La jueza Diane Gordon Cannon es criticada por sus arrebatos verbales, su inclinación a favor de la fiscalía, y por encarcelar a personas en libertad condicional por infracciones que a veces son menores.
Casey Toner
Casey Toner, a Chicago native, has been an Illinois Answers reporter since 2016, taking the lead on numerous projects about criminal justice and politics. His series on police shootings in suburban Cook County resulted in a state law requiring procedural investigations of all police shootings in Illinois. Before he joined Illinois Answers, he wrote for the Daily Southtown and was a statewide reporter for Alabama Media Group, a consortium of Alabama newspapers. Outside of work, he enjoys watching soccer and writing music.
Posted inFollow-Up, 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.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
‘It’s A Fixed Cost. That’s All I Ask’: A Politician’s Pitch For Campaign Cash
While seeking a tax break from Cook County, a suburban factory owner says he felt pressured into contributing to a county commissioner’s campaign fund.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Federal Probe in Lyons Includes Businesses Intertwined with Mayor
The list of businesses whose records were seized last month include video gambling machine operator Rick Heidner with a potentially lucrative deal from Lyons to fix up a vacant strip mall.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Search Warrant Shows Feds Focused on Lyons Mayor, Developer Who Built His House
Sweeping document — released after the village was sued — sought records highlighted in previous BGA investigation, nearby quarry and even the mayor’s home security system.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Federal Agents Raid Lyons Village Hall
The raid followed previous BGA coverage of nepotism and cozy deals involving Mayor Chris Getty. Agents also visited village halls in neighboring McCook and Summit.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Spiral of Decline Heavy Burden for Homeowners
In Cook County suburbs, home values are collapsing while property taxes are up.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Lyons Delays Unusual Tax Break For Mayoral Donor
Following BGA story, suburb tentatively hits brakes on tax increment financing district that would have benefited campaign contributor to Mayor Chris Getty.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Small Town Government, Chicago-style Politics
Lyons’ mayor, son of the former town boss who went to prison, is building clout in the western suburbs amid claims of cozy deals, including the purchase of his own house.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Emanuel Decries Police Code of Silence. But City-Paid Expert Says It Doesn’t Exist.
An expert witness hired by the Emanuel administration has disputed in several lawsuits the existence of a code of silence among Chicago police to thwart misconduct allegations. The mayor claimed the opposite in the wake of the Laquan McDonald shooting.