Culture, Public Education
Motions to dismiss challenges to COVID-19 school mandates under advisement(The Center Square) – As schools prepare to start a new year, whether the case challenging broad COVID-19 mandates on schools is dismissed is still up in the air. Read More
Public Education
Most Illinois schools opt out of new sex education standards that critics say are age-inappropriate(The Center Square) – With the new school year upon us, it is more apparent that many school officials and parents in Illinois want no part of new standards of… Read More
Public Education
As Illinois adds teachers and sheds students, is there really a teacher shortage?(The Center Square) – Illinois schools employed more teachers in 2021 than it had at any point over the past decade while student enrollment declined over the same period. Read More
Crime
Gov. Pritzker defends end to cash bail despite law enforcement criticisms(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is defending the SAFE-T Act despite criticisms from law enforcement statewide that it will make Illinois less safe. The Safety, Accountability,… Read More
State Government
Federal report calls out Illinois for not reporting unemployment fraud(The Center Square) – The federal government issued a scathing report on the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s failure to disclose misspending during the pandemic.A report from… Read More
Culture, Public Education
Majority of Illinois schools opt out of National Sex Ed Standards(The Center Square) – Opposition is growing from parents, religious groups and Republican lawmakers on sex education standards for Illinois schools.Gov. J.B. Pritzker said when signing the legislation… Read More
State Government
Pritzker under fire for continued COVID emergency mandates(The Center Square) – Illinois continues to be in a state of emergency, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s continued COVID-19 declarations. The Land of Lincoln is one… Read More
Culture, Public Education
Vaccine mandates remain for K-12 staff, not higher ed staff and students, as Pritzker looks to ‘resume normal operations’(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has modified his COVID-19 executive orders “to ensure governments are resuming normal operations.” The move relaxes the vaccine or testing mandates in… Read More
Education
Illinois parents’ rights group urges parents to opt children out of controversial sex ed(The Center Square) – An Illinois parents’ rights group is advocating for parents to opt their children out of controversial sex ed courses.Awake Illinois founder Shannon Adcock said… Read More
Government
Three bills impacting Illinois higher education now law(The Center Square) – Three different bills looking to address issues within the state's higher education system are now law.Gov J.B. Pritzker signed the bills into law last… Read More
Government
SCOTUS nonpublic school funding ruling a victory for Illinois school choice advocates(The Center Square) – Opponents of school choice in Illinois who say extending public funding to religious schools would be a violation of the separation of church and… Read More
Public Education
Leaked social media posts show how Chicago Teachers Union leaders smuggled woke ideology into school lessonsSocial media posts by Chicago Teachers Union members and executives describe how they covertly insert far-left woke indoctrination into their lessons. The alarming Facebook posts in the “CTU Members… Read More
State Government
Amid possible blackouts, Illinois lawmakers call for scrapping ‘Green New Deal’(The Center Square) – In the wake of an alert warning of possible rolling blackouts this summer, some Illinois lawmakers want to revise the state’s energy policies. Read More
Government
Illinois’ Invest In Kids school choice program, set to expire in 2023, enhanced under new law(The Center Square) – Illinois’ public schools are not performing well, but the state does have a program in place that gives some families a choice.The latest Illinois… Read More
National
Average Illinois gas prices nearly a dollar more than Missouri(The Center Square) – Gas prices continue to climb and likely won’t retreat anytime soon. The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in Illinois is… Read More
State Government
New law expands career and technical education in Illinois schools(The Center Square) – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is applauding a new law that allows students to be introduced to technical education at an earlier age. The … Read More
State Government
As some states take measures to relieve gas prices like tax suspensions, Illinois does little, critics say(The Center Square) – As gas prices continue to soar around the country, some states are taking action with sizable tax breaks. But in Illinois, little is being done,… Read More
State Government
IRS data: Illinois lost 101K individuals and their $8.5 billion in income(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker insists Illinois has more than 13 million people, but analysis of new Internal Revenue Service data show the state continues to lose… Read More
Public Education
Measures impacting education, driving and public safety retirement now law(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed 35 bills Friday, including measures impacting education, driving and public safety retirement.Beginning Jan. 1, certain members of law enforcement can… Read More
Public Education
New law borrows $1 billion to extend pension buyout option for Illinois state employees, including educators(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Thursday a measure that borrows $1 billion to extend the existing pension buyout program for Illinois state employees… Read More