Chicago’s tough-talking mayor is known for charging headfirst into politics in his 20s, but teaching preschoolers? We weren’t familiar with that one.
Follow-Up
Fact-Check: No, Chicagoland Isn’t the Only Metro Area Losing Residents
Mayoral hopeful Lori Lightfoot said Chicago is the only “metropolitan area” in the nation losing population, a claim that wins her no points for clarity and skirts the edge of credibility.
Fact-Check: Blago Op-ed Falsely Claims He is in Prison for ‘Practicing Politics’
Illinois’ former governor once expressed remorse for misdeeds, but years in prison have him lashing out in print at the federal agents who put him there for allegedly criminalizing normal political conduct. His own words and actions belie the claim.
Police Shooting Bill Goes To Governor’s Desk
Legislation passes the Illinois House after a BGA/WBEZ investigation exposed how suburban police were not disciplined despite questionable shootings.
NAACP Official Asks Rauner’s Environmental Agency to Help Black Communities
The leader of the prominent African-American group in Illinois says too much Volkswagen settlement money is going toward wrong projects.
Fact-Check: Rauner Says Texas Is More Union Job Friendly Than Illinois
The governor contends manufacturing workers have a better chance of finding union jobs in Texas than in Illinois, despite the Prairie State’s more union-friendly policies. His numbers add up, but don’t quite prove his point.
Fact-Check: Is the ACLU Really to Blame for Chicago’s Murder Spike?
Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently cited an academic study that claims a surge in deadly violence in Chicago was caused by ACLU pressure to end the city’s stop-and-frisk policing policy. Experts say the study is flawed and ignores other critical factors.
Vallas, Emanuel Point Fingers Over Chicago Teacher Pension Freefall
In just a few decades, the bottom line at the retirement fund for Chicago teachers sunk from healthy to sickly. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a possible re-election rival, former schools CEO Paul Vallas, are now trading shots over which of them is to blame.
Rauner’s EPA Does About-face and Will Hold Public Meetings on Volkswagen Money
The move follows criticism that decisions about how to spend $109 million from the auto company’s settlement were being made with big business in secret.
Police Shooting Bill On Fast-track Because It Changes Little
A BGA/WBEZ probe revealed suburban police are never disciplined for shooting people despite dozens of questionable incidents. Legislation to address the problem is meeting little resistance in Springfield but imposes only minor reforms.
