PolitiFact Fact-Check: No Link Between Fake IDs Seized at O'Hare and Voter Fraud Sep 10, 2020 2:00 PM A viral Facebook post claims nearly 20,000 fake state driver's licenses seized at O'Hare International Airport were all for voters registered as Democrats. But the counterfeit IDs have not been linked to Democrats or voter fraud in any way.
Investigation Chicago’s Push to Buy Computers for Remote Learning Hit Snags. New Challenges Await This Fall. Illinois districts face looming tech costs, fiscal uncertainty. Aug 28, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Top Legislators Blowing Past Limits in Illinois Campaign Finance Reform Law Democrats violate the spirit of a law they authored. Republicans take advantage of loopholes in legislation they opposed. Both sides reap millions from big-money contributors and dole out cash to favored legislative candidates. Aug 7, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Police Shootings in Suburbs Seldom Scrutinized or Punished The debate over police actions, tactics and discipline may seem like a big-city problem, but in the Cook County suburbs high-profile cases show a pattern of no discipline or criminal charges for officers. Jul 31, 2020 6:00 AM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: No, USPS Isn’t Operating With a Multibillion Dollar Surplus U.S. Representative Darin LaHood said he voted against legislation to infuse the postal service with $25 billion because the agency is operating with “a $12 billion surplus.” But USPS has operated at a net loss since 2007. Sep 6, 2020 2:00 PM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: No, an Illinois Couple Who Received Five Vote-by-mail Applications Cannot Vote Five Times. A viral Facebook post incorrectly asserts an Illinois couple who received multiple unsolicited ballot applications can ask for them all and fraudulently vote with them all. They cannot, and neither can anyone else. Aug 18, 2020 6:00 AM
From Our President It’s All Doom and Gloom in Illinois — but We Do Have the Power to Fix Some of Our Problems September 18, 2020
Analysis The BGA's Ethics Agenda: Let’s Get Serious About Ending Corruption in Illinois September 8, 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: Sep 14, 2020 @ 1:30 AM
What the Gov What the Gov: Cook County Property Taxpayers Have Two Extra Months to Pay Their Bills June 8, 2020
What the Gov What the Gov: Will Illinois Implement Program Aimed at Avoiding Layoffs Amid COVID-19? June 1, 2020
Press Release Better Government Association Puts Forth Agenda for Illinois Ethics Reform September 9, 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. Updated: Aug 19, 2020 @ 12:00 PM
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 Madigan at Center of Federal Case Against ComEd Criminal case against utility giant follows more than a year of reporting, including by the BGA, about the federal investigation. Jul 17, 2020 2:04 PM
Follow-Up City Releases Eddie Johnson Video and Documents Following BGA Lawsuit Video shows Johnson apparently asleep behind the wheel before two officers approach his vehicle and ask if he's OK. The BGA sued the city last year to release the records pertaining to the incident that ultimately led to Johnson's firing. Jun 29, 2020 5:18 PM
Follow-Up ‘Only Time Will Tell’ If Lightfoot’s Sustainability Czar Can Move the Needle on Environmental Justice The mayor has finally appointed a policy adviser to help guide the city through its environmental challenges. Activists say her pick seems right, but wonder how much of a difference the appointment will make. Jun 25, 2020 6:00 AM
