Illinois housing least affordable in Midwest

By Ravi Mishra

07/31/2024

It’s tougher to pay for shelter in Illinois than anywhere else in the Midwest, especially if you’re living in poverty. Illinois needs another 113,000 units and nearly 290,000 affordable rental homes to help its low-income families.

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Chicago Teachers Union sets a radical example for nation’s teachers unions

By William O'Keefe

04/19/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union prides itself as a leader in “bargaining for the common good” – unionspeak for contract demands related to its political agenda rather than teachers’ wages and benefits. This year’s negotiations could reverberate across the nation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Pritzker’s new budget would create state child tax credit

By Bryce Hill, Dylan Sharkey

04/02/2024

Illinoisans with children younger than 3 could soon get a break on their state taxes. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s newest budget would let qualifying parents around the state keep $12 million in taxes.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois corporate income tax rate hits No. 2 in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

01/29/2024

Illinois businesses pay the nation’s second-highest corporate income tax rates. Chicago is considering taxing them more.

Illinois’ Midwest-leading minimum wage increases again in January 2024

By Patrick Andriesen

12/28/2023

Non-tipped workers will see their hourly wage hit $14 an hour while tipped employees will collect $8.40 thanks to the next minimum wage hike on January 1, 2024.

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

By Bryce Hill

12/28/2023

Illinoisans moving to other states was the sole reason for population decline in 2023. It’s not a Midwestern thing, because our neighbors are growing.

Illinois licensing makes escaping poverty harder than in other Midwestern states

By Joe Tabor

11/27/2023

Illinois could make it easier to escape poverty by letting more people work without first getting a license. Six neighboring states do a better job of easing occupational licensing on low-income professions.

U.S. Supreme Court rules government home equity theft unconstitutional

By Patrick Andriesen

05/27/2023

U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled for a widow from Minnesota whose home was seized and sold for a tax debt, but local government kept $25,000 more than she owed. The ruling should stop the practice in Illinois, where it is especially prevalent.

TAGS: U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court case aims to stop homes from being taken for small tax debts without compensation

By Joe Tabor

04/27/2023

Illinois homeowners have lost the full value of their homes over relatively small tax debts. But a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court could end that practice in Illinois and across the country.

Minnesota

Illinois housing least affordable in Midwest

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Chicago Teachers Union sets a radical example for nation’s teachers unions

Pritzker’s new budget would create state child tax credit

Illinois corporate income tax rate hits No. 2 in U.S.

Illinois’ Midwest-leading minimum wage increases again in January 2024

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

Illinois licensing makes escaping poverty harder than in other Midwestern states

U.S. Supreme Court rules government home equity theft unconstitutional

U.S. Supreme Court case aims to stop homes from being taken for small tax debts without compensation

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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