Illinois

Health department shuts down 11-year-old girl’s cupcake business

By Michael Lucci
01/29/2014
Chloe Stirling, an 11-year old from Madison County, dreams of one day running her own bakery. Starting at such a young age, the sky is the limit for her baking dreams. And if state and local regulators have their way, that bakery will not be in Illinois. “Hey, Cupcake!” is Chloe’s first start at a...

Illinois LLC fees need to be cut

By Michael Lucci
01/29/2014
The structure of a limited liability company, or LLC, offers great advantages for small businesses, such as allowing start-ups and small businesses to avoid the extra tax burdens of corporations. At the same time, the LLC structure protects the owners from the excessive liability of sole proprietorships and partnerships. In Illinois, the LLC is burdened...

TAGS: jobs, LLC fees

Real State of the State

By illinoispolicy
01/29/2014
JOBS AND GROWTH Illinois has the third-highest unemployment rate in the nation  More than 1 million Illinoisans are unemployed or underemployed Illinois is projected to be dead last in jobs growth in 2014 78,713 Illinoisans have given up and left the workforce since Dec. 2012 Illinois paid out $266M in improper unemployment insurance payments Illinois...

TAGS: State of the State

Illinois’ unemployment rate third-worst in the nation

By Michael Lucci
01/28/2014
The state ended 2013 – a year of dismal employment – with an even worse December. Illinois moved from having the fourth-worst unemployment rate in November to the third-worst in December, falling behind Michigan. Only Nevada and Rhode Island remain worse. The unemployment rate in Illinois fell to 8.6 percent from 8.7 percent, while the...

New study shows there’s no such thing as a lost cause when it comes to education

01/28/2014
It’s never too late to help a struggling student. An amazing new study conducted by the University of Chicago’s Urban Education Lab shows that intense tutoring combined with group behavioral counseling can help high school students with weak math skills, chronic truancy and disciplinary problems improve their performance. The study showed impressive gains. In fact,...

TAGS: charter schools, school choice, vouchers

Madigan’s Illinois pension fix: $15B less in savings, more gimmicks

01/28/2014
Not unlike ObamaCare, a bill Congress had to pass “to find out what’s in it,” Illinois’ General Assembly passed a pension fix in December 2013 without an official scoring of the bill. During floor debates, House Leader Mike Madigan and proponents of Senate Bill 1 promised $160 billion in savings over 30 years. Many opponents...

TAGS: pensions, Senate Bill 1

Gov. Quinn’s past State of the State addresses vs. reality

By Donovan Griffith
01/28/2014
This Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn will take the pulpit in front of the Illinois General Assembly and give his annual State of the State address. The speech, which is given annually by the standing governor, is an opportunity for the governor to give his view on the condition of the state, and how they envision...

TAGS: Pat Quinn, State of the State

Illinoisans ready for tax-hike sunset

By Benjamin VanMetre
01/27/2014
With Illinois taxpayers just one year away from the income-tax rate sunset, the push from tax hungry politicians to raise rates again is growing. State politicians are using scare tactics to dupe Illinoisans into paying higher taxes. Their goal is to make the temporary 2011 income tax hike permanent, or worse: increase taxes again with...

TAGS: graduated income tax, income tax, progressive income tax

Load More

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Leaders of these organizations on the South and West sides connect residents to jobs and engage youth to build safer neighborhoods.

View Report

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016