Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft

By LyLena Estabine

10/30/2025

Lawsuits are mounting from homeowners, investors and counties. Unless lawmakers act, taxpayers could pay millions in damages over Illinois' unconstitutional tax sale system.

Illinois SNAP errors could cost taxpayers up to $700 million in penalties

By Lauren Zuar

10/20/2025

Illinois risks millions in penalties under new federal law because of errors in determining who qualifies for food assistance. To protect taxpayers and struggling families, the state must increase its administrative precision.

TAGS: SNAP

Illinois grows enough pumpkins for 8B pumpkin-spice lattes

By Dylan Sharkey

10/10/2025

Illinois can take credit for plenty of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes. The state produces enough pumpkins to make nearly 8 billion pumpkin spice lattes, the most pumpkins in the U.S.

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

Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

08/12/2025

Despite leading the region in businesses applying to open, Illinois’ combative business climate results in few business actually starting.

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

By Paul Vallas

08/11/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

By John Tillman

07/04/2025

Happy Fourth of July? Nope. We should always call it Independence Day. It reminds us of what we celebrate and what it means.

TAGS: freedom, Independence Day

Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

By Patrick Andriesen

06/13/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentencing to 7.5 years for bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud ends his active role in Illinois politics. But his legacy of gerrymandering will continue to shape Illinois politics long after he’s behind bars.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Illinois’ February unemployment rate 5th highest in U.S.

By Ravi Mishra

04/10/2025

Unemployment in Illinois remains stubbornly high. February’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in the nation at 4.8%.

Michigan

Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft

Illinois SNAP errors could cost taxpayers up to $700 million in penalties

Illinois grows enough pumpkins for 8B pumpkin-spice lattes

Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Illinois’ February unemployment rate 5th highest in U.S.

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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