State workers enforcing Pritzker tax sign compliance at Illinois gas pumps
State workers enforcing Pritzker tax sign compliance at Illinois gas pumps
State workers are out enforcing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate that all gas pumps carry a sign noting his delay in the next automatic gas tax hike. The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association is in state court fighting the mandate and $500-a-day fines.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas
Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas
Despite a full year of job gains, all Illinois metropolitan areas are missing jobs since the pandemic began and the recovery stalled. While May brought job gains statewide, only eight metro areas saw gains while seven saw losses.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois adds 12,800 jobs in May, still missing 136,400 from pandemic
Illinois adds 12,800 jobs in May, still missing 136,400 from pandemic
Illinois’ employment recovery continued in May, but the state is still missing nearly one in six jobs lost during the pandemic.
By Bryce Hill
National teachers union pushes mandatory masking, vaccines
National teachers union pushes mandatory masking, vaccines
Delegates to the National Education Association’s annual meeting again called for mask and vaccine mandates, as well as remote learning. On Nov. 8 voters will decide whether to grant Illinois union bosses more power to set school policy.
AFSCME puts $100K into campaign guaranteeing $2,100 property tax hike
AFSCME puts $100K into campaign guaranteeing $2,100 property tax hike
Illinois’ largest state worker union has a long history of demanding higher taxes. Now AFSCME is funding a state constitutional amendment campaign that will hike property taxes statewide.
By Mailee Smith
U.S. Steel to shed up to 1,000 Southern Illinois jobs
U.S. Steel to shed up to 1,000 Southern Illinois jobs
U.S. Steel is cutting up to 1,000 jobs and selling parts of its Granite City plant. The move comes as Madison County employment remains down over 5,600 jobs since the pandemic.
By Bryce Hill
Mario Conforti
Mario Conforti
"Inflation has definitely been our biggest challenge for the last 18 months or so. Prices have been going up on everything."
Illinois teachers unions back measure promising $2,149 property tax hike
Illinois teachers unions back measure promising $2,149 property tax hike
Teachers unions tout support for a constitutional amendment that threatens to raise property taxes over $2,149. Illinoisans already pay the nation’s second-highest property taxes.
By Hannah Schmid
Chicago Teachers Union school closures, strikes hold back K-12 chess champs
Chicago Teachers Union school closures, strikes hold back K-12 chess champs
Students on Joe Ocol’s chess teams already face life challenges, but the Chicago Teachers Union adds to them by repeatedly threatening their historic successes. Voters face a choice Nov. 8 to either strengthen union militancy or put students first.
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
We too often call it the “Fourth of July” and lose sight of its true meaning – independence. Independence from tyranny and the freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
By John Tillman
Taxpayers funded 84% of public employee pensions in 2020
Taxpayers funded 84% of public employee pensions in 2020
Taxpayer contributions accounted for 56% of the money that flowed into Illinois’ pension funds in 2000. Two decades later, residents funded 84% of public employees’ retirements, yet pension debt is still growing.
By Patrick Andriesen