20% fewer Illinois public school students proficient in reading, math

By Hannah Schmid

11/18/2022

Illinois students’ academic proficiency remains below pre-pandemic levels. Demographic achievement gaps persist. School choice is part of the solution.

TAGS: Illinois, Invest in Kids, public schools

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

By Justin Carlson

09/28/2022

The latest job numbers show Illinois continues struggling to recover pandemic job losses, a bad sign for its lagging economy as recession fears rise.

Only 1 Illinois metro area has recovered COVID-19 job losses

By Bryce Hill

08/26/2022

Illinois’ lagging pandemic recovery continued across its cities in July. Only 1 metropolitan area has recovered from the pandemic.

TAGS: employment, jobs, unemployment

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

By Joe Tabor

08/17/2022

Published Aug. 17, 2022 Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension...

First-year Illinois housing costs up more than $12,717 since 2019

By Bryce Hill

08/14/2022

Rising prices and mortgage rates are making housing unaffordable for a growing number of Illinoisans. A property tax increase on the Nov. 8 ballot could make it worse.

TAGS: homeownership, property taxes

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/02/2022

Only Bloomington has recouped early 2020 job losses, which is bad news for Illinois’ lagging economy as recession fears increase.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

By Bryce Hill

08/01/2022

With the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest and 117,000 jobs still missing, Illinois’ labor market is among the least recovered in the region.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economic recovery, employment, job creation, jobs

Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

By Bryce Hill

07/29/2022

Illinois homeowners are most likely in the nation to be in foreclosure. The looming $2,100 property tax hike from Amendment 1 would make housing even more unaffordable.

TAGS: Amendment 1, foreclosure, housing market, Illinois

Pritzker gives himself emergency COVID powers for 32nd time

By Dylan Sharkey

07/25/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared Illinois a disaster zone for the 32nd time. When this declaration ends, he will have given himself emergency powers for 895 days – more than two-thirds of his term.

TAGS: COVID-19, emergency powers, JB Pritzker

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

By John Tillman

07/04/2022

We too often call it the “Fourth of July” and lose sight of its true meaning – independence. Independence from tyranny and the freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

Wisconsin

20% fewer Illinois public school students proficient in reading, math

Nearly half of Illinois’ metropolitan areas lost jobs in August

Only 1 Illinois metro area has recovered COVID-19 job losses

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

First-year Illinois housing costs up more than $12,717 since 2019

10 Illinois metro areas gain jobs, only 1 recovers from pandemic

Illinois still missing 1 in 7 jobs lost during pandemic

Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

Pritzker gives himself emergency COVID powers for 32nd time

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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