Illinois has highest ‘Home Alone’ age in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

12/21/2023

Leaving a child under 14 home alone in Illinois is illegal. That’s the highest age of any state, with only three other states making that parental decision a matter of state law.

Illinoisans rely on food stamps for Christmas dinner

By Dylan Sharkey

12/20/2023

This holiday season, nearly 2 million Illinoisans will rely on federal food assistance. Illinois is eighth in the country for highest reliance on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

TAGS: SNAP

Illinois ‘sin taxes’ rely on an unreliable naughty list

By Jess Plowman

12/20/2023

State politicians like to pass laws they claim will make Illinoisans healthier by taxing their naughty habits. The taxes rarely are as lucrative as projected and hurt some more than others.

Illinoisans in moving vans drives 10th straight population drop

By Bryce Hill

12/19/2023

People choosing to move out of Illinois led to the 10th consecutive year of population decline, new data from U.S. Census Bureau shows. Politicians can change that.

Illinois population drops for 10th year in a row during 2023

By Bryce Hill

12/19/2023

People moving out of Illinois led to the 10th consecutive year of population decline, new Census Bureau data shows.

TAGS: Illinois, population, taxes

Property taxes on ‘Home Alone’ house jump 57% in 1 year

By Dylan Sharkey

12/19/2023

The current owners Kevin McCallister’s house from “Home Alone” will pay more than $50,000 in property taxes this year. Illinoisans pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation on average.

Holiday travel expected to be second-busiest ever

By Dylan Sharkey

12/18/2023

Holiday travel this year is expected to be the second-busiest since AAA started tracking it in 2000. For Illinoisans, it means driving across a state line could avoid the nation’s second-highest gas taxes.

Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction

By Hannah Schmid

12/15/2023

The Chicago Board of Education approved a resolution on Dec. 14 which will eliminate selective enrollment schools in the Chicago Public Schools district. It is yet another attempt by the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies to limit parents’ choices in their children’s educations.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois still hasn’t finalized contract with state workers

By Mailee Smith

12/14/2023

The contract negotiated between the state and AFSCME Council 31 was ratified by members in July. But the final contract has yet to be released, meaning taxpayers don’t yet know how much it will cost them.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools

By Paul Vallas

12/13/2023

Innovation can help Chicago Public Schools improve academic proficiency, but it requires breaking up the centralized power built by the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools. Local control can improve student outcomes.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois

Illinois has highest ‘Home Alone’ age in nation

Illinoisans rely on food stamps for Christmas dinner

Illinois ‘sin taxes’ rely on an unreliable naughty list

Illinoisans in moving vans drives 10th straight population drop

Illinois population drops for 10th year in a row during 2023

Property taxes on ‘Home Alone’ house jump 57% in 1 year

Holiday travel expected to be second-busiest ever

Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction

Illinois still hasn’t finalized contract with state workers

Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing 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