Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile
Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extensive out-of-state travel raises questions about whether he’s prioritizing national exposure over challenges facing Illinois. During a 12-month stretch, he averaged one out-of-state trip per month.
By Charlotte Rotkis
7 reasons Illinois should let students accept school choice scholarships
7 reasons Illinois should let students accept school choice scholarships
The national Educational Choice for Children Act creates a federal tax-credit scholarship program for both public and private school students to help boost them academically. Here are seven reasons why Illinois should opt into the program.
By Hannah Schmid
Illinois law still says unpaid property taxes can rob you of home equity
Illinois law still says unpaid property taxes can rob you of home equity
Across Illinois, homeowners are losing their homes and all their equity over minor tax debts, with private investors reaping the profits. Illinois is one of the remaining states hasn’t reformed this unconstitutional practice.
By Cameron Jasper, LyLena Estabine
Illinois ranks last in U.S. for financial transparency
Illinois ranks last in U.S. for financial transparency
Illinois was just ranked last in the nation for financial transparency. The state’s chronic delays, audit failures and last-minute budgeting have put taxpayers in the dark and long-term stability at risk.
By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis
3 things teachers unions don’t want teachers to know
3 things teachers unions don’t want teachers to know
Illinois public school teachers can opt out of union membership and stop paying dues in August. But union misinformation is spread to keep them in.
By Mailee Smith
Businesses moving out of Illinois triples since pandemic
Businesses moving out of Illinois triples since pandemic
Illinois lost 218 businesses to other states in 2023, part of an acceleration to triple the rate of what losses were before the pandemic. When adjusted for population, Illinois ranked No. 2 for the most business losses.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest
Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest
Despite leading the region in businesses applying to open, Illinois’ combative business climate results in few business actually starting.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois ranks 17th for best state to live in: hurt by economy, affordability
Illinois ranks 17th for best state to live in: hurt by economy, affordability
A new ranking of the best states to live in puts Illinois at No. 17. It could have scored much better, but the state economy ranked near the bottom of the nation. Quality of life ranked near the top.
By Jerry Barmore
26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing
26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing
A $1.12 billion budget gap spurs Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to circulate a menu of 26 tax hikes. Instead of making Chicago even more hostile to taxpayers, he should be looking at budget reforms and ways to stop spending so much.
By Ravi Mishra
Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union
Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union
Less than 22% of voters approve of the Chicago Teachers Union. No surprise, considering the scandals and radical dogma pushed by its two top leaders.
By Tom Viz
Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him
Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.
By Paul Vallas
Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families
Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families
As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.
By Ravi Mishra