Mario Conforti
Mario Conforti
"Inflation has definitely been our biggest challenge for the last 18 months or so. Prices have been going up on everything."
New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County
New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County
Minimum wages for Chicago and Cook County are increasing July 1. Inflation has rapidly outpaced wage growth, cutting the average Illinoisan’s pay by $2,200.
Charles Ross
Charles Ross
"The high taxes here hurt lower- and middle-income families and small businesses.”
Illinois gas stations display Pritzker gas tax hikes to counter election propaganda
Illinois gas stations display Pritzker gas tax hikes to counter election propaganda
Illinois gas station owners lost their legal fight over the requirement to advertise the delay in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s annual gas tax hike. Stations now will post the mandated signs July 1, but are also telling drivers how much state leaders raised the gas taxes.
Oak Lawn may boost businesses by waiving $600,000 in licensing fees
Oak Lawn may boost businesses by waiving $600,000 in licensing fees
A tough economy and an Illinois Policy Institute report has Oak Lawn considering waiving business license renewal fees for a year. Giving up $600,000 in fees is expected to attract new businesses and help older ones.
Citadel 3rd major company to leave Illinois in 2 months
Citadel 3rd major company to leave Illinois in 2 months
Hedge-fund firm Citadel is moving its headquarters to Miami. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin said many employees have asked to move out of Illinois.
Chicago City Council committee votes to repeal tickets for going 6 mph over speed limit
Chicago City Council committee votes to repeal tickets for going 6 mph over speed limit
The Chicago City Council Finance Committee voted 16-15 to repeal Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s policy issuing $35 tickets to motorists going 6 mph over the speed limit. The decision now heads to the full council for a vote June 22.
Illinois’ fireworks ban limits liberty, hurts job growth
Illinois’ fireworks ban limits liberty, hurts job growth
Illinoisans celebrate Independence Day by taking their fireworks business to other states, despite bans and threats at home, causing the state to lose out on jobs and revenue.
8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic
8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic
Illinois’ overall job numbers continue to rise, but the recovery is spotty. Over half of the metropolitan areas failed to add jobs in April.
Caterpillar HQ leaving for Texas, decade after CEO warned Illinois
Caterpillar HQ leaving for Texas, decade after CEO warned Illinois
One of the state’s biggest employers is relocating their headquarters to Irving, Texas. A decade ago Caterpillar’s CEO warned state leaders of business losses unless they balanced the budget, controlled workers’ comp costs and cut taxes. He was ignored.
Illinois adds jobs in April, still missing 146,300 from pandemic
Illinois adds jobs in April, still missing 146,300 from pandemic
Illinois’ employment recovery continued in April, but the state is still missing almost one in five jobs lost during the pandemic.
Illinois is worst state for economic inequality of Black residents
Illinois is worst state for economic inequality of Black residents
A WalletHub report examining economic racial inequality ranked Illinois No. 50 for disproportionate rates of unemployment, income, poverty, homelessness and representation in business leadership between Black and white residents.
Inflation leaves Illinoisans with $2,230 pay cut
Inflation leaves Illinoisans with $2,230 pay cut
Consumer prices rose 8.6% in May. Illinois wage growth hasn’t kept up, leaving the average worker over $2,200 worse off.
Pandemic home values in Illinois rose at 3rd-slowest rate nationally
Pandemic home values in Illinois rose at 3rd-slowest rate nationally
Illinois’ history of poor policy decisions left homeowners behind the pandemic era housing boom. Continuing the trend leaves homeowners more susceptible to future downturns.