How much were property taxes in your Illinois county?

By Brad Weisenstein

08/01/2024

See how much the median property tax bill was in your county. See how it compared with other Illinois counties.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions, property taxes

Chicago Teachers Union demands $543K property tax break on union HQ

By Patrick Andriesen

07/31/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is seeking a $543k property tax cut that would take about $301K from the schools where its members teach. CTU’s also making over $10 billion in contract demands, which would certainly drive up Chicagoans’ tax bills.

TAGS: Chicago Teachers Union, taxes

Illinois housing least affordable in Midwest

By Ravi Mishra

07/31/2024

It’s tougher to pay for shelter in Illinois than anywhere else in the Midwest, especially if you’re living in poverty. Illinois needs another 113,000 units and nearly 290,000 affordable rental homes to help its low-income families.

Illinois 3rd worst in U.S. for new construction

By Benjamin O'Donnell

07/30/2024

Illinois’ rate of new housing is the third lowest of any state, driving up prices for residents. Fixing that would make housing more affordable and help Illinoisans stay.

TAGS: construction, housing

Unemployment tops U.S. average in all but 2 Illinois areas during June

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

07/30/2024

Despite some growth, high unemployment remains a persistent issue in Illinois with 13 of 15 metropolitan areas showing higher rates of unemployment than the national average.

TAGS: jobs

Illinois Education Association puts union bosses’ agenda ahead of teachers’

By Mailee Smith

07/30/2024

Just 13% of IEA’s spending was on representing teachers in 2023. But the spending of its national affiliate – the National Education Association – was even worse, with less than 8% of its spending on representing teachers’ interests.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Illinois unemployment jumps to 5% in June

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

07/24/2024

Illinois unemployment rose to 5% during June, ranking third worst in the U.S. About 328,000 Illinoisans need a job.

Did your state lawmaker take Chicago Teachers Union money?

07/23/2024

See how much campaign money your Illinois state representative and state senator received from the Chicago Teachers Union.

How’s my community? Measures of how your piece of Illinois is doing

07/22/2024

Here are data snapshots of Illinois communities, schools and government. See how well your tax dollars are performing in your city, county or school compared to others.

TAGS: education, Illinois, taxes

Downstate areas lag Chicago, Midwest in house building permits

By Joe Tabor

07/22/2024

Out of 90 Midwestern metropolitan areas, Illinois has four in the bottom 10 for new housing per capita in 2023. Housing affordability is directly linked to getting units built.

TAGS: housing

Illinois

How much were property taxes in your Illinois county?

Chicago Teachers Union demands $543K property tax break on union HQ

Illinois housing least affordable in Midwest

Illinois 3rd worst in U.S. for new construction

Unemployment tops U.S. average in all but 2 Illinois areas during June

Illinois Education Association puts union bosses’ agenda ahead of teachers’

Illinois unemployment jumps to 5% in June

Did your state lawmaker take Chicago Teachers Union money?

How’s my community? Measures of how your piece of Illinois is doing

Downstate areas lag Chicago, Midwest in house building permits

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