Municipalities must recognize the danger of the local debt crisis and use it as an opportunity to regain control of their finances and fate.
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Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Municipalities’ New Frontier: Ending Local Debt Disaster
“When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters-one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.” — President John F. Kennedy
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Forest Preserve Probe Blooms, But Not Everyone Feels The Gloom
As FBI joins contract-steering investigation of DuPage County Forest Preserve District, the outgoing boss who supervised the employees at the center of the scandal is given $50,000 bonus.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Special Investigation: Public Debt Crisis Hits Home Town, Illinois
A BGA Rescuing Illinois investigation finds a flood of red ink is crashing over Chicago-area suburbs, threatening to sweep away basic government-backed services and support while also dramatically altering the very standard of living that makes many of them desirable places to live, work and raise families.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Did Global Financial Scandal Hit Home?
State, county and local public finance experts are exploring the impact of the British-based LIBOR scandal on government bonds, pensions and investments.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
LAWMAKER SUBPOENAED OVER LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
Federal prosecutors seek records on state Rep. Dan Burke after a BGA/Sun-Times investigation raises questions about how he awarded taxpayer-subsidized college tuition waivers to the daughter of his former secretary.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Another Lawmaker Subpoenaed for Scholarship Records
Prosecutors look into state Rep. Dan Burke after a BGA/Sun-Times investigation raises questions about how he awarded taxpayer-subsidized college tuition waivers.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
City Ambulance Confusion Delays Treatment for Wounded Man
The Better Government Association and CBS 2 report on the case of a stabbing victim whose care, according to sources, was botched and postponed.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Legislative Scholarships Ending but Lawmaker Abuse Lives On
Forty state lawmakers gave 120 scholarships to individuals living outside of their districts, based on a BGA review of legislative district maps and interviews with city and county election officials.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Cash Poor Yet Clout Heavy
Some lawmakers claimed that legislative scholarships went to students who couldn’t afford college, but nearly one in every 10 scholarships went to politically active families – who collectively gave more than $1.6 million to state lawmakers and other politicians.