Naughty list includes state lawmakers, county leaders, mayors

By Patrick Andriesen

12/24/2025

The nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, a state senator and a former Cook County commissioner were on Illinois’ too-long list of corrupt politicians.

Red-light cameras take another $500M from Illinois drivers in 5 years

By Patrick Andriesen

05/09/2024

Local governments generated $500 million from red-light camera tickets since 2019, with Chicago alone collecting $223.8 million. Total since 2008: $1.56 billion.

TAGS: red light cameras

Chicago’s speed cameras start churning out $35 tickets March 1

By Patrick Andriesen

03/01/2021

Chicago’s mayor said speed cameras will enforce a lowered tolerance March 1 as a way to curb traffic fatalities. Critics see the $35 tickets as a money grab when residents are still reeling from the COVID-19 economic downturn.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed limit, ticketing

Extortion conspiracy, tax evasion charges filed against former Cook County commissioner

08/27/2020

Jeffrey Tobolski is the latest Illinois politician charged in a wide-ranging federal corruption probe into bribes, insider deals, cronyism and red-light cameras.

TAGS: corruption, extortion, federal investigation, tax fraud

Illinois House committee passes bill to ban red-light cameras statewide

03/12/2020

Red-light cameras have been the subject of multiple corruption investigations and have cost Illinois drivers over $1 billion.

TAGS: conflict of interest, corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Jeff Tobolski, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal

03/09/2020

A Cook County commissioner quits as a former city administrator faces a bribery charge. Both played roles in the rise of red-light cameras and vendor SafeSpeed.

TAGS: Chicago Department of Aviation, conflict of interest, Cook County, corruption, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, Jeff Tobolski, Lyons, Martin Sandoval, McCook, Oak Brook, Patrick Doherty, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Toni Preckwinkle

Local government spending could soon be easier for Illinois taxpayers to track

02/24/2020

A bill to make more public records readily available would better show taxpayers how local governments spend money.

TAGS: Anna Moeller, government spending, House Rules Committee, Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal, Open Meetings Act, public records, Steve Stadelman, transparency

Top Cook County official latest indicted in connection to red-light camera industry

By Vincent Caruso

02/14/2020

A high-ranking Cook County political operative moonlighting as a sales agent for a red-light camera company is the latest politician accused of bribery in a sprawling federal corruption probe.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, red light cameras

Illinois comptroller calls red-light cameras ‘broken and morally corrupt’

01/07/2020

Traffic cameras collected more than $1 billion from drivers since 2008, but corruption probes are prompting state comptroller to stop acting as ticket collection agency.

TAGS: corruption, David McSweeney, federal investigation, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Jeff Tobolski, Lyons, Martin Sandoval, McCook, red light cameras, Redflex Traffic Systems, SafeSpeed, Springfield

Sandoval resigns Senate seat amid federal corruption probe, effective Jan. 1

By Vincent Caruso

11/27/2019

The once-powerful state officeholder previously resigned as chairman of the influential Illinois Senate Transportation Committee in October.

TAGS: FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, gas tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Martin Sandoval, McCook, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Senate Transportation Committee, Springfield, Tom Cullerton, transportation

McCook

Naughty list includes state lawmakers, county leaders, mayors

Red-light cameras take another $500M from Illinois drivers in 5 years

Chicago’s speed cameras start churning out $35 tickets March 1

Extortion conspiracy, tax evasion charges filed against former Cook County commissioner

Illinois House committee passes bill to ban red-light cameras statewide

Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal

Local government spending could soon be easier for Illinois taxpayers to track

Top Cook County official latest indicted in connection to red-light camera industry

Illinois comptroller calls red-light cameras ‘broken and morally corrupt’

Sandoval resigns Senate seat amid federal corruption probe, effective Jan. 1

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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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