How one Illinois law jacks up the cost of government while harming construction sector employment
How one Illinois law jacks up the cost of government while harming construction sector employment
Illinois state lawmakers could stimulate employment and lower costs for overburdened taxpayers by repealing the state’s outdated prevailing wage law.
By Orphe Divounguy
Student loan troubles? Illinois officials can suspend your professional license
Student loan troubles? Illinois officials can suspend your professional license
Almost a quarter of Illinois workers need licenses to work in their professions, and workers who default on student loans can face the suspension of those licenses.
By Amy Korte
How licensing puts the hurt on lower-income Illinoisans, entrepreneurs
How licensing puts the hurt on lower-income Illinoisans, entrepreneurs
In Illinois, a cosmetologist must complete 350 days of educational training, but an EMT can be licensed after just 37.
By Amy Korte
Canadian manufacturer to get $1.1M state tax break deal, local property tax breaks
Canadian manufacturer to get $1.1M state tax break deal, local property tax breaks
The Brandt Group of Companies inked a deal through Illinois’ state tax credit program and will receive property tax abatements from multiple local governments.
By Brendan Bakala
Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition
Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition
With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. But that hasn’t stopped the Land of Lincoln from serving a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.
By Vincent Caruso
Tony Sambo
Tony Sambo
“I can’t get out. I keep paying the property taxes and the workman’s compensation. They’re out of control. I’m stuck. I can’t get out. “I have commercial real estate people calling me all the time and they’re like, ‘We’ve got this building in Illinois.’ And I say, ‘No, I’m trying to get to Indiana.’ And...
IRS data: Illinois lost people and income to every neighboring state on net
IRS data: Illinois lost people and income to every neighboring state on net
New data from the IRS show Illinois lost $720 million and 21,800 people on net to neighboring states from 2015-2016.
By Austin Berg
Food truck owner fights for fairness, opportunity in Chicago
Food truck owner fights for fairness, opportunity in Chicago
Regulations have burned the Windy City’s once-promising food truck sector. One mobile restaurateur hopes to change that.
By Vincent Caruso
New IRS data: Illinois sees record loss of people, income to other states
New IRS data: Illinois sees record loss of people, income to other states
The Land of Lincoln is experiencing heavy losses of people and income to other states, new IRS data reveal. Illinois lost more than 86,000 people and $4.75 billion in adjusted gross income to other states from 2015-2016.
By Austin Berg
CEO survey ranks Illinois’ business climate third-worst in the nation
CEO survey ranks Illinois’ business climate third-worst in the nation
Illinois has been ranked third-to-last for business friendliness in three straight surveys of CEOs.
By Brendan Bakala
Interstate shipping ban chills Illinois wine business, ices out wine consumers
Interstate shipping ban chills Illinois wine business, ices out wine consumers
Prohibition died in 1933, but alcohol-related cronyism is alive and well.
By Vincent Caruso
Six Illinois metro areas lose jobs over the year, majority see labor force dropout
Six Illinois metro areas lose jobs over the year, majority see labor force dropout
Illinois’ tepid jobs growth has come disproportionately in the Chicago area.
By Orphe Divounguy
In this Illinois town, every day is Small Business Saturday
In this Illinois town, every day is Small Business Saturday
Sitting astride the Fox River, the city of Geneva is home to a bustling downtown district in a state that’s notoriously tough on small businesses.
By Amanda McDonald