Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law today a bill that put an end to the state’s scandal-tainted legislative scholarship program. The BGA’s policy unit was instrumental in the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of the bill.
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Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Cops to Review Teen’s Database Access
The Illinois State Police runs a law enforcement database with sensitive information about drivers and criminal suspects. After BGA inquiries, the agency now plans to “look into” whether the teenage son of DuPage County’s sheriff was misusing the system.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Public Housing’s Inside Man
Firm owned by Cook County’s former public housing chief, Elzie Higginbottom, wins a $3.2 million contract from a nonprofit created by the agency he once led. But that’s not the only conflict-of-interest question being raised by a BGA/NBC5 investigation.
Posted inLegal
BGA Sues DuPage County Sheriff for Violating Freedom of Information Law
Lawsuit Seeks Records Linked to DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba’s Son’s Access to Sensitive Police Computer Data.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Salaries Rise at PBC While Image Falls
Public Building Commission – a public agency tasked with helping the city and county with construction – doles out big raises to employees, as other embarrassments surface.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Sheriff Gives Teenage Son Access To Police Database
DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba not only let his high school-aged son go on ride-alongs with deputies and participate in arrests, the teen was given access to a confidential police database containing information on all licensed drivers in Illinois. The BGA is suing to find out whose data was accessed.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
When in Doubt, Remap Them Out
A year after running unsuccessfully for alderman, dozens of politically active Chicagoans find themselves remapped into different wards, a sign that political powerbrokers are looking after themselves instead of residents.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Thieves Target City Equipment
While municipal facilities are plundered in Chicago – with crooks making off with everything from truck wheels to tools and rolls of costly copper wire – bureaucrats struggle to answer: Why is security so bad?
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Daley’s “Insecurity Detail” Doesn’t Add Up for Taxpayers
Ex-Mayor Richard M. Daley kept his police chauffeur-bodyguards after retiring last year – quite the expense for taxpayers, and quite the perk for him. Which raises a question: why isn’t Daley paying taxes on this “unearned income?”
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Hey Lansing, Why Wait? Take Public Pension Cure
The Village of Lansing knows there’s a big problem with the way it’s awarding some public pensions. Lansing’s leaders just need to show some courage and fix it.