After the BGA, the Chicago Sun-Times and others exposed repeated abuses in how Illinois legislators award college tuition waivers — and following an aggressive lobbying campaign by the BGA policy team — the General Assembly votes to end the decades-old program, which had been costing taxpayers more than $13 million a year. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to soon sign the bill into
Follow-Up
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Cop Assigned to Private Building in Loop
There aren’t enough officers in high-crime neighborhoods, but the Chicago Police Department has a full-time cop at the Merchandise Mart, a low-crime office building long run by the Kennedy family. How busy is the officer? In three years, he’s made no arrests.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
PUBLIC HOUSING OFFICIAL STEPS DOWN
Following inquiries from the BGA about his private companies doing business with the government agency that he was leading, Cook County Housing Authority board Chairman Elzie Higginbottom resigns and, to avoid a possible conflict of interest, the agency changes the way Section 8 vouchers are handled for buildings run by his firms.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Really Bad Judgment
DuPage County Board members rip sheriff for letting teenage son play cop, go on ride-alongs with on-duty deputies.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
STATE’S ATTORNEY COP RESIGNS, OFFICIALS VOW REFORM
An investigator for Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez resigned after being caught on camera by FOX Chicago and the BGA spending work hours at a Bridgeport cigar shop. Alvarez’s aides promised better oversight in the 130-person investigative bureau.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
City Bureaucracy Turns Spigot, Drip Returns
After getting fired for allowing friends to bypass Midway Airport’s security checkpoint so they wouldn’t miss a flight, a city worker gets his taxpayer-funded job back, and now is making $84,000 a year with Chicago’s water department.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Cigar Time On County Dime
Investigator for Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez whiles away his work hours in a Bridgeport cigar shop that has a curious clientele.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Sheriff’s Teenage Son Allowed to Play Cop
While still in high school, DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba’s son was allowed to dress and act like a deputy – including chasing a suspect.
Posted inFollow-Up, Legal, Results & Reforms
DUPAGE COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS CALL ON SHERIFF JOHN ZARUBA TO SUSPEND RIDE-ALONGS
After the BGA and CBS2 found the teenage son of DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba playing cop, including participating in attempted arrests and chases, County Board members demand a halt to police “ride-alongs” pending a review of the program.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Koschman Case Gets Special Prosecutor
Judge appoints high-powered Chicago attorney to probe how David Koschman died – and whether police and prosecutors rigged the case to ensure the alleged assailant, a nephew of then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, wouldn’t face criminal charges.