By Bryant Jackson-Green
05/14/2015
States across the country have made major gains on both fronts.
TAGS: prison population
By Shawn Tonge
05/08/2015
April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.
TAGS: good government
By Hilary Gowins
04/23/2015
Ideally, the state wouldn’t have to get involved, and local governments would act in the best interests of taxpayers. But the latter isn’t happening.
TAGS: ban
By Shawn Tonge
04/08/2015
April showers bring May flowers, but all March gave us was 53 new corruption stories in Illinois.
TAGS: good government
By Brian Costin
01/16/2015
The residential-center horror stories demonstrate that corruption in government often hurts the most vulnerable among us. It also shows that exposing those injustices can lead to change.
TAGS: bribery, Chicago, good government
By Brian Costin
11/01/2014
In October, we found 52 different stories of potential public corruption in Illinois, including a trio of stories related to the election. An Illinois Policy investigation into emails from a group of Kankakee County superintendents revealed potentially illegal activities to pass a countywide sales-tax hike for school facilities. Documents obtained suggest illegal actions by superintendents...
TAGS: good government, waste
It’s perfectly legal for people working for local government to engage in politics on their own free time, but if they are using taxpayer resources or facilities for political campaigns it can be a criminal act. A Freedom of Information Act investigation conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute has revealed potentially illegal activities being conducted...
TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Stifel Nicolaus & Co.
By Brian Costin
10/24/2014
Only 28 percent of Illinois residents trust their state government, the lowest rate in the country by far. Since the days of Al Capone, the words “Illinois” and “Chicago” have been synonymous with government corruption. In order to change the narrative and restore trust in our state and local government we must fight public corruption head...
By Brian Costin
09/05/2014
At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...
TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste
Unfortunately for taxpayers, June was a groundbreaking month for corruption in Illinois. In June alone, there were reports of 85 corruption-related stories in the state. Some of the record-breaking highlights include the following: For the first time in 33 years, the Illinois Legislative Audit Commission exercised its subpoena powers in the issuance of a subpoena...
