Deere announces 120 layoffs in East Moline
Deere announces 120 layoffs in East Moline
Moline, Ill.-based agricultural equipment maker will cut more than 100 jobs by September; Illinois’ manufacturing workers continue to struggle for job opportunities enjoyed by their counterparts in the region.
State workers’ jobs would still have job protections if they cross a picket line
State workers’ jobs would still have job protections if they cross a picket line
AFSCME officials have indicated that the union is preparing to strike this fall.
By Illinois News Network
Illinois preliminary June jobs report: Jobs and unemployment down as workforce shrinks
Illinois preliminary June jobs report: Jobs and unemployment down as workforce shrinks
Illinois lost 2,200 jobs in June, and its unemployment rate dropped to 6.2 percent as more Illinoisans exited the labor force.
By Amy Korte
Fly away home
Fly away home
Every five minutes, Illinois loses a resident to another state.
By Austin Berg
Illinois tax hikes harm family incomes and stunt economic growth
Illinois tax hikes harm family incomes and stunt economic growth
Politicians’ quick answer to the state’s problems is consistently to raise taxes, but evidence shows tax hikes are a negative for families struggling in a state already lacking opportunity.
By Michael Lucci
Madigan’s map: Cook County judge blocks redistricting reform efforts
Madigan’s map: Cook County judge blocks redistricting reform efforts
A longtime associate of House Speaker Mike Madigan is working to silence Illinois voters on the subject of political mapmaking.
By Austin Berg
Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’
Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’
A law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in June allows Chicago to create new transit-based super TIFs, adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to divert and hoard property-tax dollars.
By Chris Lentino
Fixing Illinois’ outdated workers’ compensation system
Fixing Illinois’ outdated workers’ compensation system
Illinois’ workers’ compensation system has not evolved to meet the modern workplace, and is instead working more for special interests than employers and employees.
By Mark Adams
Dwyane Wade’s former house in South Holland, Ill., drops in value as property taxes soar
Dwyane Wade’s former house in South Holland, Ill., drops in value as property taxes soar
Property-tax hikes have caused taxes on NBA star Dwyane Wade’s former house to more than triple, driving away prospective buyers and showing the harm Illinois’ sky-high property-tax rates inflict on homeowners.
Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid
Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid
Illinois lawmakers earn base salaries of nearly $68,000 for what is essentially part-time work.
By Austin Berg
Chicago City Council aims to crowd ballot with needless referendums
Chicago City Council aims to crowd ballot with needless referendums
City Council violates procedural rules and plays political games to put popular, but toothless, measures on the ballot and protect the mayor and bureaucrats from any real challenges to their power.
By Chris Lentino
Chicago City Council committee passes resolution supporting expansion of record sealing
Chicago City Council committee passes resolution supporting expansion of record sealing
In a July 11 resolution, Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety urged the General Assembly to pass “meaningful sealing reform” to help ex-offenders re-enter the job market and their communities more successfully.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Munger: Illinois’ unpaid bills projected to hit $10 billion by year’s end
Munger: Illinois’ unpaid bills projected to hit $10 billion by year’s end
The Illinois comptroller warns Illinois' backlog of unpaid bills will reach $10 billion by December.