Springfield population drops by nearly 1,000 residents from 2015-2016

04/07/2017

Illinoisans from all areas are leaving the state in droves, and Springfield lawmakers need look no farther than the state capital to see the proof.

TAGS: outmigration, population, Sangamon County, Springfield, U.S. Census Bureau

Out-migration caused Lake County population to shrink by nearly 400 from 2015-2016

By Amy Korte

04/06/2017

Newly released census data show more than 5,100 Lake County residents moved to other U.S. locales last year, causing the county’s population to shrink.

TAGS: Lake County, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

DuPage County population shrank by nearly 2,500 from 2015-2016

By Amy Korte

04/06/2017

Newly released census data show more than 9,100 DuPage County residents moved to other U.S. locales last year, causing the county’s population to shrink.

TAGS: DuPage County, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois employers announce more than 2,500 mass layoffs

By Brendan Bakala

04/06/2017

Numbers from the March WARN report show that employers in Illinois across various industries laid off 2,573 workers; 267 of the layoffs were in manufacturing.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, unemployment, WARN

Moody’s warning of an “inflection point” in Illinois signals need for spending reforms

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/31/2017

Illinois lawmakers should heed Moody’s Investors Service’s warnings about the state’s precarious economic health and dire fiscal situation and enact major structural spending reforms to balance the budget.

TAGS: budget, credit rating, grand bargain, Moody's Investor Service, outmigration

Legislation would allow people convicted of cannabis offenses to petition for expungement if Illinois legalizes marijuana

By Hilary Gowins

03/30/2017

A proposed amendment to Illinois’ Criminal Identification Act would allow people to petition to have their arrest and conviction records cleared of any cannabis-related offenses that Illinois ultimately takes off the books through marijuana legalization.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Kelly Cassidy, Marcus Evans, marijuana

Already among the nation’s highest, DuPage property tax rates to increase this year

03/29/2017

With hundreds of taxing bodies in their county and inaction from Springfield, DuPage homeowners will soon see yet another property tax increase.

TAGS: property taxes

Poll shows ‘large majorities’ of Illinois voters support legalizing marijuana

By Hilary Gowins

03/27/2017

Illinoisans of all ages, political party affiliations and regions of the state favor legalizing marijuana and regulating and taxing it like alcohol, as provided in legislation proposed by state Rep. Kelly Cassidy on March 22.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Kelly Cassidy, legalization, marijuana

Illinois has hurt its economy by piling on taxes since the Great Recession

By Michael Lucci

03/27/2017

State and local tax hikes in Illinois have hurt economic growth, lowered the standard of living, and contributed to out-migration.

TAGS: Great Recession, income tax, jobs, outmigration, taxes

Poll results show only 1/3 of Illinoisans say they’ve been affected by the budget impasse

By Hilary Gowins

03/24/2017

Forty percent of respondents to a newly released statewide poll blame the government for poverty. Poll results also show that Illinoisans feel insecure about jobs and education, in addition to frustration with government dysfunction.

TAGS: budget, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute

Springfield population drops by nearly 1,000 residents from 2015-2016

Out-migration caused Lake County population to shrink by nearly 400 from 2015-2016

DuPage County population shrank by nearly 2,500 from 2015-2016

Illinois employers announce more than 2,500 mass layoffs

Moody’s warning of an “inflection point” in Illinois signals need for spending reforms

Legislation would allow people convicted of cannabis offenses to petition for expungement if Illinois legalizes marijuana

Already among the nation’s highest, DuPage property tax rates to increase this year

Poll shows ‘large majorities’ of Illinois voters support legalizing marijuana

Illinois has hurt its economy by piling on taxes since the Great Recession

Poll results show only 1/3 of Illinoisans say they’ve been affected by the budget impasse

What is the Education Freedom Tax Credit and how can it benefit Illinois students?

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