Illinois home building lags virtually every other state during past decade
Illinois home building lags virtually every other state during past decade
New census data shows Illinois ranked 48th in the U.S. for new single-family home permits during the past decade.
By Bryce Hill
Illinois state, local sales taxes rank 7th in U.S.
Illinois state, local sales taxes rank 7th in U.S.
Illinoisans pay one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation when local and state sales taxes are averaged. The average rate of 8.83% was up slightly from a year earlier.
By Noah Shaar
Feds charge former Chicago principal with taking $200,000 in school overtime scheme
Feds charge former Chicago principal with taking $200,000 in school overtime scheme
A former Chicago Public Schools principal convinced her employees to falsely charge for overtime and give her the money, claiming it would go for school expenses. Charges state she instead paid her mortgage.
By Patrick Andriesen
$51,627 in unemployment benefits for average salaried parent in Illinois
$51,627 in unemployment benefits for average salaried parent in Illinois
Illinois employers are hurting from a lack of workers while the state unemployment rate remains high. When a parent can stay home and make $51,627 on unemployment, the prospects of getting more workers back to work this summer appear dim.
By Noah Shaar
Before fall in-person school, Chicago Teachers Union wants over 4,000 new workers
Before fall in-person school, Chicago Teachers Union wants over 4,000 new workers
The Chicago Teachers Union issued a long list of demands it wants before allowing in-person learning this fall. Union leaders seek over 4,000 new employees, including a “restorative justice coordinator” in each of Chicago’s 638 schools.
By Noah Shaar
Illinois’ legislative watchdog resigns over inability to keep lawmakers in check
Illinois’ legislative watchdog resigns over inability to keep lawmakers in check
Criticizing the ethics reform measures recently passed by the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative inspector general called her job a “paper tiger” lacking the independence required to hold lawmakers accountable.
By Perry Zhao
Illinois’ state budget practices earn poor marks from fiscal watchdog
Illinois’ state budget practices earn poor marks from fiscal watchdog
A Volcker Alliance report on truth and integrity in state budgeting finds Illinois lacking. Debt, budget gimmicks and thin reserve funds gave the state poor marks.
By Justin Carlson
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