Municipal leaders in suburb get free access to a stadium suite during special events, including concerts and games.
Investigation
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Sticker Shock: Lofty Fees, Low Returns
The mammoth state teachers’ pension fund spent $1.3 billion for 10-years worth of financial expertise. Critics argue that’s way too high; Teachers Retirement System says it’s a cost of doing business.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Is a New Sheriff Coming to Your Town?
As talk of streamlining government intensifies in Cook County, the sheriff suggests that one way to save taxpayer money is for his police force to assume more policing duties from suburban departments.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Are Double-Dipping Days Over For Suburban Mayors?
New legal opinion says municipal leaders shouldn’t be allowed to simultaneously serve on county board. That’s worrying several political figures in DuPage and Cook counties – and it’s prompted legislation that would protect dual officeholders.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
City Watchdog to Get Sharper Teeth?
What happens if you lie to Chicago’s inspector general? Not a lot, it seems, if you’re a City Clerk employee who was investigated by the in-house watchdog for, among other things, allegedly keeping pornography on his work computer and then lying about it.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
“I Deserve Every Penny”
Oak Brook’s clout-heavy former police chief is unapologetic about benefitting from a taxpayer-funded pension sweetener quietly passed by the General Assembly in 2007.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
Does Obama Need Schooling on Scholarships?
Add President Barack Obama to the list of current and former Illinois lawmakers who may have violated the lone rule of the controversial legislative scholarship program: that the recipient live within the awarding lawmaker’s district.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Ex-City Colleges Chief Gets “A+” in Personal Finance
While departing Chicago’s troubled community college network to take a job running Chicago State University, Wayne Watson secured taxpayer-funded benefits that are much more lucrative than previously known – totaling as much as $800,000.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Money made selling milk to governments helps Burke, other pols
Having made millions of dollars on government deals for milk and electrical and plumbing work, the McMahon family routinely gives back to politicians.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Inspector general wants McMahon business banned from city work
McMahon family business faces possible loss of city business over the city inspector general’s finding that it once fraudulently presented itself as owned and operated by women.