Illinois cell phone taxes highest in nation

11/21/2020

Nearly one-third of the cell phone bills in Illinois are taxes

Illinois becomes only state to ban haunted houses

10/03/2020

Other states warned residents about small spaces inside haunted houses creating a risk for spreading COVID-19, but Illinois is all alone in outlawing them.

TAGS: executive order, haunted house, JB Pritzker

Illinois drivers surrounded by states with lower gas tax rates

08/05/2020

Illinois doubled the gas tax in 2019, which pushed it to No. 3 in the nation for highest average gas tax.

TAGS: gas tax, tax hikes

Pritzker benches fall football, puts COVID-19 restrictions on other amateur sports

08/03/2020

Fall’s most popular high school sports lost out as public health, sports and academic leaders put pandemic restrictions on youth, high school and adult amateur sports starting Aug. 15.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, K-12, sports

Illinois tops neighboring states with $10 minimum wage on July 1

06/29/2020

Illinois’ second minimum wage increase this year is part of a plan to hit $15 an hour in 2025. Small businesses face tough decisions on cutting staff or raising prices.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, minimum wage, recession

Illinois gas tax set for automatic increase July 1

06/15/2020

State lawmakers last summer doubled Illinois’ gas tax to help pay for capital projects. Each year the gas tax automatically rises, shielding lawmakers from responsibility for hikes.

TAGS: capital plan, gas tax, JB Pritzker, Martin Sandoval

Illinois sales tax revenues down 24% in May amid strict lockdown

By Adam Schuster

06/11/2020

Monthly sales tax collections in Illinois continued sharp declines compared to one year earlier amid strict COVID-19 restrictions. Neighboring states with more open economies fared better.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, sales tax

Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

By Bryce Hill

06/04/2020

Record April job losses hurt some communities even more than Illinois’ statewide decline of 13.4%.

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

By Bryce Hill

05/28/2020

Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans find themselves out of work, more than all border states except Kentucky.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

05/22/2020

Illinois was ranked as the most restrictive state in the U.S. in a survey of COVID-19 actions that impact everyday life.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order

Missouri

Illinois cell phone taxes highest in nation

Illinois becomes only state to ban haunted houses

Illinois drivers surrounded by states with lower gas tax rates

Pritzker benches fall football, puts COVID-19 restrictions on other amateur sports

Illinois tops neighboring states with $10 minimum wage on July 1

Illinois gas tax set for automatic increase July 1

Illinois sales tax revenues down 24% in May amid strict lockdown

Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

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