Investigation

The tab to Chicago taxpayers for providing a police bodyguard detail to Ald. Burke? Almost $600,000 per year, according to newly released figures from the Emanuel administration covering 2009.

Missing itemized receipts and a lack of detailed justification for expenses are among concerns some Grayslake Elementary District 46 board members are raising about employee use of debit cards.

The Chicago Public Schools are moving to fire a principal and discipline 15 other employees, following disclosures by the CBS 2 and the BGA of apparent fraud in the free lunch program.

In 2010 a top Chicago Animal Care and Control administrator was suspended for working a second job on city time. He was later fired for other reasons. But he wasn’t off the public payroll for long.

At a time when pay raises are a distant memory and unpaid leave a reality for many area government workers, Jesse White has given pay hikes to his entire executive staff.

Prompted by revelations of excessive spending by CHA executives, another governmental agency, the Regional Transportation Authority, has revoked credit card privileges.

A city employee helped friends get through security at Midway Airport, but only got a slap on the wrist—and, arguably, a paid vacation—for his misconduct. BGA and CBS 2 investigate.

Just days after a BGA/WGN-TV investigation of Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch’s spending habits, the city council canceled municipal credit cards. And, it turns out, the state’s attorney is taking an interest in what’s going on there.

Times may be rough, but in Country Club Hills, the mayor is rolling in the green, courtesy of taxpayers and donors to his campaign fund, according to a review by the Better Government Association.

This BGA/WGN-TV investigation shines a light on Mayor Dwight W. Welch and his hefty expense account. He says he spends (taxpayer) money to make money for the south suburban town — is he missing the basic principles of good government?