Illinois expected to join California, New York with ‘shelter-in-place’ order

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to issue the order beginning Saturday to contain spread of COVID-19.

Chicago mayor halts fines, fees for minor traffic tickets amid coronavirus pandemic

By Vincent Caruso

03/20/2020

The city of Chicago has temporarily relaxed its controversial ticketing and towing scheme, as residents face worsening financial uncertainty in the midst of a global public health crisis.

TAGS: booting, Chicago, coronavirus, COVID-19, Lori Lightfoot, parking violations, towing

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

02/26/2020

Eddie Johnson was fired before his scheduled retirement after he was found asleep behind the wheel. He blamed medication. Video showed him drinking.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, Eddie Johnson, Laquan McDonald, Lori Lightfoot, police pensions, public safety

Bill would ban Illinois lawmakers from acting as lobbyists

02/24/2020

When Illinois lawmakers work as lobbyists, it creates public distrust and serious conflicts of interest.

TAGS: bribery, Carol Ammons, conflicts of interest, cooling off period, corruption, ethics, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, revolving door, Scott Bennett

Illinois home to more public corruption convictions than any other state since 2000

02/20/2020

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s release from federal prison may be making room behind bars for other Illinois politicians. Illinois is the top state for corruption, and federal agents are busy looking for more.

TAGS: corruption, ethics, revolving door

Food truck, mobile boutique regulations loosened by Chicago City Council

01/22/2020

The new ordinance backed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot allows food trucks and other mobile entrepreneurs to operate with more freedom on city streets.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, cronyism, entrepreneurs, food trucks, licensing, Lori Lightfoot, regulations

Lightfoot pushes Chicago city council to loosen food truck restrictions

01/07/2020

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is sponsoring a city ordinance allowing food trucks and other mobile entrepreneurs to operate with more freedom on Chicago’s streets.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, entrepreneurs, food trucks, Lori Lightfoot

Chicago City Council votes to ban lobbying by elected leaders

12/20/2019

Chicago’s second round of anti-corruption rules restricts aldermen and city employees from working as lobbyists and stops other elected leaders from lobbying city government for private clients.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, Chicago City Council, ComEd, corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Larry Suffredin, lawmakers, lobbying, Lori Lightfoot, Luis Arroyo, Michael Zalewski, Michele Smith, Mike Madigan, ordinance, Springfield, Terry Link

Tax on Uber, Lyft rides in downtown Chicago set to triple Jan. 1

By Vincent Caruso

12/09/2019

Chicagoans will pay higher taxes on rideshare trips in 2020 as part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first budget.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Chicago Department of Transportation, congestion tax, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, fees, Illinois Constitution, Lyft, outmigration, population, taxis, transportation, Uber

Chicago’s 2020 budget proposal was never truly balanced

By Adam Schuster, Bill Reveille

11/26/2019

Faced with the impossible task of balancing Chicago’s budget without pension reform, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is forced to partially rely on phantom cuts and revenues.

TAGS: bonds, budget, CAFR: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Chicago City Hall, constitutional amendment, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, deficit, emergency fee, homelessness, housing market, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, interest rates, library, Lori Lightfoot, Lyft, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, real estate, real estate transfer tax, tax hikes, tax increase, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, Uber

Lori Lightfoot

Illinois expected to join California, New York with ‘shelter-in-place’ order

Chicago mayor halts fines, fees for minor traffic tickets amid coronavirus pandemic

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

Bill would ban Illinois lawmakers from acting as lobbyists

Illinois home to more public corruption convictions than any other state since 2000

Food truck, mobile boutique regulations loosened by Chicago City Council

Lightfoot pushes Chicago city council to loosen food truck restrictions

Chicago City Council votes to ban lobbying by elected leaders

Tax on Uber, Lyft rides in downtown Chicago set to triple Jan. 1

Chicago’s 2020 budget proposal was never truly balanced

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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