Chicago’s combined state and local taxpayer debt burden worst in the nation

By Justin Carlson

06/07/2022

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting reports every Chicagoan is on the hook for $135,700 when combining city and state debt.

TAGS: Chicago, tax burden, Truth in Accounting

Longer public schools closed for pandemic, more students they lost

By Hannah Schmid

05/26/2022

New research shows remote learning spurred the enrollment declines plaguing public schools. Schools with more in-person instruction lost fewer students.

TAGS: COVID-19, public schools, teachers union

79% of Illinois communities lose people in 2021; Chicago loses 45K

By Bryce Hill

05/25/2022

1,019 Illinois communities of all sizes shared in the loss of 114,000 residents in 2021, new census data shows. Chicago lost 40% of the total.

TAGS: Chicago, Illinois, outmigration, population

Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks

By Justin Carlson

05/03/2022

While Illinois settles for Pritzker’s temporary relief that mostly expires after the November election, its neighbor states are making long-term changes to help grow their economies.

TAGS: Illinois, Midwest, taxes

Illinois’ state, local tax burden highest in Midwest after 2nd-largest increase in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

04/11/2022

The effective state and local tax burden in Illinois has risen from 11.2% in 2019 to 12.9% in 2022. It is now the nation’s seventh highest.

TAGS: Illinois, tax burden

Illinois lawmakers should read laws before they pass them

By Joe Tabor, Jon Josko

04/11/2022

Politicians use a loophole to bypass the Illinois Constitution’s requirement that bills be read on three separate days before they are passed. Instead, they often gut minor bills and put significant legislation in the bills within a day of the vote.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, transparency

Illinois job opening rate 4th-lowest in nation

By Bryce Hill

02/28/2022

Workers looking for a job find fewer opportunities in Illinois than in virtually any other state.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois, jobs

Pritzker ad fact check: Pritzker’s policies have hurt small business, working mothers

By Dylan Sharkey

02/17/2022

Gov. J.B Pritzker’s latest campaign ad praises his support for small businesses even though his policies contributed to one of the nation’s largest small business closures.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

CTU-backed Amendment 1 would give teachers unions power over Illinois parents

By Mailee Smith

02/15/2022

Chicago Teachers Union takes credit for spreading the “new gospel” of union strike power across the nation. If the CTU-backed Amendment 1 passes in November, it will lock the union’s militant tactics into the state constitution, to the detriment of children and parents statewide.

TAGS: Amendment 1, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28

By Patrick Andriesen

02/10/2022

Chicago and Cook County health officials announced plans to revoke pandemic masking and vaccination entry requirements by Feb. 28, the day Illinois’ statewide mask mandate will be lifted. Pritzker has warned Illinoisans to keep masks handy.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, COVID-19, mask mandate

New York

Chicago’s combined state and local taxpayer debt burden worst in the nation

Longer public schools closed for pandemic, more students they lost

79% of Illinois communities lose people in 2021; Chicago loses 45K

Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks

Illinois’ state, local tax burden highest in Midwest after 2nd-largest increase in U.S.

Illinois lawmakers should read laws before they pass them

Illinois job opening rate 4th-lowest in nation

Pritzker ad fact check: Pritzker’s policies have hurt small business, working mothers

CTU-backed Amendment 1 would give teachers unions power over Illinois parents

Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28

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