Written by David E. Smith
Americans are feeling the squeeze. Housing costs, groceries, insurance, utilities, gasoline, and property taxes continue to rise while many families are scrambling to figure out how to pay all the bills. Young adults are delaying marriage, homeownership, and starting families because the American Dream feels increasingly out of reach.
A new report from The Heartland Institute argues that the affordability crisis devastating many American families is not primarily the result of “greedy corporations” or “market failure,” but rather years of destructive government policies, inflationary spending, overregulation, and economic mismanagement.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Earlier this month, the Illinois General Assembly approved a school funding bill compromise that Governor Bruce Rauner supports. The Illinois News Network reports:
“For far too long, too many low-income students in our state have been trapped in underfunded, failing schools,” Rauner said in a statement. “The system needed to change. We have changed it. We have put aside our differences and put our kids first. It’s a historic day for Illinois.”
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Written by Benjamin Smith
In the Spotlight this week, Monte Larrick and David Smith speak with Lennie Jarratt, the project manager for the Center for Transforming Education at The Heartland Institute.
Jarratt is well-versed on Common Core and education choice. He’s been on Fox News, Breitbart, ABC Chicago and multiple radio outlets and newspapers across the United States. He has been a presenter on panels to discuss education choice, common core, homeschooling, and Illinois Freedom of Information Laws with groups such as American Majority, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), Illinois Tea Party groups, homeschool conventions, and state legislative hearings.… Continue Reading
Written by Benjamin Smith
In the Spotlight with Monte Larrick and David Smith this week is Lennie Jarratt, who is the project manager for the Center for Transforming Education at The Heartland Institute.
Lennie was the former managing editor (2013-2014) of Champion News, an Illinois based news website focusing on education and Illinois politics, and the managing editor (2004-2011) of Education Matters which researched education in local school districts across Illinois.
Jarratt is well-versed on Common Core and education choice.… Continue Reading
In the Spotlight with Monte Larrick and David Smith this week is Lennie Jarratt, who is the project manager for the Center for Transforming Education at The Heartland Institute.
Lennie is the former managing editor (2013-2014) of Champion News, an Illinois based news website focused on reporting on education and Illinois politics. Jarratt was the managing editor (2004-2011) of Education Matters which researched education in local school districts across Illinois.
Jarratt has presented analysis on Common Core and education choice on Fox News, Breitbart, ABC Chicago and multiple radio outlets and newspapers across the United States. … Continue Reading
Marriage, Family & Culture | David E. Smith | 
May 11, 2026 4:00 AM | 
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