Here are data snapshots of Illinois communities, schools and government. See how well your tax dollars are performing in your city, county or school compared to others.
Out of 90 Midwestern metropolitan areas, Illinois has four in the bottom 10 for new housing per capita in 2023. Housing affordability is directly linked to getting units built.
New business applications in Illinois are up 47% compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019, but what does growth in your county look like?
Government restrictions on zoning and land use are making Illinois housing and rents more expensive then they need to be.
If you plan to be at Lollapalooza from Megan Thee Stallion to Blink-182, expect taxes to add $91 to the cost of general admission. Get a premium ticket and city, county and state sales and amusement taxes add $1,001 to the cost.
Chicago housing affordability is among the lowest in the Midwest, driven primarily by restrictive land-use policies and slow approvals. Low-income families have it worse than in other large Midwestern cities.
Independence Day weekend was bloody in Chicago. City leaders are doing little other than pointing fingers. Here are 10 things Chicagoans should know about the current crime problem.
Lawmaker to lobbyist is a well-worn path at the Illinois Statehouse. But the new job of some former state lawmakers is to get their former colleagues to make it harder for their former constituents to work.
Legislation allowing Illinois residents to carry a digital driver’s license or ID on their smartphone will take effect in 2025.
Government in Illinois has a lot to do with why housing costs are so high. Zoning and land-use reforms can boost the supply of affordable housing without forcing taxpayers to subsidize it.
Chicago doesn’t have enough housing, in part because restrictive regulations and zoning drive up costs and headaches for developers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has recommended solid fixes, but the city must restrict aldermanic power.
Josh Bandoch, head of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, testimony about how accessory dwelling units can help fix Chicago’s affordable housing shortage. City regulations and mandates can derail this free-market solution, though.