Illinois politicians have been banking on a bailout for years. Don’t give it to them.

By Austin Berg

05/01/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Speaker Mike Madigan and other Illinois leaders were banking on a federal bailout long before COVID-19. How else can one explain their recklessness?

TAGS: bailout, coronavirus, COVID-19, Don Harmon, Donald Trump, Jason Plummer, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Pritzker wrongly claims an Illinois budget surplus ‘if not for coronavirus’

By Adam Schuster

04/30/2020

The budget was not balanced, and Illinois has not balanced a budget for nearly two decades. Pretending Illinois had no issues before COVID-19 won’t help it recover.

TAGS: budget, coronavirus, COVID-19, deficit, Donald Trump, JB Pritzker

Illinois spent $17 million on masks from China that may be unusable

04/22/2020

The state is attempting to shore up its supply of personal protection equipment, but received millions of masks the state health department recommended only using in a crisis.

TAGS: China, coronavirus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, JB Pritzker

Coronavirus pandemic delays REAL ID deadline

03/26/2020

Americans previously needed to update their ID by Oct. 1 to be allowed to fly and visit federal facilities without additional documentation.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, REAL ID, Real ID Act

Pritzker gives stay-at-home order for Illinois, in effect until April 7

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on March 20 ordered state residents to stay home except for essential workers and trips for supplies. The order came as Illinois recorded its fifth death and 585 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker

Champaign City Council gives mayor power to impose curfew, seize private property

By Vincent Caruso

03/13/2020

Water rationing and forced business closures were among a litany of emergency powers the city council granted Champaign’s mayor and city manager in response to the global health crisis.

TAGS: ban, Champaign, coronavirus, COVID-19, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

By Brad Weisenstein

02/21/2020

Federal investigators are seeking records from a small village near Chicago. The subpoena names Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, his political lieutenants and former ComEd lobbyists.

TAGS: Chicago, Commonwealth Edison, conflict of interest, corruption, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Kevin Quinn, Marty Quinn, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, revolving door, Timothy Mapes

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

Trump commutes Blagojevich’s prison sentence

By Austin Berg

02/18/2020

The nation’s corruption capitol will see one of its most infamous political figures return home.

TAGS: commutation, corruption, Donald Trump, Rod Blagojevich

Illinois can spend another $10B on infrastructure without tax hikes

By Adam Schuster

05/15/2019

Illinois can do it the old way and raise taxes to deliver pork projects. Or Illinois can be smart and make each tax dollar work hard to deliver projects that help residents and the economy.

Donald Trump

Illinois politicians have been banking on a bailout for years. Don’t give it to them.

Pritzker wrongly claims an Illinois budget surplus ‘if not for coronavirus’

Illinois spent $17 million on masks from China that may be unusable

Coronavirus pandemic delays REAL ID deadline

Pritzker gives stay-at-home order for Illinois, in effect until April 7

Champaign City Council gives mayor power to impose curfew, seize private property

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

Blagojevich returns to an Illinois as corrupt as he left it

Trump commutes Blagojevich’s prison sentence

Illinois can spend another $10B on infrastructure without tax hikes

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