5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

By Joe Tabor

12/04/2023

Employment is the clearest path out of poverty, but these five low-income professions face more occupational licensing burdens than others in Illinois.

Illinois licensing makes escaping poverty harder than in other Midwestern states

By Joe Tabor

11/27/2023

Illinois could make it easier to escape poverty by letting more people work without first getting a license. Six neighboring states do a better job of easing occupational licensing on low-income professions.

Fact check: 7 things school choice opponents got wrong about Invest in Kids

By Hannah Schmid

09/22/2023

Illinois Families for Public Schools released a pamphlet with misleading information about the Invest in Kids Tax-Credit Scholarship program and its effects on the public school system in Illinois. Here are corrections to seven things they got wrong.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

By Hannah Schmid

08/22/2023

Five Midwest states have enacted or expanded school choice programs since the Invest in Kids Act was enacted in 2017. Now Illinois’ scholarships are set to expire while other programs thrive.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

No election? No break on Illinois back-to-school supplies

By Dylan Sharkey

08/02/2023

Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee are all having back-to-school sales tax holidays. Not Illinois, where state leaders saw the need during the 2022 election.

Illinois 1 of 3 states banning you from using fireworks

By Dylan Sharkey

06/28/2023

Independence Day means residents of 47 states will celebrate their freedom by choosing to set off fireworks. Not in Illinois.

TAGS: Independence Day

How Illinois politicians allow government unions to rewrite state law

By Mailee Smith, Hannah Schmid

04/06/2023

No other state’s constitution or labor laws are like Illinois’ – broadly allowing government unions to override statutes simply by negotiating contrary provisions into collective bargaining agreements. Illinois may not be alone for long.

Illinois holiday travelers face hike on nation’s No. 2 gas taxes

By Patrick Andriesen

12/16/2022

Plenty of Illinoisans will be on the road this holiday season, with record-high travel across the nation. Filling up for the trip is pricey in Illinois and will get even pricier after Jan. 1.

TAGS: gas tax

Pritzker extends COVID emergency powers for 33rd time

By Dylan Sharkey

08/23/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is declaring Illinois a disaster for the 33rd time since the pandemic began, meaning he’s given himself emergency powers for nearly 70% of his term.

TAGS: COVID-19, emergency powers, JB Pritzker

How to stop gerrymandering in Illinois

By Joe Tabor, Aimee Morrissey

08/11/2022

Illinois can draw from other states’ experiences to solve its own gerrymandering problem. One solid solution is as close as Michigan.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, Illinois

Ohio

5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

Illinois licensing makes escaping poverty harder than in other Midwestern states

Fact check: 7 things school choice opponents got wrong about Invest in Kids

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

No election? No break on Illinois back-to-school supplies

Illinois 1 of 3 states banning you from using fireworks

How Illinois politicians allow government unions to rewrite state law

Illinois holiday travelers face hike on nation’s No. 2 gas taxes

Pritzker extends COVID emergency powers for 33rd time

How to stop gerrymandering in Illinois

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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