More than half of Illinois counties suffer outmigration

By Bryce Hill

03/26/2026

Residents are leaving every corner of Illinois for other states despite surging international migration propping up the total population.

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

5 ways Amendment 1 is a property tax hike

By Bryce Hill

09/07/2022

Amendment 1 would likely result in a $2,100 tax hike for the typical Illinois homeowner, thanks to increased government union power to demand more.

TAGS: Amendment 1, workers rights

Pritzker bans outside donors ahead of Illinois Supreme Court races

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned ‘dark money’ in Illinois’ judicial elections after record spending unseated a longtime Madigan ally from the Illinois Supreme Court. Voters will decide more high court vacancies soon.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker

Budget, ethics bills again kept secret before last-minute votes, Madigan style

By Justin Carlson

05/27/2021

Illinois politicians used Madigan’s teachings – avoid messy democracy and disenfranchise taxpayers – by again waiting until the last minute to pass major legislation. Good things rarely grow in the dark.

TAGS: budget, Illinois, Springfield

Pension reform key to protecting Illinois services, taxpayers after ‘fair tax’ rejection

By Adam Schuster

11/12/2020

Asking Illinoisans to pay more in taxes to receive less in services has been the trend in state government for the past decade, driven by the ever-growing cost of Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, pensions

If ‘fair tax’ passes, expect more seniors to leave Illinois looking to avoid retirement tax

By Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

10/09/2020

Illinois would have lost an additional 10,577 seniors from 2012 to 2018 if outmigration were as severe as in Connecticut, the last state to enact a progressive income tax.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, retirement tax

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

By Adam Schuster

08/26/2020

Decades of institutionalized financial mismanagement left Illinois with the nation’s worst fiscal health. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been at the center of nearly every bad decision along the way.

Illinois passed a record-breaking income tax hike 3 years ago. Here’s where the money went.

By Adam Schuster

07/05/2020

Income taxes rose 32% for individuals and 33% for corporations in 2017, raising Illinois’ total tax burden to at least sixth highest from 10th highest. More than $1.2 billion went to pensions and debt.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker

Blame Illinois exodus on jobs, housing, tax policy

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

06/25/2020

Census data shows who is fleeing Illinoisans and why. Here’s why you should care.

TAGS: jobs, outmigration, population, tax burden

University of Illinois Springfield

More than half of Illinois counties suffer outmigration

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

5 ways Amendment 1 is a property tax hike

Pritzker bans outside donors ahead of Illinois Supreme Court races

Budget, ethics bills again kept secret before last-minute votes, Madigan style

Pension reform key to protecting Illinois services, taxpayers after ‘fair tax’ rejection

If ‘fair tax’ passes, expect more seniors to leave Illinois looking to avoid retirement tax

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

Illinois passed a record-breaking income tax hike 3 years ago. Here’s where the money went.

Blame Illinois exodus on jobs, housing, tax policy

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