Federal raids intersect with 4 connected to controversial red-light camera company

By Vincent Caruso

10/10/2019

Federal raids on the home and offices of state Sen. Martin Sandoval were followed by raids on several suburban village offices in his senate district. Sandoval and at least three others being investigated are connected to a red-light camera company, which has denied wrongdoing.

TAGS: corruption, Lyons, Martin Sandoval, McCook, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Illinois property tax relief begins by culling nearly 7,000 local government units

By Adam Schuster

10/08/2019

Illinois’ overabundance of local government layers provides ample room to consolidate and save property taxes.

TAGS: budget, consolidation, local government consolidation, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes, townships

CTU demands are an insult to average Chicago taxpayers

By Bill Reveille

10/03/2019

Property tax collections for Chicago Public Schools have grown nearly twice as fast as the typical Chicago household income.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, labor, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, strike, taxes

FBI, IRS continue raids by targeting 3 village offices in Cook County

By Vincent Caruso

09/27/2019

Federal agents raided the offices of three suburban villages, including one governed by a mayor who doubles as a Cook County commissioner. All three are in the district of state Sen. Martin Sandoval, also the subject of a federal raid.

TAGS: capital bill, capital project, Christopher Getty, corruption, Jay Hoffman, Jeff Tobolski, Kevin Quinn, Lyons, Martin Sandoval, McCook, Michael Zalewski, Mike Madigan, Tom Cullerton

Watchdog: Cook County clerk illegally hired political connections

09/14/2019

A watchdog has accused Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough of running an “illegal patronage” operation, and is calling for federal oversight of her office.

TAGS: Cook County, Cook County Clerk, corruption, Karen Yarbrough, patronage

Only in Illinois: Wife of indicted political boss will hold highest judicial post in the state

By Austin Berg

09/13/2019

What would appear to many Illinoisans as glaring conflicts of interest over the years have not appeared to raise red flags for the new chief justice.

TAGS: Anne Burke, Ed Burke, Klafter & Burke

Property tax relief task force votes against ending costly conflicts of interest

By Vincent Caruso

09/12/2019

Some Illinois lawmakers supplement their income doing property tax appeals work at private law firms. A property tax relief task force that includes some of those lawmakers killed a proposal to end that conflict of interest.

TAGS: Deanne Mazzochi, Ed Burke, Klafter & Burke, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Anne Burke named chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court while husband faces corruption charges

By Vincent Caruso

09/11/2019

The Illinois Supreme Court elected Anne Burke chief justice as Ald. Ed Burke faces a 14-count indictment on federal corruption charges.

TAGS: Anne Burke, Chicago, Chicago City Council, corruption, Ed Burke, Illinois Supreme Court

Bureaucrats over classrooms: Illinois wastes millions of education dollars on unnecessary layers of administration

By Orphe Divounguy, Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

09/09/2019

Illinoisans pay large sums for public education, yet a large portion of the money goes to Illinois’ bloated school district bureaucracy that diverts resources away from the classroom. Through smart, strategic reforms, Illinoisans can better prepare their youth for the future as well as provide property tax relief.

Cook County commission exploring property tax hike despite depressed home values

By Bryce Hill

09/04/2019

Average home prices in Cook County are 31% lower today than in 2007. Meanwhile, property tax bills have increased by 22%.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County

Federal raids intersect with 4 connected to controversial red-light camera company

Illinois property tax relief begins by culling nearly 7,000 local government units

CTU demands are an insult to average Chicago taxpayers

FBI, IRS continue raids by targeting 3 village offices in Cook County

Watchdog: Cook County clerk illegally hired political connections

Only in Illinois: Wife of indicted political boss will hold highest judicial post in the state

Property tax relief task force votes against ending costly conflicts of interest

Anne Burke named chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court while husband faces corruption charges

Bureaucrats over classrooms: Illinois wastes millions of education dollars on unnecessary layers of administration

Cook County commission exploring property tax hike despite depressed home values

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

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