Investigation Police Shootings in Suburbs Seldom Scrutinized or Punished Jul 31, 2020 6:00 AM 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.
Investigation Lawmakers in Hot Water With Feds Get Campaign Cash That Helps Pay Defense Lawyers In one of his last acts, now-retired Illinois Senate President John Cullerton OK’d sending nearly $100,000 to two state senators under federal investigation. May 22, 2020 5:30 AM
Investigation Needle Exchange Programs Cutting Back During Coronavirus Crisis Programs started in the 1980s to slow the spread of the HIV epidemic are now scaling back because of COVID-19, a move some experts say could create a new challenge in fighting the deadly outbreak. May 7, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Even Before Federal COVID-19 Rescue Checks Arrive, Illinois Schools Spend Tens of Millions on Technology Despite push, some students still lack devices, and some districts aren’t providing data about who’s logging on. May 6, 2020 3:00 PM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: It’s Not Against the Law to Carry a Firearm While Wearing a Face Mask False claims being shared on social media trace back to a longstanding Illinois prohibition on individuals carrying a firearm while wearing a face covering to conceal their identity. Jul 9, 2020 6:00 AM
PolitiFact Fact-Check: Attack Ad Wrongly Claims Pritzker Hiked Politicians’ Pay During Pandemic A TV ad from a local right-wing group says the governor “gave huge pay raises” to politicians this year. While it’s possible state lawmakers could sue to receive an increase, that’s not because of Pritzker. Jul 3, 2020 6:00 AM
From Our President Greising: Michael Madigan Is in the Crosshairs, But We Can’t Let ComEd, ICC Slip from View July 23, 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: Jul 30, 2020 @ 2:30 PM
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 Appellate Court Sides With BGA Over City Officials' Public Communications on Private Accounts August 6, 2020
Press Release Event Recap | 2020 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting July 14, 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 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
