Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

By Paul Vallas

09/08/2025

Federal help is needed in Chicago, but it should be professional law enforcement and encompass the entire justice system. Sending just the National Guard is destined to create problems when Chicago’s embattled communities need solutions.

Pritzker fighting to keep political hiring reports under wraps

By Brad Weisenstein

12/10/2020

The lawyers who over 50 years ago started the fight against political patronage in Springfield and Chicago are arguing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is not ready to lose federal oversight of hiring. Efforts to hide hiring records prove that point, they said.

TAGS: corruption, JB Pritzker, Shakman decrees

Pritzker renews push to end federal oversight of state hiring

11/06/2020

The federal court system has been watching Illinois for patronage hiring since 1972. There’s little evidence the problem is fixed.

TAGS: corruption, good government, JB Pritzker, Shakman decrees

Pritzker moves to scrap anti-patronage deal amid Illinois corruption, bribery probes

By Joe Tabor

07/29/2020

After nearly 50 years, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the Governor’s Office no longer needs federal oversight to halt patronage hiring. His request came three days before federal prosecutors said Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan turned public utilities into patronage havens.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, patronage

Bill would let wrongly arrested clear their names without paying

01/28/2020

Expungement and sealing fees cause individuals with erroneous criminal records to have a hard time moving forward with their lives.

TAGS: Cook County, crime, criminal justice, decriminalization, expungement, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, overcriminalization, records, restore my good name

Fired Cook County police officers could be back on the job due to technicality

By Brendan Bakala

10/18/2017

In a ruling that could cost taxpayers millions, a former Cook County officer who was fired for failing to disclose his criminal history will likely return to work and receive back pay.

TAGS: Cook County, Teamsters

Cook County Sheriff sends out 110 layoff notices as soda tax remains on hold

By Marianna Schmiesing

07/20/2017

An Illinois appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order on Cook County’s proposed sweetened beverage tax. The Cook County sheriff’s office has sent out 110 layoff notices, citing the soda tax holdup. These layoffs come on top of 300 county worker layoffs. Cook County officials claim at least 1,100 jobs will be lost if the tax does not go into effect.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs

By Ben Ruddell, Bryant Jackson-Green

11/16/2016

Most people expect Illinois law enforcement to defend the private property of Illinois residents. As long as you obey the law, your life, liberty and property should be secure from the law – or so common sense would suggest. Yet, every year, Illinois law enforcement agencies take tens of millions of dollars in cash, vehicles,...

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

11/04/2015

October saw a former Chicago Public Schools CEO plead guilty to wire fraud and several other instances of criminal charges and civil lawsuits against public officials, as well as crony deals between businesses and government.

TAGS: corruption

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

Cook County Sheriff's Office

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

Pritzker fighting to keep political hiring reports under wraps

Pritzker renews push to end federal oversight of state hiring

Pritzker moves to scrap anti-patronage deal amid Illinois corruption, bribery probes

Bill would let wrongly arrested clear their names without paying

Fired Cook County police officers could be back on the job due to technicality

Cook County Sheriff sends out 110 layoff notices as soda tax remains on hold

Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2014

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