Illinois' highest-in-the-nation property taxes are eroding home equity and depressing home values across the state. This report is part of a Lake County Gazette series on recent home sales that demonstrate the consequences.

Gurnee State House candidate Joyce Mason received another $131,553 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, state filings show.

Grayslake State House candidate Sam Yingling received another $39,936 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, state filings show.

Property owners in Waukegan paid nearly 3 percent of the value of their home in taxes last year. That’s nearly 2.5 times the national average, according to an LGIS analysis of real estate sales data in Lake County from Jan 1. to June 30.

St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich was among 24 Illinois K-12 schools named as 2018 Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

St. Bede Elementary School in Ingleside was among 24 Illinois K-12 schools named as 2018 Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

Northbrook State House candidate Jonathan Carroll received another $300 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, state filings show.

Buffalo Grove State House candidate Daniel Didech received another $125,444 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, state filings show.

College of Lake County is among two-year universities in Illinois that reported borrowers defaulting on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Trinity International University football brought in $17,150 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it the eighth highest-grossing football program in the state that year, according to a Lake County Gazette analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Sand Lake in Illinois Beach State Park will be one of 57 locations open for the Illinois fall trout fishing season beginning on Oct. 20.

Lake County posted the 11th lowest home affordability index in Illinois, according to an analysis of 432 counties nationwide by ATTOM Data Solutions in the second quarter.

Grayslake State House candidate Sam Yingling received another $18,122 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Aug. 15 and Sept. 6, state filings show.

Gurnee State House candidate Joyce Mason received another $98,713 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Aug. 15 and Sept. 6, state filings show.

Northbrook State House candidate Jonathan Carroll received another $31,510 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Aug. 15 and Sept. 6, state filings show.

Buffalo Grove State House candidate Daniel Didech received another $70,898 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Aug. 15 and Sept. 6, state filings show.

Head coaches of Lake Forest College's men’s teams earn an average of $60,583 annually – the 26th highest average salary in the state – according to a Lake County Gazette analysis of federal education data.

Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) gave $12,750 to Grayslake State House candidate Sam Yingling between July 15 and Aug. 15, state filings show.

Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) gave $14,875 to Northbrook State House candidate Jonathan Carroll between July 15 and Aug. 15, state filings show.

Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) gave $18,042 to Buffalo Grove State House candidate Daniel Didech between July 15 and Aug. 15, state filings show.