More than $4.7 million was spent on advertising in 2008 and 2009, in addition to the more than $6 million spent on professional advertising and media services.

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that between 2008 and our FOIA request in 2009, state agencies spent $47,261.77 at Kmart and $27,135.15 at Wal-Mart. In 2008, the Department of Corrections spent the most with $3,165 at Kmart and $1,625 at Wal-Mart. In 2009, the Department of Children and Family Services...

The Department of Corrections spent over $600,000 on travel allowances for released and paroled inmates.

The Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Transportation were among the departments that spent the most on household, laundry, and cleaning supplies.

The Department of Employment Security spent over $150K on envelopes in 2008 and 2009.