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Parents could get more say about leaving preteens home alone after Illinois House passes bill

By Vincent Caruso

04/08/2019

Illinois parents can face neglect charges for leaving a 13-year-old home alone. The Illinois House just took a step toward relaxing the nation’s strictest law on unattended children.

TAGS: DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services, home alone, Joe Sosnowski, Jonathan Carroll, terri bryant

Illinois voters could eliminate townships that share city limits under bill

By Ben Paoletti

04/02/2019

Illinois townships often spend more on administration than services when they cover the same territory as a local municipality. One bill would make it easier for voters to change that.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Tom Demmer, township, townships

How local government spends your taxes soon may be a click away

By Vincent Caruso

04/02/2019

Local governments must maintain certain financial records, but not all make it easy for taxpayers to obtain it. A bill headed to the Illinois House floor would put local government financial records online.

TAGS: Anna Moeller, Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal, Spending, taxes, transparency

Another Chicago alderman pleads guilty to corruption charges

By Joe Barnas

03/26/2019

South Side Ald. Willie Cochran pleaded guilty March 21 to felony wire fraud for spending his ward’s charity funds on personal expenses. That’s 30 Chicago aldermen convicted of corruption since 1972.

TAGS: aldermanic privilege, Chicago, Chicago City Council, corruption, Danny Solis, Ed Burke, Willie Cochran

Judge orders arrest of 2 former Madigan operatives

By Austin Berg

03/26/2019

Two former political workers for longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan failed to attend depositions in a lawsuit alleging Madigan backed “sham candidates” in his 2016 primary election.

TAGS: Charlie Hernandez, Jason Gonzales, Kevin Quinn, Mike Madigan, Shaw Decremer

House bill would merge Cook County forest preserve police with county sheriff

By Joe Barnas

03/14/2019

A bill in the Illinois House seeks to transfer policing authority from the Cook County Forest Preserve District to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, potentially saving taxpayers millions.

TAGS: consolidation, Cook County, cook county forest preserve district, cook county forest preserve police, cook county sheriff, local government consolidation

Illinois taxpayers could cut back local governments under bipartisan bill

By Vincent Caruso

03/06/2019

The Citizens Empowerment Act would let taxpayers cut local government at the ballot box. Illinois lawmakers from both parties are backing it.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, property taxes, Sam Yingling, taxes

Senate Bill could stop drainage districts from draining tax dollars

By Ben Paoletti

03/02/2019

Illinois has more than 850 drainage districts. A bill in the Illinois Senate could eliminate some of those government units – and save the tax dollars that support them.

TAGS: consolidation, Dan McConchie, local government consolidation, property taxes, taxes

Illinois House bill would close judicial elections loophole

By Joe Barnas

02/14/2019

A legal tactic intended to make it easier for Illinois judges to stay on the bench is under fire. An Illinois House bill aims to close the loophole, which four southwestern Illinois judges used in bids to dilute voters’ power.

TAGS: charlie meier, John Baricevic, judicial retention, Lloyd Cueto, Robert Haida, Robert LeChien

Report: Chicago area most corrupt in nation

By Vincent Caruso

02/13/2019

Chicagoland and northern Illinois have seen more corrupt public officials put behind bars than any other part of the nation, a new analysis found.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Danny Solis, Ed Burke

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

Illinois Democrats possess oversized power in Springfield. Democrats control both houses of the Illinois General Assembly. Though this majority will not be veto-proof in the 100th General Assembly, whose members will assume office in January 2017, it still allows Democratic politicians to easily pass their party’s legislation through the House and Senate – and to block...

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Good Government

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

Vito Dellegraize

Website posting requirements for local governments in Illinois

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students