Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped

By LyLena Estabine

02/10/2026

White County joined Rock Island in altering tax sale rules to stop equity theft. The moves are intended to protect them from an unconstitutional state law.

Illinois county updates property tax sale rules after court warnings

By LyLena Estabine

01/12/2026

Rock Island County required tax buyers at its Dec. 30 sale to attest they would protect homeowners’ equity as judges warn Illinois counties may be liable.

Judge rules Cook County tax sale illegal; lawmakers yet to act

By LyLena Estabine

12/16/2025

A federal judge ruled Cook County is illegally settling minor property tax debts by seizing the full value of properties. Illinois law still allows the practice.

Chicago transit employee tried to steal $357K from pension fund

By Patrick Andriesen

12/08/2022

A former CTA clerk was indicted on five counts of wire fraud for allegedly creating and approving 43 fraudulent benefit requests.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, pensions

Judge rules in Madigan’s favor on ‘sham candidate’ lawsuit

By Austin Berg

08/26/2019

Lawyers for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan argued that even if he did recruit so-called “sham candidates” to siphon votes away from his 2016 primary opponent, such tactics aren’t against the law.

TAGS: election, Jason Gonzales, Kevin Quinn, Mike Madigan, Shaw Decremer

Judge orders arrest of 2 former Madigan operatives

By Austin Berg

03/26/2019

Two former political workers for longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan failed to attend depositions in a lawsuit alleging Madigan backed “sham candidates” in his 2016 primary election.

TAGS: Charlie Hernandez, Jason Gonzales, Kevin Quinn, Mike Madigan, Shaw Decremer

Madigan aides sought out, assisted alleged ‘sham’ candidates in primary election

By Austin Berg

02/01/2019

Madigan’s 2016 primary opponent filed a lawsuit alleging the House speaker recruited “sham” candidates in order to dilute opposition.

TAGS: Jason Gonzales, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan

Judge allows lawsuit against Madigan to proceed

By Austin Berg

09/15/2017

A federal judge has cleared the way for a lawsuit filed by a 2016 primary opponent of House Speaker Mike Madigan, which alleges discrimination by the speaker for filing “sham candidates.”

TAGS: corruption, Jason Gonzales, Mike Madigan

Corruption Watch: April 2015

By Shawn Tonge

05/08/2015

April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.

TAGS: good government

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

By Brian Costin

09/05/2014

At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste

Matthew Kennelly

Illinois county updated tax sale, participation dropped

Illinois county updates property tax sale rules after court warnings

Judge rules Cook County tax sale illegal; lawmakers yet to act

Chicago transit employee tried to steal $357K from pension fund

Judge rules in Madigan’s favor on ‘sham candidate’ lawsuit

Judge orders arrest of 2 former Madigan operatives

Madigan aides sought out, assisted alleged ‘sham’ candidates in primary election

Judge allows lawsuit against Madigan to proceed

Corruption Watch: April 2015

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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