Don’t miss this tax question on your Nov. 5 ballot

By Dylan Sharkey, Patrick Andriesen

10/16/2024

You will see a survey on the Nov. 5 election regarding Illinois taxes. Lawmakers can then use the results to see how voters feel when considering new laws.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stares down a $1 billion city budget deficit

By Bryce Hill

08/30/2024

Updated budget forecasts show a $982 million shortfall for the upcoming 2025 budget as Chicago grapples with $223 million remaining deficit this year. Mayor Brandon Johnson refuses to rule out property tax hikes.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, property taxes

Pritzker sends another $250K in taxpayer money to group pushing more taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

08/23/2024

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget includes $250,000 for a group advocating for increased government spending and higher taxes. He gave the group money last year, too.

TAGS: CTBA: Center for Budget and Tax Accountability, JB Pritzker

Chicago unemployment is highest in nation

By Bryce Hill

08/15/2024

Nearly 100,000 Chicago-area residents are out of work, and at 6.2% the Chicago metro area has the highest unemployment rate of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas. Illinois as a whole isn’t doing much better, with a 6.1% unemployment rate.

TAGS: Chicago, unemployment

Democratic National Convention just in time to wave goodbye to Chicagoans

By Dylan Sharkey, Kurtis Karg

08/12/2024

The Democratic National Convention is coming to Chicago to highlight the party’s platform. Delegates are likely to see moving vans that highlight what those policies have done to the Windy City and the rest of Illinois.

TAGS: DNC: Democratic National Convention

Chicago population hits lowest point since 1920

By Bryce Hill

08/09/2024

At the 1920 Census, Chicago’s population was 2.7 million, up over 516,000 in a decade. More than 100 years later, Chicago’s population is 2.66 million, a loss of 128,034 from nine straight years of decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population

IRS: Illinois loses $9.9B in income as 87,311 residents move out in 2022

By Bryce Hill

07/01/2024

New data shows $9.9 billion flowed from Illinois to other states because people moved out in 2022. Most of those leaving earned $100,000 or more.

TAGS: population

White, Black communities lead Illinois’ population decline; Hispanic, Asian communities growing

By Bryce Hill

06/28/2024

Illinois’ Hispanic population is growing the most while the Asian population growing the fastest.

TAGS: population, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois’ Black unemployment rate No. 2 in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

05/22/2024

Black workers in Illinois face a tougher job market than peers nationally. Hispanic men, Asians face lower unemployment rates relative to peers in other states.

TAGS: unemployment

3 in 4 Illinois communities lost population in 2023

By Ravi Mishra

05/16/2024

Chicago lost the most, but communities across Illinois lost population in 2023. Three-fourths of the cities and towns lost people.

TAGS: outmigration, population

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Don’t miss this tax question on your Nov. 5 ballot

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stares down a $1 billion city budget deficit

Pritzker sends another $250K in taxpayer money to group pushing more taxes

Chicago unemployment is highest in nation

Democratic National Convention just in time to wave goodbye to Chicagoans

Chicago population hits lowest point since 1920

IRS: Illinois loses $9.9B in income as 87,311 residents move out in 2022

White, Black communities lead Illinois’ population decline; Hispanic, Asian communities growing

Illinois’ Black unemployment rate No. 2 in U.S.

3 in 4 Illinois communities lost population in 2023

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