Waste Watch: Illinois gives $500,000 to health advocacy non-profit

By Ravi Mishra

04/08/2026

A $500,000 grant from the state highlights issues in transparency and last-minute funding.

March Madness: Lower-tax states offer savings for NIL athletes

By Dylan Sharkey, Lilly Rossi

03/17/2026

Ahead of March Madness, some of the highest-earning college basketball players will pay less in state income tax than they would in Illinois.

VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains

By Paul Vallas

02/17/2026

Roughly half of Illinois residents say they would leave the state if they could. That warning should be a wake-up call to state and local leaders.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Donation tax credits can boost Illinois public school foundations

By Mailee Smith

01/28/2026

A federal tax credit is expected to boost school donations. Public school foundations can obtain the funds to help Illinois students.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, school choice

Waste watch: Illinois spends $700K on decolonization activism

By Geoff Feinstein

01/28/2026

Illinois’ rushed, closed-door budgeting process funded $700,000 in taxpayer dollars to a research group promoting “decolonization.”

TAGS: budget, corruption

$53 billion pension spike advances during last-minute veto session

By Bryce Hill

10/31/2025

A bill that would increase Tier 2 pension benefits was passed out of Illinois House Executive Committee on Oct 30.

Figure out if there’s a problem before boosting Illinois pensions

By LyLena Estabine

03/11/2025

Without careful evaluation of whether Illinois’ pensions for newer employees are running afoul of federal rules or what the penalties would be, spending $78 million from the state’s budget is premature and wasteful.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, pensions, taxes

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2025

Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

5 principles to guide Illinois’ public pension reform

By LyLena Estabine

01/16/2025

With nearly $214 billion in state and local pension debt threatening both retirees and government finances, Illinois needs a new path forward. Here are five principles to guide the state, protect taxpayers and safeguard public servants.

Atlas Van Lines: Illinois 3rd in nation for residents leaving

By Dylan Sharkey

12/09/2024

Illinois saw the third-highest rate of residents moving out in 2024 based on a survey by Atlas Van Lines. Jobs and taxes are among the top reasons people leave Illinois, which is also third in the nation for highest unemployment rate.

TAGS: outmigration, population

Internal Revenue Service

Waste Watch: Illinois gives $500,000 to health advocacy non-profit

March Madness: Lower-tax states offer savings for NIL athletes

VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains

Donation tax credits can boost Illinois public school foundations

Waste watch: Illinois spends $700K on decolonization activism

$53 billion pension spike advances during last-minute veto session

Figure out if there’s a problem before boosting Illinois pensions

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

5 principles to guide Illinois’ public pension reform

Atlas Van Lines: Illinois 3rd in nation for residents leaving

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

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