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Investigations

The Newsroom produces deeply researched investigative stories that shine a light on abuses of power and waste within government.

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Investigation

Water District Approves $95,000 to Former Executive Director Following Unexplained Resignation

Executive stepped down at the end of June after sanitary district’s board conducted investigation.
Jul 12, 2018 5:15 PM
Investigation

Clean Dumps May Not Be So Clean, State Suit Charges

Quarries doubling as demolition waste sites threaten to contaminate local water sources, Attorney General Madigan and others warn.
Jun 29, 2018 6:00 AM
Investigation

Explore CHA Elevator Data

Use this database to check the status of CHA residents’ elevators — failed inspections, violations, 911 calls and maintenance records.
Jun 18, 2018 4:00 PM
Investigation

CHA Tenants, In Their Own Words

Hear from CHA tenants who say a functioning elevator is more than a luxury.
Jun 7, 2018 6:00 AM
Investigation

‘It’s Not Something That Should Be Left to Politics’ — Tenants’ Lawyer

The Chicago Housing Authority paid millions of dollars to private contractors on building upgrades without addressing an aging fleet of elevators, Part Three of a BGA/WBEZ investigation finds.
Jun 6, 2018 6:00 AM
Investigation

‘Just Because an Elevator Fails an Inspection Doesn’t Mean It Is Dangerous’ — City Hall

A citywide program to keep elevators safe is broken when it comes to public housing for the city’s poor, Part Two of a BGA/WBEZ investigation reveals.
Jun 5, 2018 6:00 AM
Investigation

Trapped: Neglected Elevators Put Chicago’s Public Housing Residents at Risk

Unsafe elevators, shoddy record keeping and failed oversight at the CHA result in tenants, mostly elderly, living in fear of their own buildings, Part One of a BGA/WBEZ investigation finds.
Jun 4, 2018 6:00 AM
Investigation

Illinois’ Plan For $109 Million Haul From Volkswagen Emissions Scandal Draws Fire

Critics say the state is keeping the public in the dark and trying to speed a process that they fear may ultimately benefit corporate interests more than people sickened by air pollution.
Mar 30, 2018 12:25 PM
Investigation

Strapped for Cash, Suburban Library Chooses Hiatus over Consolidation

Residents in south suburban Riverdale get locked out of their public library for three months even while continuing to pay taxes to fund it. The secretive library board refuses to open its books and fails to comply with public records and open meetings law.
Mar 16, 2018 6:00 AM
Investigation

Berrios Firm’s Lobbying Client Gets Big Tax Break From His Assessor’s Office

BGA investigation reveals how tobacco giant Altria saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes courtesy of the Cook County Assessor’s office run by Joseph Berrios, who co-owns a lobbying business hired by the firm to represent its interests.
Mar 7, 2018 6:00 AM

Investigations

Water District Approves $95,000 to Former Executive Director Following Unexplained Resignation

Clean Dumps May Not Be So Clean, State Suit Charges

Explore CHA Elevator Data

CHA Tenants, In Their Own Words

‘It’s Not Something That Should Be Left to Politics’ — Tenants’ Lawyer

‘Just Because an Elevator Fails an Inspection Doesn’t Mean It Is Dangerous’ — City Hall

Trapped: Neglected Elevators Put Chicago’s Public Housing Residents at Risk

Illinois’ Plan For $109 Million Haul From Volkswagen Emissions Scandal Draws Fire

Strapped for Cash, Suburban Library Chooses Hiatus over Consolidation

Berrios Firm’s Lobbying Client Gets Big Tax Break From His Assessor’s Office

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