Powerball, Mega Millions to drop Illinois by June 30 due to budget crisis
Powerball, Mega Millions to drop Illinois by June 30 due to budget crisis
Popular lotteries may stop gambling on Illinois.
Illinois’ neighboring states boast better credit ratings, economies
Illinois’ neighboring states boast better credit ratings, economies
Illinois’ credit rating spirals downward while residents flee to surrounding states with stronger economies and lower taxes.
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to create state-based workers’ compensation insurance company
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to create state-based workers’ compensation insurance company
House Bill 2622 would create a state-run workers’ compensation insurance company using a $10M loan from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Operations Fund.
7 reasons the Illinois Republicans’ budget plan fails taxpayers
7 reasons the Illinois Republicans’ budget plan fails taxpayers
The budget plan proposed by Republican General Assembly members would raise taxes by over $5 billion without enacting any significant spending reforms.
Workforce dropout causes Illinois unemployment to fall slightly
Workforce dropout causes Illinois unemployment to fall slightly
A new report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows Illinois had a modest net gain of 2,400 jobs in May, but still has fewer jobs today than before the Great Recession began.
Property taxes in northwest Chicago suburbs to spike by $560 on average
Property taxes in northwest Chicago suburbs to spike by $560 on average
Lawmakers need to enact comprehensive property tax reform to provide relief for overburdened state taxpayers.
House Republicans’ 4-year property tax freeze fails homeowners
House Republicans’ 4-year property tax freeze fails homeowners
Local spending drivers need to be reformed to truly relieve taxpayers of Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes.
House Republicans’ pension plan not the solution Illinois needs
House Republicans’ pension plan not the solution Illinois needs
Illinois needs to begin an end to its pension crisis by expanding access to a standalone 401(k)-style plan to all government workers; the new proposal by the House GOP does not accomplish this.
Illinois companies announce more than 2,100 mass layoffs in May
Illinois companies announce more than 2,100 mass layoffs in May
1,120 of the jobs lost were in manufacturing and food processing.
Where have all the new homes gone?
Where have all the new homes gone?
Compared with Illinois’ pre-recession average, permits for new single-family and multiunit housing are down more than 60 percent.
Canary in the Illinois coal mine
Canary in the Illinois coal mine
Illinois Republicans’ budget plan hikes taxes by $5 billion
Illinois Republicans’ budget plan hikes taxes by $5 billion
The Republican plan hits Illinoisans in fiscal year 2018 with the same $5 billion-plus tax hike from the “grand bargain” plan that failed in May. That plan starts with a 33 percent income tax increase, and includes questionable new taxes on services such as Netflix, laundry services and more.
Sears to cut 400 jobs, despite state, local tax breaks
Sears to cut 400 jobs, despite state, local tax breaks
Sears Holdings has dropped below the job threshold necessary to qualify for the $15 million in annual state tax credits for which it was once eligible.
Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake – united by nature, divided on paper
Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake – united by nature, divided on paper
Lake County lies about 40 miles north of Chicago’s congested urban landscape. With more than 100 lakes within county lines, the place is aptly named and offers a stark contrast to the nearby city. The Rev. Lisle Kauffman, looking over one of those lakes – Round Lake – still admires it more than four decades...