Located on prime real estate and raking in huge profits, owners of Des Plaines casino argue their property isn’t so valuable, and the Board of Review agrees – leading to sizable tax cut.
Sandy Bergo
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Cited For Safety, Company Still Wins Juicy City Contracts
A sewer and excavation firm is accused of serious workplace safety violations, and still garners tens of millions of dollars in work from Emanuel administration.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Illinois Pols Grease Legislation For Pipeline Welders
Just-passed measure removes restrictions on the number of hours pipeline welders can work, travel. But critics worry about the safety of U.S. roads.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Railroads And Deep Ties To Illinois Pols
Railroad PACs donate big money to campaign funds of members of Congress from Illinois, who have a powerful voice in regulating the industry.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Ex-Congressmen Work As “Consultants” For Special Interests
Designation means they don’t have to register as lobbyists, publicly disclose clients or adhere to revolving-door limits.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Park Grill’s Lease Bites Taxpayers Again – At Midway
Court ruling that allows Millennium Park eatery to avoid property taxes is used to justify huge tax breaks for a clout-heavy concessionaire at Midway Airport.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Congressman’s Decisions Benefit Dad’s Lobby Clients
Lobbyist Bill Lipinski earns millions from clients who also are getting aid from his son, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Media Exec Bailed Out Congressman’s Church
Joseph Stroud’s company paid the electric bill for the Chicago church run by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush – who has gone to bat for Stroud in Congress.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Campaign Donor Covered Salary For Congressman’s Niece
Politically connected airport contractor paid salary of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s niece, allegedly for her job at the South Side church run by the congressman.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Valerie Jarrett Works To Close Tax Loophole – While Benefitting From It
Top Obama advisor was tasked with helping kill controversial income tax perk used by the “wealthy and well-connected.” Yet she made a killing on a Chicago real estate deal by enlisting the benefit.