Illinois imposes tricky taxes on Halloween treats
Illinois imposes tricky taxes on Halloween treats
Taxes are different on different types of candy in Illinois, with some brands taxed six times more than others. Just because you can eat it, doesn’t mean Illinois’ tax policy sees it as food.
By Dylan Sharkey
Tricky Halloween rules are no treat in Illinois cities
Tricky Halloween rules are no treat in Illinois cities
Put on a costume, grab a bag and get free treats? It’s not so simple in Illinois, where cities’ Halloween rules restrict the simple fun.
By Dylan Sharkey
Pritzker mandates day care center workers get COVID-19 vaccine or get tested
Pritzker mandates day care center workers get COVID-19 vaccine or get tested
The list of workers Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is demanding get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 has grown to include licensed day care centers. Pritzker’s mandate affects 55,000 workers.
By Brad Weisenstein
Amendment 1 would give Illinois government union bosses nation’s most extreme powers
Amendment 1 would give Illinois government union bosses nation’s most extreme powers
No other state constitutions guarantee unmitigated powers to government unions, and 28 state constitutions don’t even find a need to mention labor.
By Mailee Smith
2 ways to fix Illinois’ too-high property taxes, teacher shortage
2 ways to fix Illinois’ too-high property taxes, teacher shortage
Redirecting some of Illinois’ school district administrative overhead could attract top talent to the more than 4,100 teacher openings. The savings could be $1,317 per taxpayer in one veteran teacher’s hometown. Reform pensions, and that amount grows.
Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution
Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution
Voters will decide in November 2022 whether teachers’ unions will have a permanent right to walk out on students.
By Mailee Smith
Pritzker toughens his COVID-19 restrictions
Pritzker toughens his COVID-19 restrictions
COVID-19 cases are on the decline in Illinois, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker is resisting calls to remove his mask mandate and other restrictions.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school
Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school
Allie Quigley’s team just brought Chicago the WNBA championship, but her success story started with someone donating a scholarship that let her and her siblings attend private school. The result: lessons that built a champion.
By Brad Weisenstein
Aryana Franco
Aryana Franco
“They didn’t ask them what was going on at home. They just cared about their behavior. I know some students who couldn’t afford to do laundry or others who were in a toxic household. When you’re going through that, you can’t focus on school.”
Making Illinois’ tax credit scholarships permanent will let more students excel
Making Illinois’ tax credit scholarships permanent will let more students excel
Illinois state lawmakers can give low-income students the security of an education that best fits their needs by making the Tax Credit Scholarship a permanent fixture.