Illinois expected to join California, New York with ‘shelter-in-place’ order

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to issue the order beginning Saturday to contain spread of COVID-19.

Chicago mayor halts fines, fees for minor traffic tickets amid coronavirus pandemic

By Vincent Caruso

03/20/2020

The city of Chicago has temporarily relaxed its controversial ticketing and towing scheme, as residents face worsening financial uncertainty in the midst of a global public health crisis.

TAGS: booting, Chicago, coronavirus, COVID-19, Lori Lightfoot, parking violations, towing

Illinois House committee passes bill to ban red-light cameras statewide

03/12/2020

Red-light cameras have been the subject of multiple corruption investigations and have cost Illinois drivers over $1 billion.

TAGS: conflict of interest, corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Jeff Tobolski, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Poll shows diverse support for Illinois pension reform

03/11/2020

Illinois Democrats, union members, government or nonprofit workers, and people of all income groups support a pension amendment that allows for changes in cost-of-living raises and other future benefits.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, pensions

Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal

03/09/2020

A Cook County commissioner quits as a former city administrator faces a bribery charge. Both played roles in the rise of red-light cameras and vendor SafeSpeed.

TAGS: Chicago Department of Aviation, conflict of interest, Cook County, corruption, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, Jeff Tobolski, Lyons, Martin Sandoval, McCook, Oak Brook, Patrick Doherty, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Toni Preckwinkle

Bill proposes to tie Illinois state spending to what taxpayers can afford

03/06/2020

Lawmakers routinely spend faster than taxpayers’ incomes grow. A new bill would put Illinois with the majority of states that limit taxes or spending.

TAGS: borrowing, budget, constitutional amendment, deficit, government spending, pensions, spending cap, tax increase

Illinois’ pension costs, debt are growing far faster than state predicted

By Bill Reveille

02/27/2020

The pension crisis is worse than the state admits, and the state’s official projections cannot be trusted.

TAGS: Edgar Ramp, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, pensions, progressive income tax

Illinois House passes bill to tear down nearly 100 red-light cameras

02/26/2020

A proposal to limit red-light cameras in Illinois is making significant progress.

TAGS: corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jonathan Carroll, Martin Sandoval, Mattie Hunter, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

02/26/2020

Eddie Johnson was fired before his scheduled retirement after he was found asleep behind the wheel. He blamed medication. Video showed him drinking.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, Eddie Johnson, Laquan McDonald, Lori Lightfoot, police pensions, public safety

Blagojevich returns to an Illinois as corrupt as he left it

By Austin Berg

02/20/2020

Illinois’ political leadership learned nothing from the Blagojevich nightmare. And now it may be coming back to bite them.

TAGS: Commonwealth Edison, commutation, corruption, Donald Trump, ethics task force, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich

Chicago Tribune

Illinois expected to join California, New York with ‘shelter-in-place’ order

Chicago mayor halts fines, fees for minor traffic tickets amid coronavirus pandemic

Illinois House committee passes bill to ban red-light cameras statewide

Poll shows diverse support for Illinois pension reform

Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal

Bill proposes to tie Illinois state spending to what taxpayers can afford

Illinois’ pension costs, debt are growing far faster than state predicted

Illinois House passes bill to tear down nearly 100 red-light cameras

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

Blagojevich returns to an Illinois as corrupt as he left it

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