Lawmaker gifts this holiday season? Illinois has rules.

By Lilly Rossi

12/22/2025

There are limits on gift giving to Illinois state lawmakers, but there are exceptions. Here’s where the state draws the line between generosity and graft.

Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel

By Jerry Barmore

12/18/2025

AAA estimates 5.7 million Illinoisans will travel this holiday season. Most will be driving, forced to pay the nation’s No. 2 gas taxes.

TAGS: gas tax

Illinois job growth less than half of Midwest’s in past year

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

12/17/2025

 The information sector remains a bright spot in an otherwise challenging Illinois job market, but unemployment has pulled even with the national rate.

Record Illinois Thanksgiving traffic paying record gas taxes

By Jerry Barmore

11/24/2025

Thanksgiving travel will set a record in Illinois and in the U.S. Illinois drivers will pay the nation’s second-highest gas taxes, thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Illinois punishes independents, meaning just 1 got on 2024 ballot

By Patrick Andriesen

11/09/2025

Illinois puts lots of restrictions on independent candidates. Just one got on the 2024 ballot in 155 races.

Illinois drops 6 spots in 6 years for tax competitiveness

By Patrick Andriesen

11/07/2025

Illinois’ state tax competitiveness ranking dropped six spots – from 32nd to 38th in the past six years. That’s the worst in the Midwest.

Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

09/19/2025

Illinois showed slow job growth as the state trailed national trends. Unemployment was at 4.4% in August, slightly above the national rate

Can your family get federal school choice grants? Likely, if Pritzker OKs

By Tom Viz, Jon Josko

09/05/2025

Use our calculator to see if your family is eligible to receive a school choice grant from the Educational Choice for Children Act. Then, sign the petition to tell Gov. J.B. Pritzker to let Illinois join the federal program.

Report: Illinois lags neighbors in school choice after killing scholarships

By Tom Viz

08/28/2025

Illinois is among the few states to offer no private school choice scholarships after killing its Invest in Kids tax-credit program in 2023. The new federal Educational Choice for Children Act would again give Illinois families access to educational options.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

Expect busy Chicago roads, high Illinois gas prices during Labor Day travel

By Brad Weisenstein

08/26/2025

AAA named Chicago a top domestic travel spot for Labor Day. It also said Illinois has some of the nation’s highest gas prices. Thank Illinois taxes for the extra dings at the pump.

Iowa

Lawmaker gifts this holiday season? Illinois has rules.

Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel

Illinois job growth less than half of Midwest’s in past year

Record Illinois Thanksgiving traffic paying record gas taxes

Illinois punishes independents, meaning just 1 got on 2024 ballot

Illinois drops 6 spots in 6 years for tax competitiveness

Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

Can your family get federal school choice grants? Likely, if Pritzker OKs

Report: Illinois lags neighbors in school choice after killing scholarships

Expect busy Chicago roads, high Illinois gas prices during Labor Day travel

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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