Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped

By LyLena Estabine

02/10/2026

White County joined Rock Island in altering tax sale rules to stop equity theft. The moves are intended to protect them from an unconstitutional state law.

Judge rules Cook County tax sale illegal; lawmakers yet to act

By LyLena Estabine

12/16/2025

A federal judge ruled Cook County is illegally settling minor property tax debts by seizing the full value of properties. Illinois law still allows the practice.

Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft

By LyLena Estabine

10/30/2025

Lawsuits are mounting from homeowners, investors and counties. Unless lawmakers act, taxpayers could pay millions in damages over Illinois' unconstitutional tax sale system.

Illinois law still says unpaid property taxes can rob you of home equity

By Cameron Jasper, LyLena Estabine

08/12/2025

Across Illinois, homeowners are losing their homes and all their equity over minor tax debts, with private investors reaping the profits. Illinois is one of the remaining states hasn’t reformed this unconstitutional practice.

U.S. Supreme Court case aims to stop homes from being taken for small tax debts without compensation

By Joe Tabor

04/27/2023

Illinois homeowners have lost the full value of their homes over relatively small tax debts. But a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court could end that practice in Illinois and across the country.

Madigan refuses to appear before House committee probing his ComEd bribery scandal involvement

09/25/2020

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has formally declined an invitation to appear before the Illinois House committee tasked with investigating his involvement in the ComEd scandal.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, corruption, Mike Madigan

If Frank Mautino didn’t break the rules, the rules are broken

By Austin Berg

07/12/2018

Mautino might not be corrupt. But his conduct mirrored that of a person engaging in corrupt behavior.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois Auditor General

Mautino committee fined $5K for campaign finance disclosure violations

By Eric Kohn

05/15/2017

The Illinois State Board of Elections cast a tie vote on whether to refer to the Illinois attorney general or LaSalle County state’s attorney the disclosure violations case regarding Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino’s previous campaign funds.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois State Board of Elections

Mautino pleads the Fifth in campaign finance case

By Greg Bishop

04/20/2017

The gas the Mautino campaign claims to have purchased over 16 years would equate to more than 35,000 miles every year. The circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, good government, transparency

Rockford set to seize property for crony deal

By Bryant Jackson-Green

09/05/2014

Warshawsky Muffler has operated in Rockford, Ill., for 70 years, but that’s scheduled to change. The Rockford City Council said it may seize the three properties owned by S&L Warshawsky’s Inc. in order to allow a private developer to build a parking lot, according to the Rockford Register Star. The city decided earlier this year to...

Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped

Judge rules Cook County tax sale illegal; lawmakers yet to act

Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft

Illinois law still says unpaid property taxes can rob you of home equity

U.S. Supreme Court case aims to stop homes from being taken for small tax debts without compensation

Madigan refuses to appear before House committee probing his ComEd bribery scandal involvement

If Frank Mautino didn’t break the rules, the rules are broken

Mautino committee fined $5K for campaign finance disclosure violations

Mautino pleads the Fifth in campaign finance case

Rockford set to seize property for crony deal

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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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