(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois has the highest tax rates in the nation, as the personal finance website WalletHub yesterday released its yearly report on the “States with the Highest and Lowest Tax Rates.” Comparing all 50 states & the District of Columbia across four separate types of taxation, including real estate, income, sales excise, and vehicle property taxes, the report has Illinois last in the country for taxation. The numbers show Illinois at 51st for the overall effective state and local tax rate, 50th for real estate taxes, & 47th for income taxes. Additionally, Illinois also pays the second highest gas taxes in the United States as well.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Supreme Court looks poised to review the state’s legislative maps and whether they were illegally drawn to favor Democrats around the state. Illinois Republicans filed a lawsuit asking the state’s highest court to throw out the current maps, saying they are an example of extreme partisan misrepresentation and are unconstitutional under state law. The maps were initially challenged in federal court, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that manipulated cases should be decided by the states on the state level.
(CHICAGO) Burger chain Red Robin, with twenty (20) locations in Illinois, could be on the verge of closing dozens of restaurants, according to a recent earnings report. The company is evaluating alternatives for approximately 70 underperforming restaurant locations in America. While the report did not contain a list of the failing restaurants, most of those identified as flopping are expected to close as their leases expire over the next five years.
(SPRINGFIELD) The first round of voting is now open in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s sixth annual “Makers Madness” contest, a bracket-style tournament in which the public will decide what product earns the 2025 title of “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.” Over 250 unique products from around the state have been nominated for this year’s contest, with candidates ranging from agriculture and energy storage equipment to life-saving medical products and a variety of vehicles. Voting for this round runs through March 16th at makersmadnessil.com. Participants can vote up to five times per day.