Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds

By Vincent Caruso

03/30/2018

Two township administrators took state grant funds intended for a summer youth program to cover up for illegal credit card purchases.

TAGS: corruption, East St. Louis, St. Clair County, townships

Outmigration fuels Madison, St. Clair County population dips in 2017

03/25/2018

Madison and St. Clair counties both saw their populations decline from July 2016 to July 2017, thanks to outmigration – a problem the counties have been dealing with for years.

TAGS: Madison County, outmigration, population, spending, spending cap, St. Clair County

Metro East taxpayers struggle to keep up with state spending

By Vincent Caruso

02/20/2018

Residents in Madison and St. Clair counties find themselves fleeced by lawmakers' failure to control state finances.

TAGS: Madison County, Metro East, spending, spending cap, St. Clair County

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

02/02/2018

East St. Louis Township paid $550 to a politician, who had previously spent four years in federal prison for tax evasion, to clear an inch of snow from the township's parking lot - a task he didn't even complete.

TAGS: consolidation, corruption, East St. Louis, local government consolidation, townships

Last-minute Christmas shopping? Illinoisans brace for sky-high sales taxes

By Vincent Caruso

12/21/2017

The holiday season is a time for giving. And, by the time Illinoisans complete their shopping, they’ll have given plenty – to state and local governments.

TAGS: sales tax

Tax Increment Financing: Christmas year-round for local politicians, developers

By Chris Lentino

12/19/2017

Statewide use of slush funds ensures it’s Christmas every day for political leaders and their chosen developers.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions, real estate, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

If your child misses 90 minutes of school you could be charged with a misdemeanor

By Jeffrey Schwab

10/04/2017

Is criminally charging the parents of a truant child an appropriate way to handle missing class?

Chicago Public Schools bailout threatens 20 Metro East schools from opening on time

By Eric Kohn

07/28/2017

Twenty school districts in the Metro East rely on the state for 30 percent or more of their total revenue.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, Senate Bill 1

Illinois’ $5B tax hike will be eaten up by this year’s pension payment

By Austin Berg

07/20/2017

Illinoisans can take a look at their paystubs and notice the state decided to hike their income tax bill by 32 percent.

TAGS: income tax, pensions, property taxes

Wasteful TIF spending in Belleville

By Chris Lentino

06/13/2017

As property tax bills land in mailboxes in Madison and St. Clair counties, TIF districts sap local tax dollars.

TAGS: Belleville, budget, property taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

St. Clair County

Former East St. Louis township officials diverted nearly $1M in youth program funds

Outmigration fuels Madison, St. Clair County population dips in 2017

Metro East taxpayers struggle to keep up with state spending

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

Last-minute Christmas shopping? Illinoisans brace for sky-high sales taxes

Tax Increment Financing: Christmas year-round for local politicians, developers

If your child misses 90 minutes of school you could be charged with a misdemeanor

Chicago Public Schools bailout threatens 20 Metro East schools from opening on time

Illinois’ $5B tax hike will be eaten up by this year’s pension payment

Wasteful TIF spending in Belleville

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