Hannah Schmid

03/03/2025

Bills filed in the Illinois General Assembly would lay the groundwork to close charter schools or place more restrictions on them. Illinois has a history of restricting charter schools at the behest of teachers unions.

TAGS: charter schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois

Every 9 minutes, 21 seconds, Illinois loses another resident

Parents would see what children are learning under school transparency bills

Pritzker pushes $13B pension benefit hike in his budget

Chicago mayor adds 50 speed cameras to put $11.4M in his budget

Half of states let cities declare bankruptcy. Here’s why Illinois might want to.

How the April 1 elections can help fix Illinois’ property taxes

Illinois is Midwest’s biggest people loser

Illinois’ So-Called ‘Millionaire Tax’ Makes All Taxpayers a Target

Teachers unions don’t want teachers evaluated on how well students are learning

Teachers unions pushing bills to damage Illinois charter schools

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