Madigan, Cullerton and the absurdity of Springfield’s budget blame game

By David Giuliani

06/03/2015

Responsibility for Illinois’ sorry state of affairs falls at the feet of House Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and their combined 80 years in state government.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Corruption Watch: April 2015

By Shawn Tonge

05/08/2015

April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.

TAGS: good government

CTU executives call employee pension contributions ‘insulting’

By Benjamin VanMetre

05/06/2015

Chicago Teachers Union executives say their members shouldn’t have to contribute more money to their retirements because of a contract negotiation nearly 35 years ago.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, pensions

Corruption watch: March 2015

By Shawn Tonge

04/08/2015

April showers bring May flowers, but all March gave us was 53 new corruption stories in Illinois.

TAGS: good government

Call waiting: Chicago Police Department refusing to release cellphone-tracking info

By Bryant Jackson-Green

03/31/2015

The Chicago Police Department is refusing to disclose information regarding its use of covert cellphone-tracking devices, which can intercept the personal information of innocent bystanders.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department

Quinn and the DCEO spent $27M on ‘Transformers’ movies, ‘Empire,’ a Funyons commercial and more

By Austin Berg

03/24/2015

Gov. Bruce Rauner ordered Cinespace Chicago Film Studios to pay back their most recent $10 million grant, but further action is necessary to stamp out cronyism in Illinois.

TAGS: Cinespace, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Quinn to receive millions in pension payments

By Austin Berg

03/02/2015

Former Gov. Pat Quinn contributed less than $200,000 to his retirement, but is set to draw more than $2 million in pension benefits over his lifetime.

TAGS: GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, Pat Quinn

Corruption Watch: January 2015

By Shawn Tonge

02/11/2015

The start of a new year always comes with resolutions for improvement, but only time will tell if they translate into effective action.

TAGS: good government

Illinois Corruption Watch: December 2014

By Brian Costin

01/16/2015

The residential-center horror stories demonstrate that corruption in government often hurts the most vulnerable among us. It also shows that exposing those injustices can lead to change.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, good government

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2014

By Brian Costin

12/07/2014

In November, 13 of 53 Corruption Watch stories were related to policies and actions of criminal-justice authorities in Illinois.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago Sun-Times

Madigan, Cullerton and the absurdity of Springfield’s budget blame game

Corruption Watch: April 2015

CTU executives call employee pension contributions ‘insulting’

Corruption watch: March 2015

Call waiting: Chicago Police Department refusing to release cellphone-tracking info

Quinn and the DCEO spent $27M on ‘Transformers’ movies, ‘Empire,’ a Funyons commercial and more

Quinn to receive millions in pension payments

Corruption Watch: January 2015

Illinois Corruption Watch: December 2014

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2014

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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