Mapping a way to term limits

By Austin Berg

07/29/2016

More than 60 percent of Illinois’ state legislative races in 2016 will be uncontested.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, term limits

Prohibition, prostitution and Chicago’s mini-fiefdoms

By Austin Berg

07/01/2016

A principle once invoked to shake down speakeasies is now used to pick winners and losers in a city desperate for opportunity.

TAGS: aldermanic privilege, Chicago, Dick Simpson, Edward “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, John “Bathhouse” Coughlin, Johnny “Da Pow” Powers, permits, regulations, Thomas Gradel

Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis

By John Klingner

04/27/2016

Illinois’ public colleges and universities used to be affordable, but schools have increased tuition from 74-112 percent over the last decade to help pay for administrative hiring sprees and skyrocketing pensions.

TAGS: higher education, pensions, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Illinoisans have nation’s lowest trust in state government by far

By Austin Berg

02/19/2016

New polling data show nearly 3 in 4 Illinoisans lack confidence in Springfield.

TAGS: corruption, Gallup

Pensions vs. higher education

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/04/2016

Skyrocketing pensions, bloated administrations are pricing students out of college degrees

Chicago set to make ‘chilling’ change to city ethics rules

By Austin Berg

07/28/2015

The proposed change in city code would further tilt the scales in favor of the politically powerful, as they could be granted full knowledge regarding the investigation on their wrongdoing, including information on who brought the case to light.

Who’s afraid of term limits?

By Austin Berg

06/02/2015

Illinois and Chicago should make career lawmakers a thing of the past.

TAGS: term limits

Corruption Watch: April 2015

By Shawn Tonge

05/08/2015

April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.

TAGS: good government

Corruption Watch: January 2015

By Shawn Tonge

02/11/2015

The start of a new year always comes with resolutions for improvement, but only time will tell if they translate into effective action.

TAGS: good government

Tribune investigation exposes Emanuel patronage politics

By Austin Berg

02/07/2015

Research found more than half of the mayor’s top 100 donors benefitted from city government, “receiving contracts, zoning changes, business permits, pension work, board appointments, regulatory help or some other tangible benefit.”

TAGS: Chicago, election, mayor, patronage, Rahm Emanuel

University of Illinois Chicago

Mapping a way to term limits

Prohibition, prostitution and Chicago’s mini-fiefdoms

Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis

Illinoisans have nation’s lowest trust in state government by far

Pensions vs. higher education

Chicago set to make ‘chilling’ change to city ethics rules

Who’s afraid of term limits?

Corruption Watch: April 2015

Corruption Watch: January 2015

Tribune investigation exposes Emanuel patronage politics

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