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Event Archive

Sep 28

Better Government Association’s Annual Luncheon: Demanding Answers

September 28, 2022
11:30am - 1:30pm

Please join the Better Government Association at our annual luncheon on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Proceeds from this event will help support the BGA's high-impact investigative journalism, essential fact-checking, advocacy on behalf of good governance and activities that engage citizens in demanding effective leadership and policies.
Jun 29

Battling Corruption: Understanding Chicago's Proposed Ethics Ordinance

June 29, 2022
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDT

Explore the city's newest ethics ordinance proposal with the Better Government Association, 43rd Ward Alderman, Michele Smith and Executive Director of Chicago’s Board of Ethics, Steve Berlin in a virtual conversation on Wednesday, June 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Jun 21

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting

June 21, 2022
5:00 PM - 8:00PM

The Better Government Association presents the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting: Follow the Money, featuring special guest David Barstow.
Jan 1

ABC 7 Chicago Weekend Watch

January 1, 2022
8:30 am

Tune in to ABC-7 Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to catch the latest Weekend Watch segment where we focus a spotlight on government. BGA President and CEO David Greising wrote a column breaking down the Mayor's strategy that includes solutions like increasing the involvement of the feds, suspending custody alternatives for people who have been charged with violent crimes (i.e. electronic monitoring). Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell and many law advocates have opposed Lightfoot's plans — Mitchell even calling it "unconstitutional." The Mayor expects to put a strategy in place by summer 2022.
Dec 18

ABC 7 Chicago Weekend Watch

December 18, 2021
8:30 am

Tune in to ABC-7 Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to catch the latest Weekend Watch segment where we focus a spotlight on government. David Kidwell, BGA's special projects editor,will discuss "Cabrini-Green: A History of Broken Promises." - a multi-part series by senior investigative reporter Alejandra Cancino, who spent a year sifting through hundreds of documents and conducted dozens of interviews to document the broken promises, delays and neglect of the Cabrini-Green public housing complex.
Dec 8

Understanding Cook County’s Pattern of Dead-End Drug Arrests

December 8, 2021
6:30 pm

In Cook County, thousands of people are arrested every year for possessing small amounts of drugs only to have their cases thrown out just days later. It’s due to an unwritten rule in the courts that costs millions of dollars in taxes and costs those getting arrested their jobs, their homes and their freedom. A new investigation, “Dead-End Drug Arrests,” examines this pattern in Cook County. The Better Government Association and the Chicago Sun-Times found those charged with carrying less than one gram of drugs are still routinely arrested although their charges are overwhelmingly dismissed in the earliest stages of their court cases.
Sep 25

ABC 7 Chicago Weekend Watch

September 25, 2021
8:30 am

Tune in to ABC-7 Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to catch the latest Weekend Watch segment where we focus a spotlight on government. Director of Policy Bryan Zarou will discuss BGA policy team's overall thoughts from the big players in support/against Lightfoot's proposal, the key parts of the budget, where the shortcomings are and how this affects communities
Sep 23

Better Government Association’s Annual Luncheon: Character Matters

September 23, 2021
11:30am - 1:30pm

Please join the Better Government Association at our annual luncheon on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Proceeds from this event will help support the BGA's high-impact investigative journalism, essential fact-checking, advocacy on behalf of good governance and activities that engage citizens in demanding effective leadership and policies.
Sep 4

ABC 7 Chicago Weekend Watch

September 4, 2021
8:30 am

Director of Investigations John Chase will talk about Rep. Sean Casten. Rep. Sean Casten, a Democrat from suburban Chicago, has been making some solid points recently about global warming and the environment and its potential impact on the world, the nation, Illinois and Chicago. But in comments made last week at a news conference he overstated a couple of things. We will address what Casten said & how his people said he misspoke and then focus on what experts are saying about climate change in Chicago & what can be done to help.
Aug 28

ABC 7 Chicago Weekend Watch

August 28, 2021
8:30 am

Tune in to ABC-7 Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to catch the latest Weekend Watch segment where we focus a spotlight on government. Investigative Reporter David Jackson will discuss the latest in the Loretto Hospital scandal. We have learned that Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is investigating the findings we've reported in collaboration with Block Club Chicago about the probe which comprises nearly $4 million in contracts awarded by the hospital to a friend and business associate of Loretto’s former chief financial officer, who resigned in March. Right now, the probe by the AG's office is focused on the hospital's charitable assets.