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

Lightfoot’s limos get 5 speed camera tickets, pay none

By Patrick Andriesen

07/28/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot just cried ‘safety’ in fending off an effort to curb the speed cameras that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents. But her travel detail has its own need for speed: 3 speed cam tickets and 2 warnings.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, mayor, speed cameras, speed limit

Illinois’ fireworks ban limits liberty, hurts job growth

06/21/2022

Illinoisans celebrate Independence Day by taking their fireworks business to other states, despite bans and threats at home, causing the state to lose out on jobs and revenue.

TAGS: fireworks

Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years

By Joe Tabor

05/19/2022

During the past decade, state lawmakers have asked to change the Illinois Constitution six times while voters have failed to get any changes on the ballot. In 52 years, Illinoisans have only gotten one amendment question before voters. That needs to change.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Constitution

Illinois House passes plan to partially refill unemployment fund

By Dylan Sharkey

03/24/2022

The Illinois House voted to use $2.7 billion in federal relief to partially refill the state’s depleted unemployment trust fund. Some lawmakers said it’s not enough.

TAGS: ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act, Illinois, unemployment

Ohio

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

Lightfoot’s limos get 5 speed camera tickets, pay none

Illinois’ fireworks ban limits liberty, hurts job growth

Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years

Illinois House passes plan to partially refill unemployment fund

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students