Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January
Amazon Fresh cuts 1,545 Illinois jobs in January
Amazon laid off 1,545 Illinois employees. That was most of 2,000 total layoffs across the state in January.
Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios
Waste watch: Illinois spends $4.4M on podcast, music studios
Illinois’ broken budgeting process allows legislators to hand taxpayer money to podcasting and production studios.
Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate
Illinois at risk of losing $700M in SNAP funding from high error rate
Illinois must cut its error rate nearly in half to avoid penalties.
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VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains
VALLAS: Don’t be fooled by Pritzker’s boasts of population gains
Roughly half of Illinois residents say they would leave the state if they could. That warning should be a wake-up call to state and local leaders.
Illinois “spending cuts” aren’t from good behavior
Illinois “spending cuts” aren’t from good behavior
Illinois lawmakers claim the state saved nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2026, but most “savings” are either from federal decisions or shifting costs, not serious fiscal restraint.
Is your school led by the Illinois Federation of Teachers?
Is your school led by the Illinois Federation of Teachers?
Does it matter which union represents your child’s teachers? The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents a lot of school districts where student performance is lacking.
New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
New bill offers police and firefighters pension buyout option
Giving police and fire retirees a pension cash-out option would help reduce long-term pension debt.
Valentine’s Day: No love for Chicago taxpayers
Valentine’s Day: No love for Chicago taxpayers
Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes
Commuter changed jobs to avoid tolls, warns of rate hikes
State lawmakers voted to hike road tolls in 2027, even though the state has billions in the road fund it’s not using. Some drivers are reconsidering their commutes; Laura Valdez explains why she cut toll roads out of her routine years ago.
Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat
Illinois on track to lose another congressional seat
Illinois is on pace to lose a seat in Congress based on new census data. International immigration and interstate migration are driving those projections.
Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances
Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances
Pro-growth policies and fiscal responsibility can ensure Illinois’ long-term budget health. Here’s how state leaders can do it.
Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups
Waste watch: Illinois gives $45M to select business groups
Some Illinois lawmakers handed money to their local business associations. Should everyone’s taxes subsidize certain groups because their lawmakers had clout?
Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation
Illinois has 8th–largest racial wealth gap in the nation
Illinois in the top ten for largest racial wealth gaps. Disparities in income, education and poverty drive the state’s racial wealth gap.