2018 BGA Annual Luncheon

Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, 60605

The Better Government Association is celebrating its 95th Anniversary! Don't miss the culmination of our best year yet at our 2018 Annual Luncheon.

A Lesson in Clout from the 25th Ward

Pilsen Outpost, 1637 W 18th St, Chicago, 60608

Join the Better Government Association and WBEZ at this free event to hear reporters discuss their recent reporting, and to talk about how aldermen throughout all of Chicago wield unique power that sometimes leads to corruption.

Open or Shut Case: COVID-19 and the Fight for Public Records

Secret City Council meetings, destruction of police files, and statewide access to public records: They’ve all been on the line in the last few weeks. Using COVID-19 as cover, governments in Chicago and Springfield have sought to go behind closed doors and shut out the public—but the Better Government Association has been there to stop […]

Ready for Reform? The Path to Honest Government in Illinois

BGA President David Greising will discuss the need for comprehensive ethics reform and recommendations for how to make reform a reality in this virtual talk sponsored by the City Club of Chicago. The event is free to both members and non-members but registration is required. Register here. 

BGA Community Forum: Black Youth, Carjacking and the Cook County Juvenile Justice System

Join us on Monday, July 26, from 6 - 7 p.m. for an interactive virtual discussion moderated by BGA's Investigative Reporter Sidnee King on Facebook Live. King will be joined by community advocates to discuss the criminalization of Black youth, the issues that affect young Black life in Chicago, and where the solutions are for Black youth involved in carjackings and other crimes considered violent.

Set your reminders to join us on Facebook Live or register for the event through our Eventbrite page.

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

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.

City Council 101

Harold Washington Libary 400 S State St, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago’s new City Council will take office on May 15th. But how does it all really work, inside the council chambers? Join the Better Government Association’s policy team for an in-depth seminar on the history, rules, and workings of Chicago City Council. Free and open to the public, this seminar will be especially beneficial to […]

2023 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Journalism

City Hall Events 838 W Kinzie St, Chicago, United States

Join the Better Government Association for a night of celebration at the 2023 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting! The awards highlight the impact of Illinois investigative and enterprise reporting as a reform tool within the context of state and local government waste, fraud, and corruption. The evening will be a celebration of […]

Virtual Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Training

Online event

FOIA is a critically important tool in every investigative reporter's toolkit. Join us for a virtual training with Freedom of Information attorney Matt Topic for a refresher on filing FOIA requests, how to best utilize FOIA in your reporting, the legal limits of FOIA, and what to do if your FOIA requests are denied. This […]