Prairie State Wire

Analysis: Illinois’ state and local tax burden is highest in U.S.

By LGIS Newsfeed | Apr 12, 2019

Illinois’ state and local effective tax rate ranks the highest in the nation, according to a new study of tax burdens imposed by the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

From Chambana Sun

University of Illinois freezes tuition – but still higher than 12 of 13 Big 10 conference peers

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

In-state tuition and book costs for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will continue to be among the highest for schools in the Big 10 conference, despite the UI Board of Trustees' vote on Thursday to extend an in-state tuition freeze for the fifth-straight year.

2 Illinois Sears stores to close in March

By LGIS Newsfeed | Dec 29, 2018

Sears stores in St. Clair and Winnebago counties will close their doors in March, Sears Holdings Corp. said this week.

From North Cook News

Cook had highest abortion rate among largest Illinois counties in 2017

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, Cook County ranked No. 1 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

State Report: 39K+ abortions performed in Illinois in 2017

By LGIS Newsfeed | Dec 7, 2018

The Illinois Department of Public Health says 39,329 abortions were performed statewide in 2017 with 5,528 of those performed on women from out of state.

Illinois gets below-average marks on financial transparency

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 15, 2018

Illinois received a score of 72 on making key financial information accessible and understandable to the public, according to a new report from Truth in Accounting (TIA), a Chicago-based policy institute.

2018 election night preview: More competitive races now in play than in 2014

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 31, 2018

Unlike the dynamic four years ago, a majority of the Illinois House races – 56 percent – will be competitive contests pitting major party candidates during the Nov. 6 midterm election.

Student academic performance looks mostly static on new Illinois Report Card

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 31, 2018

An annual Illinois assessment of student, school and school district performance labels more than 77 percent of K-12 schools as exemplary or commendable, even though students' academic test results appear static and sub-par in many instances

State House election preview: Candidates square off in 66 of 118 midterm races

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 30, 2018

The number of Illinois House races being contested by major-party candidates on Nov. 6 is up 13.6 percent over the last midterm election in 2014, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis.

State Senate election preview: Candidates square off in 19 midterm races

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 29, 2018

Seven more Illinois Senate districts are battlegrounds for major-party candidates on Nov. 6 compared to what occurred in the last midterm election in 2014, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis.

Analysis: DePaul University women’s head coaches’ pay ranks 40th in nation

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 10, 2018

Head coaches of DePaul University women’s teams earn an average of $224,721 annually – the 40th highest average salary in the nation – according to a Chicago City Wire analysis of federal education data.

Illinois colleges’ football programs field 3,544 students

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 5, 2018

Robert Morris University Illinois ranked No. 1 for student football participation in the state, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of college sports participation.

Analysis: Robert Morris University football participation ranks seventh in nation

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 28, 2018

Chicago-based Robert Morris University football fielded 190 players in 2016 – the seventh highest such student popularity number in the nation – according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of federal education data.

College football earned $117 million for Illinois schools in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 21, 2018

Northwestern University football brought in $375,549 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it the highest-grossing football program in Illinois that year, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Analysis: Tazewell County has lowest home affordability in state

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 16, 2018

Tazewell County posted the lowest home affordability index in Illinois, according to an analysis of 432 counties nationwide by ATTOM Data Solutions in the second quarter.

Analysis: Northwestern University football revenue per player ranks 36th in nation

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 14, 2018

Northwestern University football earns an average of $375,549 per player annually – the 36th highest rate in the nation – according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of federal education data.

Analysis: Northwestern men’s head coaches’ pay ranks 1st in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 12, 2018

Head coaches of Northwestern University men’s teams earn an average of $824,724 annually – the highest such average salary in the state – according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of federal education data.

State Report: Madigan backs 25 House candidates with $1.08M

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 21, 2018

Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party Chief Michael Madigan gave $1.08 million to 25 state House candidates between July 15 and Aug. 15, state filings show.

Property tax trouble?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 16, 2018

Have a story you’d like to share concerning your property tax bill?

Borrowers in default on student loans after attending colleges in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 14, 2018

American Intercontinental University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and Northern Illinois University are among four-year universities in Illinois that reported borrowers defaulting on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.