Explainer Mayor Lightfoot Promised to Spend More Money on Students in Need. Will 2020 Be the Year? Dec 11, 2019 9:30 AM 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.
Investigation Lightfoot’s Actions on Environmental Campaign Promises Are Off to a Slow Start Chicago mayor says budget constraints have cooled her ambitious plans. Her 2020 budget includes no new funding for additional pollution inspectors. Dec 5, 2019 6:00 AM
Investigation Trump Rolls Back EPA Oversight in Midwest, Favoring Polluters EPA inspections and staff levels plunge in the Chicago regional office as regulations are abandoned and policy favors job creation over clean air and water. The Midwest is among the areas hit hardest by the cutbacks, with inspections down 60% since Trump took office. Updated: Nov 18, 2019 @ 10:30 AM
Investigation ComEd Kept Paying Madigan Confidant After Retirement Announcement The power company paid $361,000 in 2017 and 2018 to a clout-heavy ex-lobbyist whose home was raided by the feds in May. Nov 13, 2019 9:54 AM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: Ives Wrongly Calls Casten’s Public Town Halls ‘Invite-Only’ In an attack on Democratic Rep. Sean Casten, the GOP congressional hopeful suggested Casten limits access to his public events. Her own evidence belies that claim. Dec 5, 2019 3:00 PM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: Evidence Lacking for Pritzker’s Pension Buyout Claim The governor said a study estimated the state’s pension buyout program could save up to $25 billion, but his office won’t provide the “proprietary” study. Nov 24, 2019 2:00 PM
From Our President Greising: The Culture of Corruption in Illinois Won’t End Easily November 15, 2019
From Our President Greising | Lightfoot to Pritzker on Pensions: It's Your Move Updated: November 11, 2019
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: Dec 4, 2019 @ 10:00 AM
Perspective Dillon: Don’t Count on Illinois Lawmakers to fix Weak Ethics Laws. Gov. J.B. Pritzker Needs to take Charge November 11, 2019
What the Gov What The Gov: What Does It Mean To Have Six Democratic Socialists on the Chicago City Council? July 2, 2019
Press Release BGA Joins Six Other Chicago Newsrooms to Examine Mayor Lightfoot’s First Year November 20, 2019
Press Release BGA Investigations Win Emmy, Award from Chicago Journalists Association November 18, 2019
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 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
Explainer Latest Pension Play Is No Guaranteed Fix If Illinois’ Constitution prevents lawmakers from curbing rising pension costs, then change the Constitution, advocates say. But experts warn a voter-approved rewrite may lead to a lengthy legal challenge and end, once again, without a permanent solution. Jun 26, 2019 6:30 AM
Explainer Poor Left, Rich Thrived When Illinois Hiked Flat Tax As Illinois debates whether to raise taxes on the rich, IRS data show better off tax filers stayed put when flat tax rates jumped a few years ago despite fears so called job creators would leave the state to avoid paying the increase. Apr 8, 2019 5:00 AM
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
Follow-Up Federal Probe in Lyons Includes Businesses Intertwined with Mayor The list of businesses whose records were seized last month include video gambling machine operator Rick Heidner with a potentially lucrative deal from Lyons to fix up a vacant strip mall. Nov 4, 2019 1:49 PM
Follow-Up Search Warrant Shows Feds Focused on Lyons Mayor, Developer Who Built His House Sweeping document — released after the village was sued — sought records highlighted in previous BGA investigation, nearby quarry and even the mayor's home security system. Oct 15, 2019 10:54 PM
