Who’s hurting in Illinois?

By Michael Lucci

09/18/2014

Illinois is the worst state in the Midwest for black men to find work.

Food-stamp enrollment in Illinois outpaces job creation by nearly 2-to-1

By Michael Lucci

09/16/2014

Illinois’ sluggish jobs recovery is coming at a tremendous cost. For every post-recession job created in Illinois, nearly two people have enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. In the recession era, the number of Illinoisans dependent on food stamps has risen by 745,000. Without adequate job creation in the...

TAGS: SNAP

U.S. recovers, Illinois lags

By Michael Lucci

09/05/2014

U.S. nonfarm payrolls added 142,000 jobs in August, against consensus expectations of 230,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. August marked the worst month of job creation in 2014. Average monthly job creation so far this year is 215,000. The national unemployment rate ticked down to 6.1 percent, because only 16,000 unemployed Americans found...

TAGS: jobs

Motorists in Illinois are paying $4.06 per gallon of gas — $0.40 more than the national average.

By Hilary Gowins

05/24/2013

For the last several years, gas prices have remained stubbornly high at $3 or more a gallon nationwide — and customers have felt the pinch. Though prices remain high throughout the nation, they’ve mostly held steady since last year. The national average price per gallon decreased by $0.02 from this time last year, and now...

Illinois unemployment stalls at 9.5 percent

By Chris Andriesen

03/31/2013

The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced today that the Illinois unemployment rate remained at 9.5 percent in March. Three months ago it was 8.6 percent.

Lessons from Puerto Rico: the problem with big pension debts and little solutions

By Ted Dabrowski

03/31/2013

Too bad Puerto Rico isnt a state. If it were, Puerto Rico, and not Illinois, would have the nations worst-funded pension system and the countrys worst credit rating.

TAGS: credit rating, debt, Puerto Rico

When it comes to freedom, Illinois comes up short

03/31/2013

The Mercatus Center, which conducts market-oriented research at George Mason University, released a study ranking the 50 states based on whether or not government polices promote fiscal and personal freedoms.

Illinois lawmakers want to ban dogs behind the wheel of a car

02/28/2013

Its about time we let those we elect know that we can take care of ourselves.

Judges Still Silent

10/18/2010

The silence continues. Illinois judges and organizations who represent the state’s judiciary are still refusing to comment about their skyrocketing salaries and perks revealed last week with the publication of the Institute’s special report:Judicial Pay and Perks in the Prairie State. Calls and e-mails seeking comment placed this week to individual jurists, the Illinois Judges...

Are Illinois State Legislators Overpaid?

By Chris Andriesen

06/11/2010

Illinois Legislators have the fifth highest salary in the nation.

Prairie State College

Who’s hurting in Illinois?

Food-stamp enrollment in Illinois outpaces job creation by nearly 2-to-1

U.S. recovers, Illinois lags

Motorists in Illinois are paying $4.06 per gallon of gas — $0.40 more than the national average.

Illinois unemployment stalls at 9.5 percent

Lessons from Puerto Rico: the problem with big pension debts and little solutions

When it comes to freedom, Illinois comes up short

Illinois lawmakers want to ban dogs behind the wheel of a car

Judges Still Silent

Are Illinois State Legislators Overpaid?

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