Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan asks President Trump for pardon

By Dylan Sharkey

12/10/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is asking President Donald Trump to pardon him. Good luck with that.

TAGS: corruption, Donald Trump, Mike Madigan

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

By Paul Vallas

09/08/2025

Federal help is needed in Chicago, but it should be professional law enforcement and encompass the entire justice system. Sending just the National Guard is destined to create problems when Chicago’s embattled communities need solutions.

Madigan is latest as Illinois averages 1 corruption conviction a week – for 40 years

By Dylan Sharkey

02/12/2025

Corruption in Illinois is on a weekly basis. The state averaged more than one corruption conviction per week from 1983-2023, which marked the start of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s leadership.

TAGS: corruption, madigan

Upward mobility tougher in Illinois than in rest of Midwest, most of U.S.

By Joe Tabor

02/07/2024

Illinois ranked 40th overall and the worst in the Midwest for social mobility, a new report found.

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

By Patrick Andriesen

11/20/2023

After serving more than half a century as a “fixture” on the Chicago City Council, former Ald. Edward Burke now faces 14 counts of federal corruption charges for allegedly abusing his finance chair position and aldermanic powers for personal gain.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Ed Burke

Report: Chicago area most corrupt in America

By Dylan Sharkey

11/07/2023

Chicago is the most corrupt metropolitan area in America for the fourth consecutive year and Illinois is the second-most corrupt state, according to a new report from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Corruption can cost Illinois taxpayers up to $550 million per year.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption

Former AFSCME boss admits to embezzling $200,000 in union dues

By Patrick Andriesen

04/14/2023

A former Alton labor union president pleaded guilty to transporting thousands of dollars in stolen member dues across state lines to gamble and pay for personal expenses.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

4 of Illinois’ past 10 governors went to prison

By Hannah Schmid

04/11/2022

Four of the past 10 former Illinois governors are among the public officials who have been convicted of offenses in Illinois. The state needs stricter ethics reforms to change its culture of corruption.

TAGS: corruption, governors, Illinois, prison

Above the law: Amendment 1 would let government unions void over 350 Illinois laws

By Mailee Smith, Perry Zhao

04/05/2022

Amendment 1 would allow government unions to nullify hundreds of Illinois statutes – including laws aimed at protecting school children – simply by contradicting them in union contracts.

Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities

By Mailee Smith

04/21/2021

Both police reform advocates and law enforcement supporters face the same serious obstacle in Illinois: police union contracts include provisions protecting officers from discipline. Those contracts carry more weight than state law.

United States Department of Justice

Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan asks President Trump for pardon

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

Madigan is latest as Illinois averages 1 corruption conviction a week – for 40 years

Upward mobility tougher in Illinois than in rest of Midwest, most of U.S.

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

Report: Chicago area most corrupt in America

Former AFSCME boss admits to embezzling $200,000 in union dues

4 of Illinois’ past 10 governors went to prison

Above the law: Amendment 1 would let government unions void over 350 Illinois laws

Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities

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