Burke, the longest-serving alderman in Chicago history, is accused of using his position as alderman to illegally seek business for his private law firm. The questionable intersection between Burke’s public and private roles was the focus of a recent BGA/WBEZ investigation.
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Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Illinois Parents, Drivers, Employees — Know These New Laws For 2019.
From rules of the road to school code requirements, here are some important laws that took effect in the New Year.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
The King of Recusals: How Ald. Ed Burke’s Private Law Business Intersects With His Public Power
Chicago’s longest-sitting alderman has recused himself 464 times in the last eight years, far more than all other aldermen combined. Following recent federal raids, questions of his conflicts of interest have arisen again.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Did Police Shootings Plunge Under McCarthy’s Leadership?
McCarthy, a Chicago mayoral candidate fired following the Laquan McDonald scandal, says that as police superintendent he oversaw a dramatic reduction in officer-involved shootings. His number is roughly accurate, but he stretches the facts by claiming total credit.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Lawmakers Introduced Nearly Two Hundred Bills With the Potential to Weaken Government Transparency
The BGA Policy Team finds that in just two years, nearly two hundred bills changing the Freedom of Information Act were assigned to as many as 40 committees in the Illinois General Assembly.
Posted inPerspectives, Policy
Leven: Will Chicago’s City Council Finally Put Responsibility for Compensating Injured City Workers in the City’s Hands?
Chicago is getting closer to running its injured workers program the right way.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: What’s Missing from Daley’s Property Tax Freeze Pledge
Daley is not promising to freeze property taxes overall, as his recent TV ad suggests. His freeze would apply only to taxes that directly fund city government, one-fourth of a typical Chicago tax bill.
Posted inWhat the Gov
What the Gov: We Know About the Mayor’s Race — What Else Is on The Ballot on Feb. 26?
Yes, there are offices up for election besides the crowded pool for Chicago mayor. And though you might not hear about these as often, voters should start taking note.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Trump’s Top 10 Falsehoods of 2018
PolitiFact National offers 10 “highlights” from the president’s 2018 record of false statements or exaggerations.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
PolitiFact’s 2018 Lie of the Year
PolitiFact National names the online smears against the students who survived the Parkland shooting as its Lie of the Year for 2018.