Midwestern United States

Illinois’ emergency reserves lowest in nation

By Bryce Hill
03/06/2025
Illinois is dead last of the 50 states in its ability to handle a financial crisis. It couldn’t last a month. The rainy-day fund that should be its primary reserve, and that Gov. J.B. Pritzker lauded himself for refilling, could barely cover two weeks.

Illinois is Midwest’s biggest people loser

By Bryce Hill
03/05/2025
Most neighboring states are gaining residents from people moving across state lines. Even of the states losing people, Illinois is losing at a significantly faster rate.

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...