PolitiFact Fact-Check: Lightfoot Spreads Rumor That Police Union Told Cops Not to Police Jun 9, 2019 2:00 PM Following a bloody Memorial Day weekend, Chicago’s new mayor shared an unverified rumor that the union representing thousands of rank-and-file officers may have told cops not to perform their sworn duties.
Investigation Small Town Government, Chicago-style Politics Lyons’ mayor, son of the former town boss who went to prison, is building clout in the western suburbs amid claims of cozy deals, including the purchase of his own house. May 22, 2019 9:00 PM
Investigation In Illinois, Cars And Trucks Top Coal As Biggest Global Warming Contributor Drivers, Amazon deliveries and Uber rides are now the biggest source of greenhouse gases, presenting a new challenge for policy. May 19, 2019 6:00 AM
Investigation How Many Of Chicago's 77,000 Big Buildings Recycle? Nobody Knows. Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to take recycling to Chicago's high-rises and commercial buildings has fallen short because of lax enforcement and a series of bureaucratic snafus. May 8, 2019 6:00 AM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: No, Pritzker-like Tax Rates Did Not Drive Wealthy From New York The number of New York filers with income over $200,000 has increased every year since that state raised rates on top earnings to levels similar to those Illinois lawmakers are considering. May 30, 2019 6:00 AM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: Pritzker’s Latest Sweeping Tax Claim Falls Flat Many graduated-tax states have outpaced Illinois’ economic growth in recent years. So has nearly every other flat-tax state. May 19, 2019 2:00 PM
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. Jun 13, 2019 5:00 PM
Perspective Dillon: Clear City Ethics Rules and Bigger Penalties for Scofflaws? Yes, Please. June 6, 2019
Perspective Dillon: Lawmakers Should Seek Reasonable Registration Bump for Electric Vehicles May 21, 2019
What the Gov What the Gov: What Do The Mayoral Candidates Have to Say About The Environment? March 28, 2019
Press Release Event Recap | 2019 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards For Investigative Reporting May 23, 2019
Press Release BGA Wins Journalism Award for Suburban Police Shooting Series Produced With WBEZ May 16, 2019
Database Illinois Public Salaries Database Review, explore and compare compensation for public employees throughout Illinois. Oct 30, 2018 12:00 AM
Database Pension Database Follow the money paid to retired public-sector employees throughout Illinois. Updated: May 24, 2017 @ 6:00 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
Explainer Millennials and Market Saturation Raise Doubts About New Casino Push Talk of new Chicago and Downstate casinos is resurfacing among politicians as an answer to government fiscal woes. But casino revenue is off sharply from its heights, and the industry is struggling to attract younger gamblers. Feb 6, 2019 2:00 PM
Explainer Path Not Easy for Pritzker’s Tax-the-Rich Plan There is often a disconnect between tax policies voters say they back and those they vote for. That’s the dilemma facing Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker, who says he wants to amend the state constitution to allow for a graduated tax that will increase the burden on the wealthy. Dec 13, 2018 6:00 AM
Follow-Up Chicago Ethics Board Fines Ald. Ed Burke for ‘Improper Influence’ Prompted by a Better Government Association/WBEZ investigation, the city’s ethics watchdog hits Burke for $2k fine. May 3, 2019 6:00 AM
Follow-Up As Emanuel Exits, Efforts Growing at City Hall to Revive Environment Department The mayor eliminated environmental enforcement office to cut costs, which a recent BGA investigation revealed resulted in declines in inspections and citations. Now both potential successors support bringing the department back as support builds in City Council. Mar 22, 2019 6:00 AM
Follow-Up Judge Approves CPS Paying $4M to Family of Teen With Autism Who Drowned in School Pool The Chicago school district also is paying out more than $100,000 to a special education teacher who says he lost his job after raising concerns about special ed staffing issues at the same Southwest Side high school. Feb 22, 2019 12:00 PM
