Illinois may outlaw balloon releases of 50 and up, up and away

By Brad Weisenstein

04/22/2021

Illinoisans planning a balloon release will need to count carefully. State lawmakers voted to fine repeat offenders who wantonly release 50 or more balloons.

TAGS: nanny state, paternalism, regulations

Too many government units means property taxes are too high in Illinois

By Patrick Andriesen

03/30/2021

A bill to eliminate some of Illinois’ 1,400 townships is on hold, but state lawmakers could revive it and give voters the power to reduce their property tax bills.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, local government consolidation, property taxes, townships

51 House Democrats back Madigan for speaker in caucus vote

By Austin Berg

01/11/2021

See who your representative backed in a historic fight for the Illinois House speakership.

TAGS: corruption, House Speaker, lame duck session, Mike Madigan

Madigan leadership team member becomes 19th vote opposing him as House speaker

By Brad Weisenstein

12/01/2020

Enough Illinois House Democrats already said they would vote to end Mike Madigan’s 35 years as speaker but losing a party leader will make it much more difficult for him to retain power.

TAGS: corruption, Illinois House of Representatives, Kathleen Willis, Mike Madigan

Pritzker demands answers from Madigan as more Illinois lawmakers seek resignation

11/20/2020

Madigan already had lost enough support to end his 35-year run as House speaker, but the gap continued to widen as Illinois’ governor added his rebuke.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain

Madigan opposition hits critical mass as his confidant, 3 others charged in ComEd bribery scandal

11/19/2020

The indictments are the closest yet to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s inner circle. Now enough Democrats are pledging they won’t support him to cost him the speaker’s gavel.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, house, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Jay Doherty, madigan, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, reform

Red-light camera ban in Illinois pushed by more state lawmakers

By Vincent Caruso

11/05/2019

As the bipartisan backlash against red-light traffic cameras continues to build, a third Illinois state lawmaker has introduced a proposal to ban the controversial devices statewide.

TAGS: Kambium Buckner, red light cameras

Chicago dominates competition for most red-light cameras

10/18/2019

Chicago has more red-light cameras and revenue from them than any other large city in America. The cameras are costly for drivers, create government mistrust and foster corruption.

TAGS: Chicago, red light cameras

Red-light camera backlash gains bipartisan momentum in Springfield

By Vincent Caruso

10/15/2019

Driver headaches and corruption flow from red-light cameras. Two bills with bipartisan support would ban the traffic devices in Illinois.

TAGS: corruption, David McSweeney, Grant Wehrli, Jonathan Carroll, Margo McDermed, Mark Batinick, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, Rita Mayfield, SafeSpeed, Sam Yingling

Illinois red-light cameras have collected more than $1B from drivers since 2008

By Austin Berg

10/14/2019

Red-light cameras are taking more and more money from Illinois motorists. But dubious safety benefits, a cloud of corruption and a bipartisan bill in Springfield may combine to take them off the streets.

Sam Yingling

Illinois may outlaw balloon releases of 50 and up, up and away

Too many government units means property taxes are too high in Illinois

51 House Democrats back Madigan for speaker in caucus vote

Madigan leadership team member becomes 19th vote opposing him as House speaker

Pritzker demands answers from Madigan as more Illinois lawmakers seek resignation

Madigan opposition hits critical mass as his confidant, 3 others charged in ComEd bribery scandal

Red-light camera ban in Illinois pushed by more state lawmakers

Chicago dominates competition for most red-light cameras

Red-light camera backlash gains bipartisan momentum in Springfield

Illinois red-light cameras have collected more than $1B from drivers since 2008

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