Chicago Teachers Union’s threatened April 1 strike date isn’t legal

By Jeffrey Schwab

03/03/2016

The Chicago Teachers Union has threatened to strike as early as April 1 over Chicago Public Schools’ announced plan to stop paying a portion of teachers’ required contributions to their pension fund. Under Illinois labor law, however, CTU cannot legally strike before mid- to late-May.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/01/2016

Pension holidays, steep increases in teachers' salaries, and lopsided ratios of teacher contributions to pension payouts have caused the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund’s unfunded liabilities to shoot up to $9 billion in 2015.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, pensions

Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’

By Austin Berg

02/24/2016

Chicago is taking yet another black eye for its mishandling of a highly controversial ticketing system, which has slapped drivers with hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, red light cameras

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

02/17/2016

Chicago taxpayers to pay a significant premium and fees in connection with the $725 million Chicago Public Schools borrowed on Feb. 3.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois corruption watch: January 2016

02/12/2016

In January several instances of corruption, influence peddling and mismanagement across Illinois were brought to light, from the College of DuPage’s expense-account mismanagement, to Chicago’s red-light-camera bribery case.

Chicago City Council passes weakened oversight ordinance at Burke’s bidding

By Austin Berg

02/11/2016

Chicago aldermen voted in favor of an ordinance that was changed to shield City Council from the auditing powers of Inspector General Joe Ferguson.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption

Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote

By Austin Berg

02/05/2016

Aldermen say they want oversight, but they don’t want anyone to be able to audit them. What do they have to hide?

TAGS: Chicago, Ed Burke

Chicago cops retire to dodge punishment, collect 6-figure pensions

By Austin Berg

02/04/2016

Since Chicago officials received a city watchdog investigation recommending six officers be disciplined for their roles surrounding the killing of David Koschman by a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, three have retired.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, pensions

Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges

By Austin Berg

01/27/2016

A federal jury convicted former transportation official John Bills of fraud, extortion, bribery and more.

TAGS: Chicago, red light cameras

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

12/14/2015

November saw Chicago’s City Council let the term of the legislative inspector general, who is tasked with overseeing City Council, expire without hiring a replacement, as well as several other instances of breach of public trust and influence peddling around the state.

TAGS: corruption

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Teachers Union’s threatened April 1 strike date isn’t legal

11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions

Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

Illinois corruption watch: January 2016

Chicago City Council passes weakened oversight ordinance at Burke’s bidding

Chicago aldermen look to kneecap oversight in City Council vote

Chicago cops retire to dodge punishment, collect 6-figure pensions

Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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