Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships

By Hilary Gowins

02/12/2024

State lawmakers failed to save the Invest in Kids program allowing nearly 10,000 low-income students to attend a school that better fit their needs. Now some of those schools are being forced to close and families are left with poor options.

Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members

By Paul Vallas

02/12/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union for decades pushed to elect the school board, but with their former employee in the mayor’s office they rather he choose most of the board for a little while longer.

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

Underachiever: Illinois lags nation in jobs, but growth potential is high

By Bryce Hill

02/12/2024

2023 data on Illinois’ labor market gives cause for both concern and hope as state emerges from pandemic job losses.

New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans

By Patrick Andriesen

02/09/2024

The bill introduced by state Rep. Tim Ozinga would redirect savings from shrinking pension payments to support local school districts and reduce Illinois’ second-in-the -nation property taxes. Some districts could see their tax bills cut in half.

Chicago vote-by-mail begins for Illinois primary, Johnson’s tax hike

By Dylan Sharkey

02/07/2024

Chicagoans will see their March 19 primary ballots in their mailboxes starting Feb. 8. The last question is on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tax hike plan.

TAGS: Chicago, homelessness, tax

Upward mobility tougher in Illinois than in rest of Midwest, most of U.S.

By Joe Tabor

02/07/2024

Illinois ranked 40th overall and the worst in the Midwest for social mobility, a new report found.

Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard

By Hannah Schmid

02/06/2024

Absenteeism rates among Hispanic students in Chicago Public Schools are chronically high. Proficiency in reading and math is low.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Appellate decision: Votes on Bring Chicago Home referendum will count

By Dylan Sharkey

02/06/2024

Votes on Chicago’s March 19 referendum will count, according to an Illinois Appellate Court ruling. Now voters must weigh the merits of the real estate transfer tax hike.

Illinois No. 2 in the nation for gas taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

02/06/2024

Illinoisans pay the nation’s second-highest gas taxes behind only Californians, thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s automatic gas tax hikes. The next gas tax hike is scheduled for July 1.

Illinois shorts higher ed by nearly $530M compared to 15 years ago

By Patrick Andriesen

02/01/2024

Illinois’ institutions of higher education will get nearly $530 million less from lawmakers to run this year than they did in fiscal year 2009, adjusted for inflation. Coupled with rapidly rising pensions, students and their families can expect ever-higher tuition costs.

Illinois

Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships

Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members

Underachiever: Illinois lags nation in jobs, but growth potential is high

New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans

Chicago vote-by-mail begins for Illinois primary, Johnson’s tax hike

Upward mobility tougher in Illinois than in rest of Midwest, most of U.S.

Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard

Appellate decision: Votes on Bring Chicago Home referendum will count

Illinois No. 2 in the nation for gas taxes

Illinois shorts higher ed by nearly $530M compared to 15 years ago

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