More than 130 Illinois public school administrators who signed witness slips in opposition to a bipartisan bill that aims to consolidate Illinois school districts make six-figure salaries, according to an analysis compiled this week.

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.

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.

Rend Lake College sports programs brought in $10,746 per athlete in revenue in 2016, meaning its athletes on average generated the 34th highest sports revenue of any school in Illinois that year, according to a North Egypt News analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Rend Lake College ranked No. 68 for student athletic participation in the state, according to a North Egypt News analysis of college sports participation.

Men’s head coach salaries at Rend Lake College outpaced women’s team coaches by 5 percent, according to a North Egypt News analysis of recent U.S. Department of Education data.

Rend Lake College volleyball brought in $7,820 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it among the highest-grossing volleyball programs in Illinois that year, according to a North Egypt News analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

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.

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.

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

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.

Head coaches of Rend Lake College women’s teams earn an average of $25,515 annually – the 82nd highest average salary in the state – according to a North Egypt News analysis of federal education data.

Jonesboro State House candidate Marsha Griffin received another $69,363 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, state filings show.

Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond will be one of 57 locations that will be open for the Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season beginning on Oct. 20.

Jonesboro State House candidate Marsha Griffin received $35,822 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Aug. 15 and Sept. 6, state filings show.

Head coaches of Red Lake College's men’s teams earn an average of $26,744 annually – the 86th highest average salary in the state – according to a North Egypt News analysis of federal education data.

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

The Valier Fire Department was among three firefighting agencies in North Egypt to receive state grants this week for safety equipment.

Though Democrat Brendan Kelly surged in fundraising in Illinois’ 12th Congressional District during the second quarter, Republican Michael Bost maintains a campaign war chest that surpasses his opponent’s by more than $550,000, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) reports.

Among Illinois’ most populous urban centers, the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Metro East, posted the highest percentage of mortgages that owe at least 25 percent more on their loans than their property is worth, according to a home equity analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions.