Illinois House speaker gets $40M sports complex for alma mater

By Lauren Zuar

11/26/2025

Backroom deals produced lots of pork in the state budget, including a $40-million sports complex at the Illinois House speaker’s alma mater.

TAGS: budget, taxes

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

By Joe Tabor

09/26/2024

Published Sept. 26, 2024 Illinois is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Over a third of residents are considered “burdened” by housing costs, meaning they pay over 30% of their income on costs related to housing. That is a greater portion of residents burdened by housing than any other state in the Midwest....

What does it take to get a building permit in Chicago?

By Joe Tabor

06/20/2024

Chicago lags behind other cities in housing affordability. The city’s permitting process could be holding it back.

TAGS: construction, housing

Chicago aldermen call timeout on sports betting over casino worries

By Dylan Sharkey

12/09/2021

Aldermen are worried sports betting taxes will yield chump change while damaging the prospects for new casinos in Chicago. They are calling for a delay in the action.

TAGS: casino, Chicago, sports betting

What you need to know about Illinois’ gambling expansion

06/13/2019

Answers to frequently asked questions about new casinos and sports betting in Illinois.

TAGS: gambling, sports betting, sports gambling

Cubs, Bulls and Bears games eligible for in-person sports betting under new law

06/04/2019

New change in law paves the way for sports betting at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, and the United Center, among other venues.

TAGS: gambling, sports betting, sports gambling, United Center, Wrigley Field

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

08/08/2018

Thirty years ago Aug. 8, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under lights at Wrigley Field – after first battling Chicago politicians for the right to do so.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Edward “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, ISFA: Illinois Sports Facility Authority, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, Tom Tunney

Rahm denies Cubs night game request, continues long-standing city feud

07/28/2017

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has emphatically denied the Cubs’ request for more night games at Wrigley Field – continuing the decades-old hostile relationship between the team and city government.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Rahm Emanuel, regulations

Rosemont to build taxpayer-funded baseball stadium

05/24/2017

The village of Rosemont is moving forward on a $60 million taxpayer-funded baseball stadium.

TAGS: budget, cronyism, Rosemont, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Madigan has spent nearly $170,000 in campaign funds on baseball tickets in 2017

04/19/2017

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan reportedly uses his large quantity of Cubs and White Sox tickets as gifts for his political volunteers, but his history with professional sports teams in Chicago isn’t so generous.

TAGS: Chicago Cubs, Mike Madigan

Wrigley Field

Illinois House speaker gets $40M sports complex for alma mater

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

What does it take to get a building permit in Chicago?

Chicago aldermen call timeout on sports betting over casino worries

What you need to know about Illinois’ gambling expansion

Cubs, Bulls and Bears games eligible for in-person sports betting under new law

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

Rahm denies Cubs night game request, continues long-standing city feud

Rosemont to build taxpayer-funded baseball stadium

Madigan has spent nearly $170,000 in campaign funds on baseball tickets in 2017

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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