Investigation Illinois Poorly Prepared for Flood of Unemployment Claims Oct 16, 2020 6:00 AM A neglected Department of Employment Security was suffering severe staffing shortages even before more than 2 million jobless claims swamped the agency during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Investigation State Lax in Enforcing Law Meant to Track, Support Minority-owned Businesses Illinois three years ago began requiring firms getting tax breaks through a state jobs program to report how much they spent with minority- and women-owned vendors. But it has turned into little more than a bureaucratic paper shuffle that collects little useful information. Sep 29, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation As Chicago Scrambled in Early Days of Coronavirus, Political Ties Helped Win No-Bid Contracts Dick Durbin’s top campaign staffer used his connections to help an Addison-based furniture company become City Hall’s top supplier of COVID-19 medical gear. Sep 22, 2020 2:00 PM
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
PolitiFact Fact-Check: No, Underwood Did Not Call Riots ‘Beautiful’ U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood’s GOP challenger is out with an ad that uses a clip of the congresswoman talking about protests for racial justice to inaccurately suggest she supports violence. Oct 11, 2020 2:00 PM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: Will Large and Small Illinois Businesses Pay More Under the Graduated Tax Plan? The wealthiest small business owners in Illinois will pay more taxes if voters approve the proposal. But they won’t see any more of an increase than their counterparts in other professions. Oct 4, 2020 2:00 PM
Analysis The BGA's Ethics Agenda: Let’s Get Serious About Ending Corruption in Illinois Updated: October 6, 2020
From Our President Greising: Here’s a Welcome Twist — Chicago City Council Stands Tough on Lobbying Rule October 16, 2020
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. Updated: Sep 30, 2020 @ 8:30 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 Lightfoot Defends City’s Actions on Little Village Smokestack Demolition: ‘I Don’t Believe We Were Negligent’ During a virtual town hall as part of “Lens on Lightfoot” event, mayor maintains developer is at fault but vows such an incident won’t happen again. Sep 29, 2020 9:46 PM
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
