Kim Breust Neilson
Kim Breust Neilson
“One mom with a child with autism spoke up at the board meeting and said, ‘Instead of my child getting adequate speech services that he desperately needs, he has been taught how to put on a mask, how to wear a mask, how to keep his mask on his face.’"
Foggy crystal ball leads to 21 years of Illinois budget deficits
Foggy crystal ball leads to 21 years of Illinois budget deficits
The first step of passing a budget is to determine how much is available to spend. Illinois routinely misses the mark in estimating future revenues. There is a solution.
By Luke Schafer
Masks can be optional in Illinois school districts
Masks can be optional in Illinois school districts
Illinois schools can resume in-person learning without masks next month now that the state has clarified its guidance to acknowledge local school boards should decide which COVID-19 policies best fit their students.
By Patrick Andriesen
Governor signs Hayli’s Law to protect lemonade stands from Illinois government
Governor signs Hayli’s Law to protect lemonade stands from Illinois government
When a child’s lemonade stand was targeted by government regulators, an 11-year-old entrepreneur fought back. Now Illinois law officially bars government from interfering with a child’s right to sell cold summer drinks.
7 things to know about new COVID-19 school guidance from CDC, Illinois
7 things to know about new COVID-19 school guidance from CDC, Illinois
New federal and state health guidance adjusts policies on masks, distancing and quarantines in Illinois’ K-12 schools. Many students will again be masked in the coming year.
By Amy Korte
Chicago’s unemployment recovery near dead last for big cities
Chicago’s unemployment recovery near dead last for big cities
A national study ranked Chicago’s unemployment recovery 172nd out of the 180 most-populous U.S. cities. Lawmakers didn’t help when they imposed $655 million in new taxes on the state’s job creators.
By Patrick Andriesen
Illinois may pay bonuses to get workers to take jobs again
Illinois may pay bonuses to get workers to take jobs again
To combat above-average unemployment, Illinois state leaders discussed a possible back-to-work bonus. The state would pay cash to those who go off unemployment.
By Noah Shaar
Illinois’ less-populated areas lead May jobs decline
Illinois’ less-populated areas lead May jobs decline
Illinois shed 7,900 jobs in May but most of those losses were outside of urban areas.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois government unions kill chances for more school money, nurse prospects, police reforms
Illinois government unions kill chances for more school money, nurse prospects, police reforms
Unions put up roadblocks for bills that could have freed up more money for Illinois classrooms, expanded opportunities for Illinois health care workers and ensured police officers are subject to better accountability under state law.
By Joe Tabor
Jolene Stotler
Jolene Stotler
“To work for UPS in Illinois, it’s mandatory to be a part of the Teamsters union. After being there for about four-and-a-half years, the Teamsters just created a very toxic environment, especially for a female to work in, so I quit.”