Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation By Josh Bandoch 02/11/2026 Illinois in the top ten for largest racial wealth gaps. Disparities in income, education and poverty drive the state’s racial wealth gap.
Illinois loses 1,700 jobs in 2025 while nation adds 584,000 By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko 01/30/2026 Illinois’ unemployment continued a long-term trend of remaining higher than the national rate as 2025 ends with lost jobs as the nation gained.
Census: 95% of Illinoisans moving out head to lower-tax states By Bryce Hill 01/22/2026 U.S. Census estimates showed Illinois lost residents to 32 states and Washington, D.C. – virtually all to lower-tax states. TAGS: outmigration, taxes
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap By LyLena Estabine 01/13/2026 Causes, costs, how to set the state free
Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel By Jerry Barmore 12/18/2025 AAA estimates 5.7 million Illinoisans will travel this holiday season. Most will be driving, forced to pay the nation’s No. 2 gas taxes. TAGS: gas tax
Illinois job growth less than half of Midwest’s in past year By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko 12/17/2025 The information sector remains a bright spot in an otherwise challenging Illinois job market, but unemployment has pulled even with the national rate.
Record Illinois Thanksgiving traffic paying record gas taxes By Jerry Barmore 11/24/2025 Thanksgiving travel will set a record in Illinois and in the U.S. Illinois drivers will pay the nation’s second-highest gas taxes, thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
American Federation of Teachers place politics, leader priorities over members By Mailee Smith 11/12/2025 Union accounting shows just 36% of its spending was on representing teachers in 2025, while it spent more than $41 million on politics. TAGS: AFT: American Federation of Teachers, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers
Illinois punishes independents, meaning just 1 got on 2024 ballot By Patrick Andriesen 11/09/2025 Illinois puts lots of restrictions on independent candidates. Just one got on the 2024 ballot in 155 races.
Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko 09/19/2025 Illinois showed slow job growth as the state trailed national trends. Unemployment was at 4.4% in August, slightly above the national rate