Illinois corruption watch: February 2016

03/07/2016

Illinoisans’ confidence in their state government is the lowest of residents of any state in the nation, and corruption stories from February 2016 don’t help.

Chicago remains a segregated city by race and income – and government deserves much of the blame

By Mark Adams

03/04/2016

City zoning policies serve to keep many neighborhoods segregated. These rules also keep lower-income residents of all races out of popular areas, allowing city officials to shape who can live where and making housing more expensive.

TAGS: zoning

Emanuel’s building proposal misses the mark on Chicago zoning reform

By Mark Adams

02/26/2016

While the mayor is right to say that expanding the downtown development area is a “win-win” for developers and poor communities, expanding downtown without the mayor’s proposed new tax on developers and inflexible size restrictions would be a bigger win for both.

TAGS: taxes

Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’

By Austin Berg

02/24/2016

Chicago is taking yet another black eye for its mishandling of a highly controversial ticketing system, which has slapped drivers with hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, red light cameras

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

02/17/2016

Chicago taxpayers to pay a significant premium and fees in connection with the $725 million Chicago Public Schools borrowed on Feb. 3.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois corruption watch: January 2016

02/12/2016

In January several instances of corruption, influence peddling and mismanagement across Illinois were brought to light, from the College of DuPage’s expense-account mismanagement, to Chicago’s red-light-camera bribery case.

Chicago’s new cigarette tax will lead to more black-market sales and violence, alderman say

By Chris Lentino

02/09/2016

South and West Side aldermen believe that an increase in the tobacco tax will lead to an increase in black-market sales and violence. They're right.

TAGS: Chicago, cigarette tax, taxes

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

By Ted Dabrowski

02/05/2016

State-run teacher pensions have a shortfall of $37,000 per student, while Chicago's shortfall totals $24,000.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, pensions

Chicago cops retire to dodge punishment, collect 6-figure pensions

By Austin Berg

02/04/2016

Since Chicago officials received a city watchdog investigation recommending six officers be disciplined for their roles surrounding the killing of David Koschman by a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, three have retired.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, pensions

Emanuel promises another Chicago property-tax hike

By Austin Berg

02/03/2016

Mere months after passing the largest tax hike in modern Chicago history, Mayor Rahm Emanuel vows to hit residents with even higher property-tax bills, this time to bail out pension mismanagement by Chicago Public Schools officials – behavior tacitly endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel

Illinois corruption watch: February 2016

Chicago remains a segregated city by race and income – and government deserves much of the blame

Emanuel’s building proposal misses the mark on Chicago zoning reform

Judge rules Chicago red-light and speed-camera tickets ‘void’

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

Illinois corruption watch: January 2016

Chicago’s new cigarette tax will lead to more black-market sales and violence, alderman say

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

Chicago cops retire to dodge punishment, collect 6-figure pensions

Emanuel promises another Chicago property-tax hike

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