9 years of decline: Expect Chicago to be No. 4 behind Houston by 2035

By Bryce Hill

05/16/2024

Chicago lost 8,208 residents in 2023, the third-largest decline of any city in the nation. At this rate, the Second City will drop from No. 3 to No. 4 by 2035

TAGS: Chicago, population

Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’

By Paul Vallas

02/23/2024

Illinois is on an upward path, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during his State of the State speech. True, by some measures. Not so much by too many measures that matter.

2024 State of the State: Federal rescue is over, so Illinois needs caution

By Bryce Hill

02/20/2024

The pandemic had an upside for Illinois state finances – infusing federal dollars as state revenues exceeded projections. Now federal aid is gone. Illinoisans’ ongoing struggles warrant caution, reform in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget.

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.

Census: 97% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

By Bryce Hill

11/01/2023

State-to-state migration estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showed Illinois lost residents to 36 states and Washington, D.C. Nearly all the former Illinoisans moved to lower-tax states.

5 problems with report implying Illinois is growing. Problem No. 1: it’s not

By Bryce Hill

10/25/2023

Authors left out key data that contradicted their findings to claim Illinois’ population is growing. Evidence Illinois is shrinking comes independently from the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois Department of Revenue and multiple moving companies.

Stacy Davis Gates’ income is 543% more than families she wants denied scholarships

By Mailee Smith

10/02/2023

New data filed with the U.S. Department of Labor shows Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates’ total income tops $289,000. The average household income of families receiving the Invest in Kids scholarships she wants to kill “for good” is just $45,046.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids, Stacy Davis Gates

Stacy Davis Gates’ income is 483% more than families she wants denied scholarships

By Mailee Smith

09/20/2023

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates makes over $262,000 a year. The average household income of the families receiving Invest in Kids scholarships is just $45,046. She chose a private school for her child, but wants to kill the option for 9,600 low-income students.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

By Bryce Hill, Justin Carlson

08/17/2023

The state finally surpassed January 2020 job levels after 37 states had already done so, including all of Illinois’ neighbors except Michigan.

Illinois’ unemployment rate for June is 5th-worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

07/27/2023

Illinois added 8,400 jobs in June, but unemployment remained high compared to the rest of the nation. The state still hasn’t recovered the jobs it had before the pandemic.

Internal Revenue Service

9 years of decline: Expect Chicago to be No. 4 behind Houston by 2035

Paul Vallas: Illinois’ real ‘State of the State’

2024 State of the State: Federal rescue is over, so Illinois needs caution

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

Census: 97% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states

5 problems with report implying Illinois is growing. Problem No. 1: it’s not

Stacy Davis Gates’ income is 543% more than families she wants denied scholarships

Stacy Davis Gates’ income is 483% more than families she wants denied scholarships

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

Illinois’ unemployment rate for June is 5th-worst in U.S.

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