Why is taking a selfie with your ballot illegal in Illinois?
Why is taking a selfie with your ballot illegal in Illinois?
Sharing your civic duty on Instagram or Facebook could mean jail time. Snapping a picture with your ballot and sharing it is a felony in Illinois.
By Dylan Sharkey
Bensenville asking voters about grocery tax; what’s your town’s plan?
Bensenville asking voters about grocery tax; what’s your town’s plan?
Voters near O’Hare International Airport will have a chance to weigh in on whether to keep or cut the 1% grocery tax. The statewide tax ends in 2026, but nearly 50 communities have already passed their own 1% grocery tax.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois loses jobs in January, metro areas lag U.S. job growth
Illinois loses jobs in January, metro areas lag U.S. job growth
Illinois’ job market continued to struggle in January as the national economy grew. The job troubles were seen in eight of Illinois’ 13 metropolitan areas, with Champaign-Urbana hit the hardest.
By Ravi Mishra, Jon Josko
Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.
Chicago leaders hand $40K in debt to each taxpayer, second-worst in U.S.
Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $40,600 in city debt today, the second most among major U.S. cities. Add in the debt Illinois state leaders grew last year, and Chicago taxpayers owe nearly $80,000.
By Patrick Andriesen
Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans
Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans
Opportunity stalls in Illinois as the state lags other Midwestern states on four key indicators of social mobility. The state trails the rest of the region on entrepreneurship, economic growth, institutions and the rule of law.
By Chris Coffey
Lemont Township residents’ $22 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot
Lemont Township residents’ $22 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot
A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Lemont Township voters would like to fix $22 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.
By Bryce Hill
Palos Township’s $83M pension crisis on the ballot
Palos Township’s $83M pension crisis on the ballot
A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Palos Township voters would like to fix $83 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.
By Bryce Hill
Winfield Township $50 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot
Winfield Township $50 million pension crisis on April 1 ballot
A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Winfield Township voters would like to fix a nearly $50 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.
By Bryce Hill
Homer Township’s $7M pension crisis on April 1 ballot
Homer Township’s $7M pension crisis on April 1 ballot
A local referendum would tell state lawmakers how Homer Township voters would like to fix $7 million in pension debt for which they are responsible. Pension reform is the surest way to provide property tax relief.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois has too many unemployed chasing too few jobs, ranks 5th worst
Illinois has too many unemployed chasing too few jobs, ranks 5th worst
Illinois’ job market struggles continued with almost 50,000 more unemployed workers than there were job openings in January – the fifth-worst ratio in the nation.
By Chris Coffey, Jon Josko
Vallas: Johnson will hand Chicago Teachers Union its demands, regardless of cost
Vallas: Johnson will hand Chicago Teachers Union its demands, regardless of cost
As the Chicago Teachers Union continues negotiating with the former employee it got elected mayor, expect the union to get its way and city taxpayers and city services to take the hit.
By Paul Vallas
Committee OKs ‘Homeschool Act;’ fight moves to Illinois House floor
Committee OKs ‘Homeschool Act;’ fight moves to Illinois House floor
Illinoisans over 90,000 times said they opposed a bill regulating homeschools and private schools, but an Illinois House committee passed it anyway. Now the full Illinois House must face constitutional issues and fierce opposition to the bill.
By Dylan Sharkey