Unfair policies shut kids out of extracurriculars

By Mailee Smith

05/05/2026

Illinois law is inclusive, but some districts aren’t. Find out where yours lands.

More than half of Illinois counties suffer outmigration

By Bryce Hill

03/26/2026

Residents are leaving every corner of Illinois for other states despite surging international migration propping up the total population.

Illinois can’t afford to miss out on 10,000 extra homes

By LyLena Estabine

11/21/2025

Families rely on single-family homes. Illinois must relax zoning laws and lower minimum lot sizes to make them more affordable statewide.

TAGS: affordable housing

More Chicago suburbs pulling plug on red-light cameras

By Dylan Sharkey

07/14/2025

More Illinois suburbs are ditching red-light cameras. Drivers should celebrate after the devices have issued over $1.5 billion in fines and failed to make roads any safer.

TAGS: red light cameras

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...

Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships mostly go to Black, Hispanic students

By Mailee Smith

10/23/2023

Low-income students from across Illinois receive Invest in Kids scholarships, with the majority going to Black and Hispanic students.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Chicago students score lower, fewer graduate, fewer go to college

By Hannah Schmid

06/07/2023

The graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates in Chicago were below the statewide average in 2022. Reading and math SAT scores were also below the Illinois average. Other large districts in Cook and the collar counties performed better.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

SAT scores in decline across Illinois, Chicago since 2017

By Hannah Schmid

03/08/2023

SAT scores are dropping for high school students in Illinois and Chicago. Here’s how Illinois’ 20 largest school districts compared to the state average in reading and math.

TAGS: ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

How to get more than your fair share from an Illinois pension

By Justin Carlson

08/05/2022

Illinois offers generous pensions to public workers, but some workers engage in legal schemes that give them more than their fair share. Here are some common Illinois pension games that taxpayers are forced to fund.

TAGS: corruption, pension reform, pensions

Over 23,000 Illinois public school employees leave unions

By Hannah Schmid

04/14/2022

Membership in teachers unions has decreased nearly 10% since 2017, when public educators gained the right to stop handing their pay to unions.

TAGS: Illinois, opt out, public schools, teachers union

Naperville

Unfair policies shut kids out of extracurriculars

More than half of Illinois counties suffer outmigration

Illinois can’t afford to miss out on 10,000 extra homes

More Chicago suburbs pulling plug on red-light cameras

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships mostly go to Black, Hispanic students

Chicago students score lower, fewer graduate, fewer go to college

SAT scores in decline across Illinois, Chicago since 2017

How to get more than your fair share from an Illinois pension

Over 23,000 Illinois public school employees leave unions

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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