Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

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.’"

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

Competitive elections raise voter participation, uncontested elections hinder democracy

Competitive elections raise voter participation, uncontested elections hinder democracy

On average, more than 4.7 million voting-age Illinoisans live in districts where there was only one option for the state House on the ballot, undermining their representation. Roughly half of all Illinois House races were uncontested under Illinois’ gerrymandered 2011 district map.

By Orphe Divounguy, Jon Josko, Adam Schuster