Over 600 Chicago teachers hit Sin City on taxpayers’ dime

By Lilly Rossi

12/31/2025

Using taxpayer dollars intended to educate children, over 600 Chicago Public Schools staffers exploited lax rules to take luxury trips to Las Vegas.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations

By Lilly Rossi

11/17/2025

Chicago Public Schools employees spent $23.6 million in tax dollars on lavish vacations at 5-star hotels and overseas trips. Much of it was without approval.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Potential CTU strike about boosting power of nation’s teachers’ unions

By Mailee Smith

01/30/2021

The Chicago Teachers Union prided itself as the vanguard for a rash of nationwide teacher strikes following its 2012 walkout. It’s using the same playbook in 2021.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Taxpayer support for southwestern Illinois airport hits $104.3 million

By Brad Weisenstein

08/30/2019

Each year St. Clair County, Illinois, taxpayers must add money to keep MidAmerica St. Louis Airport open. While passenger traffic is increasing, so are expenses.

TAGS: budget, MidAmerica Airport, St. Clair County

Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds

By Vincent Caruso

03/30/2018

Two township administrators took state grant funds intended for a summer youth program to cover up for illegal credit card purchases.

TAGS: corruption, East St. Louis, St. Clair County, townships

Millennials could be key to Illinois’ housing recovery – but they are fleeing the state

By Madelyn Harwood

07/11/2017

Illinois loses more millennial taxpayers and dependents to other states than any state except New York.

TAGS: housing, millennials, outmigration, population, property taxes

2016 Corruption Watch: Chicago, East St. Louis take top corruption spots

12/29/2016

This year was full of corruption and mismanagement from public officials, but four instances in particular stand out.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, East St. Louis, good government

7 public officials arrested in Metro East area on corruption charges

12/07/2016

Corruption from several public officials in Metro East underscores the need for more government transparency in the area.

TAGS: corruption, good government, transparency

Local corruption hits Chicago, suburbs and downstate communities

12/04/2016

November was a sad reminder of the corruption at various levels of Illinois government from retired House Speaker Denny Hastert to the small Village of Bellwood.

TAGS: corruption, good government

July corruption watch

08/04/2016

Chicago leads the way in numerous corruption headlines yet again.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, good government

Las Vegas

Over 600 Chicago teachers hit Sin City on taxpayers’ dime

Taxpayers pay $23.6M for Chicago Public Schools vacations

Potential CTU strike about boosting power of nation’s teachers’ unions

Taxpayer support for southwestern Illinois airport hits $104.3 million

Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds

Millennials could be key to Illinois’ housing recovery – but they are fleeing the state

2016 Corruption Watch: Chicago, East St. Louis take top corruption spots

7 public officials arrested in Metro East area on corruption charges

Local corruption hits Chicago, suburbs and downstate communities

July corruption watch

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Report Archive

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