Illinois lawmakers claim the state saved nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2026, but most “savings” are either from federal decisions or shifting costs, not serious fiscal restraint.
The “gift room” scandal, a botched police raid and a smokestack implosion underscore how the head of Chicago’s Law Department, also known as the corporation counsel, too often lacks independence from the mayor’s office. Chicago’s corporation counsel is appointed by the mayor and can be removed at the mayor’s discretion. Experience in other major cities...