9 Illinois metro areas add jobs in March, 6 await pandemic recovery

By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko

04/19/2024

Job gains in Illinois’ metropolitan areas were off to a slow start in 2024. Six areas remain behind where they were before the pandemic.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment

Merging downstate police, fire pensions helps but Illinois needs pension reform

By Bryce Hill

01/26/2024

The Illinois Supreme Court voted to uphold a law consolidating 649 municipal police and firefighter pension funds. It may help the state’s pension woes, but amending the Illinois Constitution is needed for real solutions.

Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships mostly go to Black, Hispanic students

By Mailee Smith

10/23/2023

Low-income students from across Illinois receive Invest in Kids scholarships, with the majority going to Black and Hispanic students.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2023

Despite statewide job gains in June, eight of Illinois’ metro areas lost jobs for the month. Most areas still haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic job levels.

Illinois metro unemployment rates still among worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

06/30/2023

While most Illinois metropolitan areas saw job gains last month, unemployment rates remain higher than the U.S. rate in 11 of the state’s 13 metro areas.

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

02/15/2023

Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

By Dylan Sharkey

02/14/2023

As Illinois pushes for more renewable energy, it comes with a fire hazard risk at battery storage centers. A battery storage facility explosion in Arizona hurt eight firefighters. There have been three other fires.

Illinois metro areas’ unemployment rates among worst in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

12/16/2022

Illinois’ metro areas already face unemployment problems, with some of the nation’s worst rates. They could be hit harder by a recession than other places in the nation.

Congressmen ask Pritzker to repay $1.3B federal unemployment debt

By Patrick Andriesen

10/19/2022

U.S. House Ways and Means Committee members wrote Gov. J.B. Pritzker asking for repayment of a $1.3 billion federal unemployment insurance fund loan before Nov. 10. Failing to do so means automatically raising taxes on businesses.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

By Justin Carlson

09/28/2022

The latest job numbers show Illinois continues struggling to recover pandemic job losses, a bad sign for its lagging economy as recession fears rise.

Peoria

9 Illinois metro areas add jobs in March, 6 await pandemic recovery

Merging downstate police, fire pensions helps but Illinois needs pension reform

Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships mostly go to Black, Hispanic students

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

Illinois metro unemployment rates still among worst in U.S.

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

Big batteries to store renewable energy create fire hazard

Illinois metro areas’ unemployment rates among worst in U.S.

Congressmen ask Pritzker to repay $1.3B federal unemployment debt

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

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