Can noncitizens vote in Illinois? Depends on the election

By Chris Coffey

07/09/2024

The influx of migrants to Chicago and Illinois presents a potential voting bloc ahead of the 2024 election. Some politicians have tried to get them the vote. Others have tried to prevent it.

TAGS: election

Schools need to be open about curriculum to fight Illinois student declines

By Mailee Smith

07/09/2024

Illinois students’ reading and math proficiency have yet to rebound from pandemic losses. Illinois parents have a right to know what their children are being taught so they can be part of the solution.

TAGS: education

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Literacy legislation aims to fix Illinois’ low reading proficiency

By Hannah Schmid

07/05/2024

Lawmakers in 2023 required the Illinois State Board of Education to create a public school literacy plan using evidence-based reading instructional practices. A follow-up bill awaiting the governor’s signature would require school vendors to follow that plan.

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

By John Tillman

07/04/2024

Fourth of July? No. We should always call it Independence Day to remember what we celebrate and what it means.

TAGS: freedom, Illinois, Independence Day

Vallas: Chicago has too few police, pays too much in police overtime

By Paul Vallas

07/03/2024

Chicago's violent crime is up. A record $300 million was spent on police overtime last year. It's simple: too few cops leads to too much crime and requires a very wasteful, inefficient fix. Chicago needs more officers on patrol.

Illinois’ 15 metro areas all see unemployment higher than U.S. rate

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

07/03/2024

Despite some growth, high unemployment remains an issue in Illinois. All 15 metropolitan areas showed higher rates of unemployment than the national average.

TAGS: employment

$35B in federal aid, higher tax revenues mask Pritzker budgetary blunders

By Bryce Hill, Ravi Mishra

07/03/2024

While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been in office during upgrades in the state’s credit rating and reductions in some state debts, analysis shows improvements were more luck than fiscal design.

TAGS: budget

New John Deere layoffs follow Illinois losing 1,124 jobs in May

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

07/02/2024

Declining demand has John Deere planning 600 layoffs, including 280 in Illinois, by the end of August. Illinois already had companies planning to cut 1,124 jobs in May, hitting janitorial services providers, collection agencies and packaging industries.

TAGS: jobs

Illinois video gaming brings in $428M in 2024, so far

By Kurtis Karg

07/02/2024

Video gaming already generated $428 million in tax revenue so far in 2024. Part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s new Illinois state budget relies on more revenue from video gaming machines. The tax hike started July 1.

TAGS: taxes, video gaming

Illinois

Can noncitizens vote in Illinois? Depends on the election

Schools need to be open about curriculum to fight Illinois student declines

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Literacy legislation aims to fix Illinois’ low reading proficiency

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

Vallas: Chicago has too few police, pays too much in police overtime

Illinois’ 15 metro areas all see unemployment higher than U.S. rate

$35B in federal aid, higher tax revenues mask Pritzker budgetary blunders

New John Deere layoffs follow Illinois losing 1,124 jobs in May

Illinois video gaming brings in $428M in 2024, so far

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