Downstate areas lag Chicago, Midwest in house building permits

By Joe Tabor

07/22/2024

Out of 90 Midwestern metropolitan areas, Illinois has four in the bottom 10 for new housing per capita in 2023. Housing affordability is directly linked to getting units built.

TAGS: housing

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Literacy in Illinois: Low third-grade reading proficiency warns of trouble ahead

By Hannah Schmid

05/30/2024

Third grade marks a critical reading milestone: if students struggle then, they will face greater problems during the rest of their educations. State data shows 7 of 10 Illinois third graders can’t read at grade level, meaning there’s trouble awaiting most Illinois students.

TAGS: public schools

Editorial: State lawmakers in Springfield pass bill to cut off competition in 78 races

By Hilary Gowins

05/06/2024

Why did SB 2412 need to pass on May 2, in the middle of the election cycle, weeks after the primary election but still well ahead of the November general election? Many candidates had already started the complicated process of petition gathering and paperwork under the old rules. What justifies changing those rules in the middle of the game?

TAGS: election laws

Illinois may take on massive public pension boost with no clue on costs

By Bryce Hill

04/23/2024

Several bills that enhance Tier 2 state worker pension benefits, reduce retirement ages, allow for large end-of-career lump-sum payments and other pension sweeteners are moving through the Illinois General Assembly. They appear to be heading for a vote.

Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

By Hannah Schmid

03/08/2024

A report shows low-income students receiving Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarships were more proficient in reading and math in nearly every grade in 2023 than low-income students in Illinois public schools. Their high school reading bested statewide scores.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

By Bryce Hill

12/28/2023

Illinoisans moving to other states was the sole reason for population decline in 2023. It’s not a Midwestern thing, because our neighbors are growing.

Students filling Statehouse to save Illinois’ school choice program

By Jess Plowman

10/24/2023

The Illinois General Assembly was greeted back to Springfield by private school students pushing them to save the state scholarship program for low-income students. Thousands more are expected Oct. 25.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice, teachers union

Union bosses pay lobbyist big bucks to kill school choice as he sends his kids to private school

By Mailee Smith

09/20/2023

Sean Denney, director of government relations at the Illinois Education Association, makes four times more than the average family receiving an Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship. He can afford private school for his children but is trying to end that option for others.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, Invest in Kids

Union control: 9 of 10 Illinois lawmakers have received money from unions

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

07/06/2023

Current lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly have received $60.2 million in contributions from unions since 2010. Most of that cash went to Democrats.

TAGS: unions

Springfield

Downstate areas lag Chicago, Midwest in house building permits

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Literacy in Illinois: Low third-grade reading proficiency warns of trouble ahead

Editorial: State lawmakers in Springfield pass bill to cut off competition in 78 races

Illinois may take on massive public pension boost with no clue on costs

Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

Students filling Statehouse to save Illinois’ school choice program

Union bosses pay lobbyist big bucks to kill school choice as he sends his kids to private school

Union control: 9 of 10 Illinois lawmakers have received money from unions

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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