Private employers have shifted quickly from opt-in to opt-out retirement programs, but Illinois is the first state to set up such a system for residents. Read more
The city has found success in reducing violent crime with recent initiatives, which have influenced national ones—and new ones are on the horizon. Read more
By most measures, Jude Baar Topinka, the state treasurer and sometime accordion player, is the most successful Republican politician in Illinois. Read more
A Cook County judge sent eight men to jail for wearing their pants too low in her courtroom. It's not the first time her temperament has raised eyebrows, but worse behavior hasn't led to consequences from voters. Read more
The paper's Springfield bureau chief, with almost 20 years on the job, steps down after a story on the candidate's business dealings creates a complex tempest. Read more
In the 1970s, an experiment with a negative income tax in the Indiana city led to positive outcomes. It's a policy that's seen renewed interest during the Great Recession. Read more
