Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

The great Twinkie turf war

The great Twinkie turf war

The new owners of Hostess Brands are preparing to restart the production of Twinkies, Ho Hos and all those other sugary treats. Among the plants they plan to reopen is the one in the Chicago suburb of Schiller Park.

By Paul Kersey

States with no income tax had a surplus or no deficit in 2012

States with no income tax had a surplus or no deficit in 2012

States that don’t have an income tax manage to stay out of the red, and many are even operating with budget surpluses. Texas, for example, currently foresees and $8.8 billion surplus over its current two-year budget cycle.

Puppy lemon law

Puppy lemon law

The Senate Executive Committee voted Wednesday in favor of a bill some have described as a “puppy lemon law.”

States with no income tax have something Illinois doesn’t: jobs

States with no income tax have something Illinois doesn’t: jobs

The average unemployment rate for states without an income tax is 6.6 percent. Illinois has the nation’s second-highest unemployment rate – ringing in at 9.5 percent, or nearly three full percentage points higher than states that don’t tax income.

Democracy restored in Macomb

Democracy restored in Macomb

McDonough County Judge Rodney Clark said it is "not logical to have a person receive more than 50 percent of the vote but yet, not be the winner. This is not how America decides who should be elected."

Democracy restored: Liberty Justice Center lawsuit vindicates constitutional rights of City of Macomb citizens

Democracy restored: Liberty Justice Center lawsuit vindicates constitutional rights of City of Macomb citizens

MEDIA ALERT from the LIBERTY JUSTICE CENTER Media contact: Diana Rickert 312-607-4977 Case documents available online at: libertyjusticecenter.org   Democracy restored: Liberty Justice Center lawsuit vindicates constitutional rights of City of Macomb citizens Court rules that definition of majority is “unambiguous” and orders city to declare WIU student Steven Wailand winner of Macomb 2nd Ward...

Open Letter to the Union Organizing Committee at UNO Schools

Open Letter to the Union Organizing Committee at UNO Schools

Dear Sirs and Madames, Your concerns about my communications with United Neighborhood Organization charter school teachers are duly noted. However, since you are not, as yet, certified as the collective bargaining representative of UNO charter teachers, it is presumptuous of you to speak on their behalf at this time. Therefore, I will continue to contact...

Capitol Updates: April 22 week in review

Capitol Updates: April 22 week in review

It was a quiet week in Springfield as the Illinois Senate was the only chamber in session. Here’s what took place: Virtual charter school moratorium bill assigned to substantive committee On Wednesday, the Senate Assignments Committee referred House Bill 494 to the Senate Education Committee, where it is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday, April...

By Jane McEnaney

Illinois vs. Missouri

Illinois vs. Missouri

Scott Reeder Illinois News Network Do folks in the Show-Me State have a greater love of taxes than in the Land of Lincoln? Well, at first blush, that’s what you might think if you looked at the results of a study Americans for Prosperity shared with me. Voters in both states went to the polls...

Chicago ACTS responds to Paul Kersey’s email to UNO teachers

Chicago ACTS responds to Paul Kersey’s email to UNO teachers

Read our advisory to UNO teachers. From: Chicago ACTS <info@chicagoacts.org> Date: Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 12:11 PM Subject: Unwelcome Interference To: pkersey@illinoispolicy.org Dear Sir: We are teachers and other education professionals leading the effort to organize a union at UNO charter schools with Chicago ACTS. We are building a union at our schools because...

A wrinkle in the taxes

A wrinkle in the taxes

Scott Reeder Illinois News Network Politicians love to pander. And no one gets pandered to more than old folks. A good case in point is what Gov. Pat Quinn did this week. He signed Senate Bill 1894, which raises the senior homestead exemption from $4,000 to $5,000. Quinn claims this will save seniors as much...