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

Illinois spent $17 million on masks from China that may be unusable

04/22/2020

The state is attempting to shore up its supply of personal protection equipment, but received millions of masks the state health department recommended only using in a crisis.

TAGS: China, coronavirus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, JB Pritzker

How second chances are saving lives in Illinois

By Austin Berg

04/15/2020

Creason’s dream was to become a registered nurse. But for her and many like her in Illinois, that dream nearly died.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, criminal justice reform, nurse

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

By Bryce Hill

03/27/2020

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population, tax burden, tax hikes, U.S. Census Bureau

Bill would allow licensed, out-of-state nurses to serve Illinois patients

03/20/2020

To prepare for a rise in hospital visits, Illinois should remove interstate barriers for medical professionals.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, Mike Zalewski, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, nurse

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2020

Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.

TAGS: Bloomington, BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, economics, economy, employment, fair tax, flat tax, government spending, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, Madison County, metro areas, Metro East, Moline, pensions, Peoria, population, progressive income tax, recession, Rockford, spending, spending cap, Springfield, St. Clair County, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, unemployment, Urbana, working-age

State of the state: Pritzker saw worst first-year jobs numbers since Blagojevich

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

01/27/2020

Illinois job creation lagged the national median in nearly every sector.

TAGS: 401(k), BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, fair tax, government spending, graduated income tax, housing, housing market, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, labor force participation rate, outmigration, pensions, personal income, population, private sector, progressive income tax, public sector, retirement age, spending, spending cap, Springfield, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

Missouri

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

Illinois spent $17 million on masks from China that may be unusable

How second chances are saving lives in Illinois

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

Bill would allow licensed, out-of-state nurses to serve Illinois patients

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

State of the state: Pritzker saw worst first-year jobs numbers since Blagojevich

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