There is no longer cash bail in Illinois. What happens now?

By Joe Tabor

09/18/2023

After litigation delaying its implementation, the full provisions of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act went into effect on Sept. 18. Here’s what to expect.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

What to expect when cash bail ends in Illinois

By Joe Tabor

07/27/2023

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled ending cash bail is constitutional. What does that mean for Illinois? It means ready or not, the system changes Sept. 18.

TAGS: cash bail

Patronage oversight ends for Cook County assessor’s office

11/03/2022

On Nov. 1 a federal judge decided to end decades-long patronage hiring oversight of the Cook County assessor’s office. Cronyism and patronage remain in Illinois, despite some government offices escaping federal court oversight.

TAGS: Cook County assessor, corruption, Shakman decrees

Chicago Teachers Union’s illegal strike is over, but parents sue to stop next one

By Patrick Andriesen

01/14/2022

Parents of Chicago Public Schools students sued to end the “remote work action” by Chicago Teachers Union members that kept 340,000 students out of classrooms for five days. The walkout is over, but the lawsuit is continuing to prevent the next illegal strike.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, lawsuit, strike

23 Chicago labor unions sue to block Lightfoot’s vaccination mandate

By Patrick Andriesen

11/12/2021

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is being challenged by 23 labor unions over her Dec. 31 vaccination deadline. They claimed she is infringing on union members’ collective bargaining rights.

TAGS: COVID-19, Lori Lightfoot, vaccine mandate

Chicago’s ‘Netflix tax’ revenues more than triple in five years

By Patrick Andriesen

11/08/2021

In 2017, Chicagoans paid $40 million in taxes on cloud computing and streaming services. It was $150 million this past fiscal year.

TAGS: Chicago, Netflix, taxes

Exelon lobbyist pushes $14.4 million payday for Springfield lawmakers

By Patrick Andriesen

06/15/2021

The Illinois General Assembly voted for a decade to eliminate annual cost-of-living adjustments for lawmaker salaries after the Great Recession. Now, former state lawmakers are suing the state to put that money right back into politicians’ pockets.

TAGS: Exelon, lawmaker pay, lobbying

Marijuana company investigated for pay to play? Hired Madigan cronies.

By Patrick Andriesen

04/01/2021

A Chicago-based marijuana company is facing a federal investigation into whether it bought influence to gain state licenses, sources told the Chicago Tribune. It hired four close associates of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, federal investigation, marijuana, Mike Madigan

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

08/08/2018

Thirty years ago Aug. 8, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under lights at Wrigley Field – after first battling Chicago politicians for the right to do so.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Edward “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, ISFA: Illinois Sports Facility Authority, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, Tom Tunney

15 former Chicago aldermen collecting 6-figure pensions

By Eddie Damstra

07/23/2018

In the midst of Chicago’s $36 billion pension crisis, former city officials are seeing big payouts.

TAGS: aldermanic privilege, Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Circuit Court of Cook County

There is no longer cash bail in Illinois. What happens now?

What to expect when cash bail ends in Illinois

Patronage oversight ends for Cook County assessor’s office

Chicago Teachers Union’s illegal strike is over, but parents sue to stop next one

23 Chicago labor unions sue to block Lightfoot’s vaccination mandate

Chicago’s ‘Netflix tax’ revenues more than triple in five years

Exelon lobbyist pushes $14.4 million payday for Springfield lawmakers

Marijuana company investigated for pay to play? Hired Madigan cronies.

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

15 former Chicago aldermen collecting 6-figure pensions

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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