Atlas Van Lines: Illinois exodus continues, but slows in 2025

By Patrick Andriesen

12/16/2025

More people still moved out of Illinois than moved in during 2025, but the gap was smaller than it’s been for the past 16 years, according to Atlas Van Lines.

Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan asks President Trump for pardon

By Dylan Sharkey

12/10/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is asking President Donald Trump to pardon him. Good luck with that.

TAGS: corruption, Donald Trump, Mike Madigan

Madigan’s corruption doesn’t deserve an oil portrait

By Lilly Rossi

11/06/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption conviction means capturing his likeness in a portrait would be tax dollars poorly spent, one lawmaker says.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

03/27/2025

Typical property tax bill increased 78% on a Cook County residence since 2007. Median property values only rose 7.3%. That leaves residents paying $2,558 more a year in property taxes while their biggest investment fails to keep up with inflation.

TAGS: property taxes

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

By Joe Tabor

09/26/2024

Published Sept. 26, 2024 Illinois is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Over a third of residents are considered “burdened” by housing costs, meaning they pay over 30% of their income on costs related to housing. That is a greater portion of residents burdened by housing than any other state in the Midwest....

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

By Hannah Schmid

09/19/2024

Student literacy is in trouble nationally, which is why Illinois is one of 35 states where just 1 in 3 – or fewer – of its fourth graders met reading standards in 2022.

Pension reform vote coming to suburban Chicago township

By Patrick Andriesen

08/14/2024

Barrington Township will be the first local government in Illinois to give taxpayers a vote on reforming the single-largest property tax driver in the state: public pensions. The advisory referendum will be on the ballot Nov. 5.

TAGS: Barrington, pension reform

Illinois property taxes at $5K are higher than 5 states combined

By Patrick Andriesen

08/01/2024

Illinoisans paid the second-highest property tax rate in the U.S. in 2022, with the median Illinois homeowner spending more than taxpayers in Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana and South Carolina combined. See how your county compares.

TAGS: property taxes, taxes

Average Illinois property tax bill rises $756 in 5 years

By Patrick Andriesen

08/01/2024

Homeowners in half of Illinois’ 102 counties saw their property taxes grow faster than inflation from 2018 to 2022. The median bill rose $756 in that time.

TAGS: housing, taxes

Forced agenda: Chicago Teachers Union contract aims to dictate radical, costly worldview to Chicagoans

By Mailee Smith

07/02/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is putting political goals in its contract demands, something not found in other large cities. It is trying to impose policy on the public without elected representatives debating whether the policies will hurt students and taxpayers.

West Virginia

Atlas Van Lines: Illinois exodus continues, but slows in 2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan asks President Trump for pardon

Madigan’s corruption doesn’t deserve an oil portrait

Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

Pension reform vote coming to suburban Chicago township

Illinois property taxes at $5K are higher than 5 states combined

Average Illinois property tax bill rises $756 in 5 years

Forced agenda: Chicago Teachers Union contract aims to dictate radical, costly worldview to Chicagoans

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