45.  April 30, 2014 Sun-Times: Criminal probe of Quinn anti-violence plan rocks governor’s race A criminal grand jury has launched a probe into Gov. Pat Quinn’s troubled anti-violence program —  once likened to “a political slush fund” — delivering a major blow to the Democrat as he seeks re-election this fall. On Tuesday, the Quinn...

The problem In fiscal year 2011, the state handed out more than $1.1 billion to nonprofit organizations across the state in the form of 1,636 grants. While taxpayers can access online how much money was spent on these grants, it’s difficult for them to find out what the grants were for and if the grants...

by Will Compernolle The Illinois Department of Human Services hired ten nutritionists in fiscal year 2008 for $543,117 in combined total wages. The average salary for a nutritionist was $54,311 while the highest paid nutritionist took home a $65,165 salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website shows the mean salary for a nutritionist in 2008 in Illinois was $51,070,...

by Mark Cavers In 2008, the Illinois Department of Corrections employed 30 vocational instructors who made $1,837,058.27 in combined total wages.  The highest paid instructor made $86,477.96 and the average wage for the instructors was $61,000.  These individuals provide “occupational instruction in a specific vocation in a correctional facility.”  On the other hand, the Illinois Department of Human Services employed 16...

In 2008, the Department of Human Services had a baker on their payroll receiving $34,628 in annual wages.