Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates
Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates
Illinois townships are sounding the alarm on the state’s biggest issues. Eight townships voted in support of state lawmakers fixing the state’s pensions crisis, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois drivers face some of nation’s highest costs, expected to grow
Illinois drivers face some of nation’s highest costs, expected to grow
Fears have grown that more efficient cars mean less money for Illinois to fund roads. But the state already collects higher revenues than ever while burdening drivers with high taxes and fees.
By Ravi Mishra
Vallas: Brandon Johnson’s war against Chicago’s Black community
Vallas: Brandon Johnson’s war against Chicago’s Black community
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson claims racism is behind his inability to lead and help the Black community. But his policies on crime, taxes, migrants, education and jobs are the real villains.
By Paul Vallas
Jim Murphy
Jim Murphy
“Illinois is the only state to lose a school choice program rather than expand one. If we can turn that around at the federal level, it would be a huge win for students in the state."
Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025
Survey: Illinoisans to pay over 10% of incomes to state, local taxes in 2025
Illinois will impose the nation’s seventh-highest state and local tax burden on residents in 2025. Taxpayers on average will pay over 10% of their annual income to support government, according to WalletHub.
By Patrick Andriesen
Illinois governors abuse budget projections, leaving taxpayers damaged
Illinois governors abuse budget projections, leaving taxpayers damaged
Illinois lawmakers can’t budget responsibly if they don’t know how much they have. Governors have a history of fudging the numbers to get what they want.
By FJ Hilgart
Chicago’s latest housing ordinance will make affordability worse
Chicago’s latest housing ordinance will make affordability worse
By imposing costly delays, intrusive financial disclosures and pushing up demolition fees, the Northwest Side Preservation Ordinance will drive rents even higher and hurt the residents it aims to help.
By LyLena Estabine
Illinois tipping bill could cut earnings for restaurants, servers
Illinois tipping bill could cut earnings for restaurants, servers
State politicians might eliminate the tipped minimum wage, putting tipped workers on the $15 per hour wage. But with higher wages come higher costs for businesses, which could raise prices or cut jobs.
By Dylan Sharkey
Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well
Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well
Student literacy is in trouble nationally. Illinois is one of 41 states where just 1 in 3 or fewer of its fourth-graders met reading standards in 2024.
By Hannah Schmid
Despite slight decline, nearly 2M Illinoisans still receive food help
Despite slight decline, nearly 2M Illinoisans still receive food help
Illinois enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program decreased slightly in December, but over 1.9 million residents still received benefits.
By Lauren Zuar
Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%
Cook County property tax bills up 78% as values rise 7%
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.
By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko