80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

By Amy Korte, Marianna Schmiesing

07/31/2017

The number of Cook County municipalities that have opted out of both ordinances has climbed to 107.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage

Trump administration undermines Illinois civil asset forfeiture reforms

By Hilary Gowins

07/22/2017

The reinstatement of a federal asset forfeiture program marks a step backward for civil asset forfeiture reform.

TAGS: civil asset forfeiture, criminal justice reform, Jeff Sessions

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

By Amy Korte

06/26/2017

Municipal leaders have expressed concerns about the anti-competitive, job-killing effects of Cook County’s minimum wage increases and new sick leave law and are using home rule authority to exempt their communities from the requirements.

TAGS: Cook County, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

By Madelyn Harwood

05/17/2017

By fixing cost drivers, decreasing the cost of doing business in Illinois, and easing the tax burden, Illinois can encourage jobs growth and stand a better chance at attracting and retaining younger people.

Indiana has added five times more union members than Illinois since passing Right to Work

By Michael Lucci

05/09/2017

Indiana’s sharp rise in union members is due to its robust economic growth and increase in manufacturing jobs, while Illinois’ economy continues to lose factories and sees little growth in union members.

TAGS: Indiana, jobs, labor, manufacturing, right to work, unions, workers compensation

Federal court in Illinois rules biometric privacy lawsuit against Google can proceed

By Amy Korte

03/08/2017

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has held that face templates created from photographs uploaded to Google Photos are covered under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.

TAGS: BIPA: Biometric Information Privacy Act, Google, regulations

Federal district court dismisses Illinois gamers’ biometric information privacy case against video game maker

By Amy Korte

02/06/2017

A federal district court in New York has determined the mere violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act does not amount to an injury sufficient to allow video game players to sue in federal court.

TAGS: BIPA: Biometric Information Privacy Act, privacy

Future of privacy: Lawsuit by Illinois residents focuses on Facebook facial-recognition technology

By Amy Korte

05/26/2016

The case against Facebook under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act raises questions about the protection of people’s most personal data, as well as the possibility of an explosion of lawsuits against companies that use certain biotechnology.

TAGS: Facebook, privacy

Chicago’s food-cart ban costs revenue, jobs

By Michael Lucci, Hilary Gowins

09/09/2015

Chicago’s ban on food carts is costing the city jobs and revenue. The city has fallen behind its peers: Street vending from food carts is already legal in 23 of the 25 largest cities in the U.S. The Illinois Policy Institute conducted a survey of nearly 200 Chicago food-cart street vendors to assess the social...

The right to quit could give teachers unions their credibility back

By Paul Kersey

11/21/2014

What could be a lively debate among educators has become a dull monologue directed by entrenched union officials. Teachers unions have a lot to learn from other professional groups.

TAGS: labor, teacher salaries, unions

The Washington Post

80% of Cook County municipalities have opted out of minimum wage, sick leave ordinances

Trump administration undermines Illinois civil asset forfeiture reforms

More than 50 municipalities have opted out of Cook County’s minimum wage hike, sick days mandate

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

Indiana has added five times more union members than Illinois since passing Right to Work

Federal court in Illinois rules biometric privacy lawsuit against Google can proceed

Federal district court dismisses Illinois gamers’ biometric information privacy case against video game maker

Future of privacy: Lawsuit by Illinois residents focuses on Facebook facial-recognition technology

Chicago’s food-cart ban costs revenue, jobs

The right to quit could give teachers unions their credibility back

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help 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