Investigation COVID-19 Delivering Latest Twist in Fight Over Controversial Shipping Hub Project recently approved by Joliet raising issues not only of economics but also of open democracy for governments making decisions as they adhere to social distancing and stay-at-home orders amid pandemic. Apr 22, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Contractor In Little Village Smokestack Fiasco Was Cited In March For Blowing Dust — But City OK’d Demolition Anyway A Hilco affiliate, contractor MCM Management Corp. and partners were hit with $3.75 million in environmental violations in Maryland. Apr 17, 2020 11:46 AM
Investigation Coronavirus Scams Surging Across Illinois and Experts Predict More Federal and local officials have gotten thousands of fraud complaints. Stimulus checks will create another tidal wave of fraud, authorities warn. Apr 15, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Aides Caring for Vulnerable Seniors Amid Coronavirus Still on the Job Despite Lack of Masks, Protective Gear and Social Distancing As many as 22 home care clients who are part of an Illinois program have tested positive for COVID-19, including five who died, state says. Some home health aides also have tested positive. Apr 8, 2020 2:00 PM
Investigation Was Boeing’s Chicago Deal Worth the Taxpayer Cost? The gold rush among corporations to demand expensive public help in underwriting development and jobs got a kick-start when tax incentives enticed Boeing to move its headquarters to Chicago. Apr 3, 2020 7:00 AM
Investigation Lightfoot Pushing to Make TIFs More Equitable but Changes Lacking for Critics She’s Tried to Win Over Chicago’s mayor has long-promised to reform how special tax funds are spent on private projects. Her first move is a step but isn’t big enough for some. Mar 30, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Coronavirus Crippling Chicago’s Census Outreach Effort Mayor Lori Lightfoot, already worried about the city losing billions of dollars in the 2020 headcount, worked to boost participation in undercounted communities. Now COVID-19 is creating a major new hurdle. Mar 23, 2020 3:05 PM
Investigation Lightfoot Facing Off Against ComEd Over the Future With agreement between City Hall and the power company expiring this year, the mayor is focusing on internal study and federal investigation as leverage. Mar 10, 2020 5:00 AM
Investigation 'It's A Fixed Cost. That's All I Ask': A Politician's Pitch For Campaign Cash While seeking a tax break from Cook County, a suburban factory owner says he felt pressured into contributing to a county commissioner's campaign fund. Feb 20, 2020 6:00 AM
Investigation Cómo el principal asistente del Concejal Solís consiguió tres trabajos Mientras el concejal del Distrito 25, Daniel Solís, cooperaba en una investigación de corrupción federal antes de dejar su cargo el año pasado, un miembro de su personal estaba haciendo una nueva carrera como portero en un club nocturno, guardia de seguridad y como lobbista en una empresa de servicios públicos de Illinois. Jan 20, 2020 12:00 PM
Investigation Oregon Is First State to Ticket Narcotics Users, but New Reform Has Yet To Live Up To Promise In Illinois, possession of even trace amounts of heroin residue is a felony. But in Oregon, it’s not a crime at all any more. Instead, people caught with drugs get a ticket. Oregon’s new drug reform is keeping users out of jail — but the goal of getting them help for their addictions has been elusive. Dec 3, 2021 5:30 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 City Says About $600 Million More Is Needed to Finish Cabrini-Green’s Transformation With a public price tag already exceeding $300 million, the 23-year-long effort to rejuvenate the area around the former public housing project is set to take at least 12 more years and could approach a total of nearly $1 billion. Jun 15, 2021 12:00 PM