DePaul University softball tops the list of highest grossing programs in Illinois, reporting more than $1.3 million – or $63,791 per athlete – in 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.

Fifty-eight University of Illinois fraternities and sororities will pay $814,000 more in property taxes this year than they did in 2015, according to Champaign County Assessor data analyzed by the Chambana Sun.

At Kennedy King College, 26.3 percent of borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

In an open letter to the General Assembly, 65 local government officials, including Kendall County Chairman Scott Gryder, asked state legislators to block attempts to scrap the state’s flat income tax in favor of a graduated tax structure.

College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Parkland College in Champaign and Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville reported the largest share of borrowers at public higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Illinois is the fifth most popular states for college softball, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Robert Morris University baseball tops the list of highest grossing programs in Illinois, reporting more than $1.3 million – or $10,678 per athlete – in 2016, followed by Bradley University ($1.2 million), and University of Illinois at Chicago ($980,248), according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.

At Larry's Barber College in Chicago, 40.3 percent of borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

Devry University in Chicago, American Intercontinental University in Schaumburg, and College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn reported the largest share of borrowers of all higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

Illinois is the fifth most-popular state for college baseball, federal data shows.

Of the 651 fire and police pension funds in Illinois, more than 400 were underfunded by cities in 2016, including six funds serving cities in Kendall County.

Venedy, Rector and Newmansville employ the most government workers per capita among townships in Illinois, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

Erika Harold and Gary Grasso each raised just $2 per vote cast for them in the attorney general primary race, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Gov. Bruce Rauner raised $215 per vote cast for him in the gubernatorial primary race last week compared to Rep. Jeanne Ives' $12 for vote, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Newark CHSD 18 in Newark receives $747 per student from the state to fund pensions for public school teachers and administrators – the most in Kendall County, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

Earlville CUSD 9 in LaSalle County receives just $230 per student from the state to fund pensions for teachers and administrators, the lowest of all other districts, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

Rondout SD 72 in Lake County receives $1,579 per student from the state to fund pensions for teachers and administrators, leading all other districts, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

In the last election, 55 assessors in 36 counties were illegally placed on the ballot and elected, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs.

With 11 yes votes, a bill banning youth younger than 12 years old from playing on organized tackle football teams passed the House Mental Health Committee on Thursday.

What percentage of your home's value do you pay in property taxes each year? That's your "Effective Property Tax Rate," and, in Illinois, yours is likely among the highest in the U.S.