What the Gov What the Gov: How Are Governments Navigating Open Meetings in the Coronavirus Era? Apr 7, 2020 4:18 PM To keep social distancing rules in place, Pritzker waived requirements that public bodies meet in person. What are they still required to do to make sure the public has access and can have their voices heard?
Investigation Was Boeing’s Chicago Deal Worth the Taxpayer Cost? The gold rush among corporations to demand expensive public help in underwriting development and jobs got a kick-start when tax incentives enticed Boeing to move its headquarters to Chicago. Apr 3, 2020 7:00 AM
Investigation Lightfoot Pushing to Make TIFs More Equitable but Changes Lacking for Critics She’s Tried to Win Over Chicago’s mayor has long-promised to reform how special tax funds are spent on private projects. Her first move is a step but isn’t big enough for some. Mar 30, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Coronavirus Crippling Chicago’s Census Outreach Effort Mayor Lori Lightfoot, already worried about the city losing billions of dollars in the 2020 headcount, worked to boost participation in undercounted communities. Now COVID-19 is creating a major new hurdle. Mar 23, 2020 3:05 PM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: No, the Coronavirus Did Not Cause the Death Rate to Drop in Chicago A Facebook post shared over 2,000 times claimed that COVID-19 lowered the death rate in Chicago. But an analysis of cases from the Cook County medical examiner suggests the opposite. Apr 3, 2020 1:30 PM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: No, Illinois Isn't Banning Alcohol Sales As Part of Coronavirus Response False claims that Gov. J.B. Pritzker is halting alcohol sales in Illinois originated on a prank page that is being shared on social media. Mar 30, 2020 5:30 PM
From Our President Greising: Behind the Race to Fight COVID-19, Can Illinois Keep Its Finances in Order? April 3, 2020
From Our President Greising: Gov. Pritzker Steps up in Face of Coronavirus Crisis. Similarly Bold Leadership Would Help Solve Illinois’ Other Problems. March 20, 2020
Featured Analysis How's Mayor Lori Lightfoot Doing? We're Keeping Track. If you’re keeping score (we are), here’s how Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s actions measure up against the BGA agenda published after her election. Updated: Mar 26, 2020 @ 3:00 PM
Perspective Dillon: To Break the Cycle of Ethical Failure, Fix the Legislative Oversight System February 18, 2020
What the Gov What the Gov: Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Affect Your Property Tax Bills? April 2, 2020
What the Gov What the Gov: Can People Still Transport Dogs and Cats for Fostering or Adoption in Illinois? April 1, 2020
Press Release RESCHEDULED: 2020 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting Updated: March 26, 2020
Press Release Others Join BGA in Suing Chicago Over Records Involving Former Police Supt. Eddie Johnson January 28, 2020
Database Illinois Public Salaries Database Review, explore and compare compensation for public employees throughout Illinois. Oct 30, 2018 12:00 AM
Database Illinois Public Pensions Database Follow the money paid to retired public-sector employees throughout Illinois. Nov 15, 2019 12:27 AM
Explainer Get Ready, Illinois: Pritzker’s Tax Plan Looks to Become the Biggest Ballot Measure in State History Is it a “fair tax” or a “blank check?” Those will be two of the opposing messages Illinois voters will hear between now and November over the governor’s proposal to flip the state from a flat income tax rate to a graduated one. Updated: Mar 19, 2020 @ 11:42 AM
Explainer Mayor Lightfoot Promised to Spend More Money on Students in Need. Will 2020 Be the Year? Chicago schools with more students who face increased challenges need more resources, but funding has stayed the same per-pupil for years. Now the city is examining how to divvy up money differently as school enrollment declines. Dec 11, 2019 9:30 AM
Explainer Lightfoot’s Effort To Scale Back Aldermanic Prerogative a Work in Progress Lori Lightfoot vowed to put an end to aldermanic prerogative on inauguration day. But the basis for the practice giving aldermen a veto over ward issues will take more than a few strokes of a pen for her to undo. Nov 20, 2019 9:04 AM
Follow-Up Student Protesters Demand Lightfoot Live Up To Campaign Promises on Environmental Protection Members of several youth groups protested outside the mayor’s City Hall offices to call for Lightfoot to reinstate a city department of environment to fight pollution and address climate change. Feb 28, 2020 3:57 PM
Follow-Up Chicago Aldermen Call for Hearings Into Failing City Recycling Programs Citing an investigation by the BGA that revealed systemic failures in Chicago’s Blue Cart recycling program, aldermen demand public examination aimed at improving the city’s worst-in-the-nation programs. Updated: Feb 19, 2020 @ 6:57 PM
Follow-Up CDC To Review Air Pollution Near East St. Louis, Duckworth Says Illinois senator asked for assessment of toxic releases from Veolia plant, a site profiled in a recent BGA story about President Trump’s diminished EPA. Nov 20, 2019 4:00 PM
