1,190 Illinois jobs shed in July, with Deere leading for 2nd month

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

09/04/2024

The Quad Cities will experience a combined 319 job cuts after John Deere announced layoffs at both its World Headquarters in Moline and Harvester Works factory in East Moline. Romeoville saw more than 1-in-4 of the mass layoffs statewide.

TAGS: jobs

Vallas: Biggest obstacle to improving city schools is Chicago Teachers Union

By Paul Vallas

09/04/2024

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates decried standardized testing. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said schools should be measured by spending, not performance. ‘Accountability’ is not in their vocabulary.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois bans mini shampoo bottles in hotel rooms

By Dylan Sharkey

09/03/2024

Tiny hotel toiletries will soon be outlawed in Illinois. A new law will make Illinois hotels ditch small plastic bottles for shampoo and other care products.

No current teachers voted to make Chicago Teachers Union their union

By Mailee Smith

08/30/2024

Chicago teachers were handed a union without the ability to choose for themselves. It’s the result of a system that props up government unions at the expense of the members they are supposed to serve.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Nearly 2M Illinoisans receive federal food assistance in May

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

08/29/2024

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or nearly 1-in-6 state residents – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in May 2024. Illinois ranked No. 9 in the nation for highest rate of federal food help.

TAGS: SNAP

Unemployment rates remain high across Illinois metro areas

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

08/29/2024

Despite Illinois’ job market outpacing the national average, all 15 metro areas continue to have higher unemployment rates than the national average.

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

Chicago Teachers Union is a lobbying powerhouse in Springfield, but is that waning?

By Mailee Smith

08/29/2024

It may be based in Chicago, but the Chicago Teachers Union’s lobbying affects residents throughout Illinois. The Illinois General Assembly did CTU’s bidding on 60% of the bills on which the union took a stance last session. CTU discontent is growing.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Highland could be first Illinois city to add a local grocery tax

By Dylan Sharkey

08/28/2024

Illinois’ statewide grocery tax is on its way out, but your local government may add its own. Highland, Illinois, could be the first to do so.

TAGS: grocery tax

Black and Hispanic students thrive in school model Chicago Teachers Union wants to eliminate

By Hannah Schmid

08/27/2024

Black and Hispanic students are around six times more likely to be proficient in reading at selective enrollment high schools compared to traditional public schools in Chicago. But the Chicago Teachers Union wants to eliminate these schools that are a lifeline to the city’s minority students.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

River Forest considering local grocery tax hike

By Dylan Sharkey

08/26/2024

Illinois is cutting the statewide grocery tax, but some local governments may reestablish it. One Chicago suburb is already moving in that direction. Its neighbor will let taxpayers keep their grocery money.

TAGS: grocery tax

Illinois

1,190 Illinois jobs shed in July, with Deere leading for 2nd month

Vallas: Biggest obstacle to improving city schools is Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois bans mini shampoo bottles in hotel rooms

No current teachers voted to make Chicago Teachers Union their union

Nearly 2M Illinoisans receive federal food assistance in May

Unemployment rates remain high across Illinois metro areas

Chicago Teachers Union is a lobbying powerhouse in Springfield, but is that waning?

Highland could be first Illinois city to add a local grocery tax

Black and Hispanic students thrive in school model Chicago Teachers Union wants to eliminate

River Forest considering local grocery tax hike

Why Chicago Needs an Elected City Attorney

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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