Legal

April 18, 2011 — Cook County launches an internal probe to examine excessive spending and ways in which it could be limited after a BGA/Crain’s investigation exposes excessive use of overtime by Cook County hospitals and clinics, reporting that approximately $40 million is spent annually on overtime pay.

APRIL 12, 2011 — Metra belatedly launches an investigation after a BGA and CBS2 investigation finds that a former high-level employee of the commuter rail agency allegedly tried to shake down the production team for the movie “Source Code,” which used Metra property in filming.

Mar. 20, 2011 — The Secretary of State’s Inspector General launches an investigation after the BGA’s ongoing look into the management practices of Oak Brook Village President John Craig, who’s also working for the Illinois Secretary of State as a $64,000-a-year “dealer rep” (someone who checks on local car dealerships to inventory temporary licenses). Craig is defeated in his

Feb. 8, 2011 — A BGA/CBS 2 investigation uncovers questionable spending by a Chicago grade school, which spent $15,000 on a staff retreat to Las Vegas despite Board of Education travel restrictions. Chicago Public Schools launches an internal investigation.

Jan. 31, 2011 — A tip from two volunteer BGA Citizen Watchdogs leads to a BGA/FOX Chicago News investigation of slow 911 response times in Chicago’s West Side Austin neighborhood. Keep the tips and leads coming—we can’t do it without you.

Jan. 31, 2011 — Philanthropist Richard Driehaus approves a $1 million matching grant to the BGA to help us elevate the scope and impact of our investigations, civic engagement and public policy advocacy. The Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust will match every dollar donated to the BGA up to 1 million over the next 3 years, and we’ll be announcing details of our “Million

Jan. 25, 2011 — BGA posts in-depth responses to its 2011 Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire from all six candidates and invites followers to take the questionnaire.

Jan. 18, 2011 — A BGA/WGN-TV/Chicago magazine investigation finds Cook County Board of Ethics Chairman John Pikarski made significant political contributions and maintained close ties to the Cook County assessor, an elected official the ethics board is charged with monitoring.

Jan. 19, 2011 — The Field Foundation Awards the BGA a $20,000 grant for BGA Citizen Watchdogs of Education, a training program that aims to educate and engage citizens on education, school funding and Chicago Public Schools.

Jan. 12, 2011 — A BGA/CBS 2 investigation uncovers serious budget and operational irregularities in Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office. A total of three stories on the treasurer’s office air over the next month on CBS 2, identifying more than $343,181 in “questionable salaries.”