New bill would block scholarship money for students
New bill would block scholarship money for students
Illinois lawmakers have introduced a bill that would prohibit Illinois students from receiving private funds for tutoring and other academic needs – even though it would cost the state nothing.
By Lilly Rossi
Idaho giving students access to federal scholarships; Illinois should join
Idaho giving students access to federal scholarships; Illinois should join
The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of school choice tax credits. Yet Illinois continues to lag the nation with no form of school choice.
By Benjamin Hines, Lilly Rossi
Pritzker’s $56 billion budget relies on $700 million in new revenue
Pritzker’s $56 billion budget relies on $700 million in new revenue
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s $56 billion budget proposal for 2027 relies in more than $700 million in new revenue.
By Ravi Mishra
Illinois job openings drop by 100,000 since September with 302,000 unemployed
Illinois job openings drop by 100,000 since September with 302,000 unemployed
Illinois job openings are down by more than 100,000 since September.
By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko
Waste watch: Illinois uses temporary federal aid to fund ongoing social programs
Waste watch: Illinois uses temporary federal aid to fund ongoing social programs
Illinois lawmakers diverted at least $74 million in one-time pandemic relief funds to select social programs and nonprofits.
By Geoff Feinstein
Pritzker proposes record-setting $56 billion budget
Pritzker proposes record-setting $56 billion budget
Spending proposal features $1 billion in updated revenue assumptions, $589 million in tax and fee hikes and $139 million in fund sweeps.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois’ increased revenue because of federal economy, not state lawmakers
Illinois’ increased revenue because of federal economy, not state lawmakers
Higher tax revenue paints a better picture for Illinois’ budget, but increases have been driven by strong national economy, rather than local policy.
By Ravi Mishra
Illinois at near record-low union membership in 2025
Illinois at near record-low union membership in 2025
Just 13.1% of workers in Illinois were union members in 2025. Thousands of government workers have rejected union membership.
By Mailee Smith
Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January
Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January
Amazon laid off 1,545 Illinois employees. That was most of 2,000 total layoffs across the state in January.
By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko
Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios
Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios
Illinois’ broken budgeting process allows legislators to hand taxpayer money to podcasting and production studios.
By Jack Knorr
Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate
Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate
Illinois must cut its error rate nearly in half to avoid penalties.
By Josh Bandoch