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Investigations

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Investigation

Chicago Schools Needed Computers. Then the Mayor Emailed About a ‘Really Good Guy.’

What followed was a $1.6 million deal for a Lightfoot donor who supplied used laptops and iPads, some of which didn’t work for remote learning.
Dec 14, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation

Las Escuelas de Chicago Necesitaban Computadoras. Fue Entonces Cuando La Alcaldesa Envió un Correo Electrónico Avalando Por Un “Tipo Muy Bueno”.

Lo que siguió fue un acuerdo de $1.6 millones para un contribuyente de la campaña de Lightfoot que suministró computadoras portátiles y iPads usadas, algunas de las cuales no funcionaron para el aprendizaje virtual.
Dec 14, 2020 5:59 AM
Investigation

Amazon’s Massive Chicago-Area Expansion Fueled by $741 Million From Taxpayers

As part of a nationwide effort, the online retail giant has commissioned 36 warehouses in the Chicago area since 2015, creating thousands of jobs. Most of the taxpayer assistance comes from Black communities.
Oct 26, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation

A Veteran Cook County Judge Has Been Repeatedly Blocked from Hearing Sex Offense Cases. Here’s Why.

An unprecedented investigation of court data finds systematic effort to keep Judge James Linn from deciding sex charges after a controversial ruling he made years ago.
Oct 22, 2020 12:01 PM
Investigation

Un Juez Veterano del Condado de Cook ha Sido Bloqueado Repetidamente para Que No Trate Casos de Delitos Sexuales. Esta es la Razón.

Una investigación sin precedentes de los datos judiciales comprueba un esfuerzo sistemático para evitar que el juez James Linn decida sobre casos de sexo después de un controvertido fallo que dictó hace años.
Oct 22, 2020 12:00 PM
Investigation

Meet the Cook County Judge Defense Attorneys Least Want to Appear Before

Judge Diane Gordon Cannon criticized for verbal outbursts, a pro-prosecution bent and jailing of probationers for sometimes-minor infractions.
Oct 22, 2020 11:58 AM
Investigation

Conoce a La Juez del Condado de Cook Ante Quien los Abogados Defensores Menos Quieren Comparecer

La jueza Diane Gordon Cannon es criticada por sus arrebatos verbales, su inclinación a favor de la fiscalía, y por encarcelar a personas en libertad condicional por infracciones que a veces son menores.
Oct 22, 2020 11:57 AM
Investigation

Illinois Poorly Prepared for Flood of Unemployment Claims

A neglected Department of Employment Security was suffering severe staffing shortages even before more than 2 million jobless claims swamped the agency during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Oct 16, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation

State Lax in Enforcing Law Meant to Track, Support Minority-owned Businesses

Illinois three years ago began requiring firms getting tax breaks through a state jobs program to report how much they spent with minority- and women-owned vendors. But it has turned into little more than a bureaucratic paper shuffle that collects little useful information.
Sep 29, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation

As Chicago Scrambled in Early Days of Coronavirus, Political Ties Helped Win No-Bid Contracts

Dick Durbin’s top campaign staffer used his connections to help an Addison-based furniture company become City Hall’s top supplier of COVID-19 medical gear.
Sep 22, 2020 2:00 PM

Investigations

Chicago Schools Needed Computers. Then the Mayor Emailed About a ‘Really Good Guy.’

Las Escuelas de Chicago Necesitaban Computadoras. Fue Entonces Cuando La Alcaldesa Envió un Correo Electrónico Avalando Por Un “Tipo Muy Bueno”.

Amazon’s Massive Chicago-Area Expansion Fueled by $741 Million From Taxpayers

A Veteran Cook County Judge Has Been Repeatedly Blocked from Hearing Sex Offense Cases. Here’s Why.

Un Juez Veterano del Condado de Cook ha Sido Bloqueado Repetidamente para Que No Trate Casos de Delitos Sexuales. Esta es la Razón.

Meet the Cook County Judge Defense Attorneys Least Want to Appear Before

Conoce a La Juez del Condado de Cook Ante Quien los Abogados Defensores Menos Quieren Comparecer

Illinois Poorly Prepared for Flood of Unemployment Claims

State Lax in Enforcing Law Meant to Track, Support Minority-owned Businesses

As Chicago Scrambled in Early Days of Coronavirus, Political Ties Helped Win No-Bid Contracts

Featured articles

A Veteran Cook County Judge Has Been Repeatedly Blocked from Hearing Sex Offense Cases. Here’s Why.

Meet the Cook County Judge Defense Attorneys Least Want to Appear Before

O’Hare’s Billions in Broken Promises