Illinois leads nation in overcrowded prisons

By Bryant Jackson-Green

10/13/2015

Illinois prisons held 150 percent of their maximum capacity in 2014, the highest rate of crowding of any prison system in the country, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, prison, prison overcrowding, prison population

IRS data reveal 2012 was Illinois’ worst year of taxpayer and wealth migration yet

By Michael Lucci

08/25/2015

Newly released data from the IRS reveal that in 2012, Illinois lost more taxpayers and taxpayer wealth to a greater number of states than ever before.

TAGS: IRS: Internal Revenue Service, outmigration

June jobs update: Illinois’ workforce shrinks by 8,300, state has nation’s worst jobs losses at -7,500

By Michael Lucci

07/22/2015

Indiana and Michigan laid the framework for a manufacturing and jobs recovery. Until politicians in the Illinois General Assembly get serious about pursuing real reforms, the state’s jobs climate with continue to decline.

TAGS: employment, manufacturing, right to work, workers compensation

What Illinois can learn from South Dakota’s innovative drunk-driving punishment

By Bryant Jackson-Green

07/22/2015

South Dakota’s sobriety program is a good model to combat drunk driving; Illinois should adopt it.

TAGS: DUI

Illinois can cut crime and prison-population growth at the same time

By Bryant Jackson-Green

05/14/2015

States across the country have made major gains on both fronts.

TAGS: prison population

Corruption watch: March 2015

By Shawn Tonge

04/08/2015

April showers bring May flowers, but all March gave us was 53 new corruption stories in Illinois.

TAGS: good government

Taxpayers on the hook for billions in hidden government-worker health-care costs

By Benjamin VanMetre, John Klingner

07/25/2014

The problem Skyrocketing retirement costs for Illinois’ state and local government workers are wreaking havoc on governments’ ability to provide core services such as public safety, education and infrastructure. States and cities across the nation continue to struggle with massive pension and health-care costs, which force residents to pay higher taxes and fees to receive...

TAGS: health insurance

Illinois should strive for better marks on hair-braiding regulations

By Bryant Jackson-Green

07/18/2014

The state of Illinois received a near-failing grade for the quality of its natural-hair-braiding licensing rules, according to a new study released by the Institute for Justice. The study overviews natural-hair-braiding (a popular beauty practice among African and African-American communities in the U.S.) regulations in every state in the country, ranking each one based on...

TAGS: licensing, occupational licensing, regulations, small business

Shrinking the Illinois Senate

By Brian Costin

10/08/2013

With 42,336 elected officials as of 1992, Illinois has nearly 12,000 more state and local elected politicians than any other state. Amazingly, with this unprecedented wealth of legislators Illinois hasn’t been able to adequately address some of its most dire problems. Illinois still ranks near the bottom of the nation in numerous key economic indicators,...

TAGS: term limits

Illinois’ average personal income growth trails neighbors and nation

By Benjamin VanMetre

02/28/2013

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, or BEA, announced today that Illinois ranked 42nd in personal income growth in 2012.

South Dakota

Illinois leads nation in overcrowded prisons

IRS data reveal 2012 was Illinois’ worst year of taxpayer and wealth migration yet

June jobs update: Illinois’ workforce shrinks by 8,300, state has nation’s worst jobs losses at -7,500

What Illinois can learn from South Dakota’s innovative drunk-driving punishment

Illinois can cut crime and prison-population growth at the same time

Corruption watch: March 2015

Taxpayers on the hook for billions in hidden government-worker health-care costs

Illinois should strive for better marks on hair-braiding regulations

Shrinking the Illinois Senate

Illinois’ average personal income growth trails neighbors and nation

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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