Illinois 3rd-most regulated state in U.S.

By Bryce Hill, Jim Royal

02/09/2022

Illinois has the nation’s third-highest number of state regulations and double the U.S. average. Regulations make life hard for Illinois’ small businesses, where most Illinois jobs are created.

TAGS: employment, Illinois, regulations, small business

Pritzker keeps mask mandates for schools indefinitely

By Amy Korte

02/09/2022

The governor’s maintenance of statewide school mask mandates without benchmarks for their removal makes Illinois an outlier.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

Pritzker extends indoor mask mandate through Feb. 28, keeps students masked

By Patrick Andriesen

02/09/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is keeping Illinois’ indoor mask mandate in place through Feb. 28. Schools statewide will be required to keep students and staff masked.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, mask mandate

Chicago’s $43,100 debt per taxpayer driven by pension debt

By Justin Carlson

02/08/2022

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting again gave an ‘F’ grade to Chicago, thanks to high debt driven by unsustainable pension costs. Fixing the problem will take amending the Illinois Constitution.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, pensions

Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt

By Patrick Andriesen

02/02/2022

A financial watchdog report estimated each taxpayer in Chicago would need to pay $43,100 to settle the city’s debt. It stands at No. 2 for big U.S. cities. Blame city leaders for repeatedly making pension debt worse.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Illinois 1 of 7 states to see residents move out faster in 2021

By Bryce Hill

01/14/2022

Illinoisans fled at a record pace in 2021. The state lost 122,460 residents on net because of moves to other states.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population

Chicago Teachers Union’s illegal strike is over, but parents sue to stop next one

By Patrick Andriesen

01/14/2022

Parents of Chicago Public Schools students sued to end the “remote work action” by Chicago Teachers Union members that kept 340,000 students out of classrooms for five days. The walkout is over, but the lawsuit is continuing to prevent the next illegal strike.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, lawsuit, strike

Illinois loses more people faster to other states during COVID-19 pandemic

By Bryce Hill

01/05/2022

Illinois, California and New York shrank the most and lost people fastest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas and Florida grew the most. Idaho, Utah and Montana grew the fastest.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, outmigration, population

Chicago Teachers Union uses COVID-19 to walk out on students, again

By Dylan Sharkey

01/05/2022

Chicago schools closed Jan. 5 when the Chicago Teachers Union voted to keep members out of classrooms, trying to force an end to in-person learning over COVID-19 concerns.

TAGS: COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, remote learning, strike

Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money

By Adam Schuster

08/24/2021

Classrooms First Act would benefit virtually all Illinoisans including teachers, parents and students.

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Illinois 3rd-most regulated state in U.S.

Pritzker keeps mask mandates for schools indefinitely

Pritzker extends indoor mask mandate through Feb. 28, keeps students masked

Chicago’s $43,100 debt per taxpayer driven by pension debt

Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt

Illinois 1 of 7 states to see residents move out faster in 2021

Chicago Teachers Union’s illegal strike is over, but parents sue to stop next one

Illinois loses more people faster to other states during COVID-19 pandemic

Chicago Teachers Union uses COVID-19 to walk out on students, again

Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money

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