Katie Drews

Many Chicago-area school systems cover pension contributions for teachers and administrators – a little known and, for taxpayers, potentially costly benefit.

While traveling for personal reasons, three Riverdale cops flew commercially with department handguns in their possession – potentially violating federal regulations in the process.

Residents of new subdivision in northwest suburb say their homes are being unfairly taxed higher than their neighbors, spurring review by municipal officials.

Statewide pilot program, extended registration period make it easier to cast ballots.

The financially strapped Riverdale Park District doesn’t have enough programming for kids, and does a woeful job keeping playgrounds clean and safe, critics say. But the agency found money to send park commissioners to out-of-town conferences, and pay for high-end dining.

More victims of car accidents may have to foot the bill for first responders as so-called “crash tax” gains popularity with local fire departments.

Raising new ethical questions, the BGA and FOX 32 find Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown solicited underlings for a private side business. And we discover another curiosity involving her family and Gov. Quinn’s scandal-plagued grant program.

The days of free ambulance service in the Chicago area are over – but how municipalities establish transport rates, and collect fees, is raising good-governance questions.