Nearly 70 properties are in receivership after Jiazhao ‘Frank’ Chen defaulted on at least $119 million in real estate loans. A proposed landlord registry could help the city track irresponsible property owners.
Investigations
Posted inInvestigations
Chicago Officials Raised Concerns About South Chicago Chapel Nearly a Year Before Discovery of 56 Decomposing Bodies, Records Show
A City Council member’s office complained to city officials twice in one week that residents were griping about odors from the business.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Data Centers Near O’Hare Win Nearly $100M in Local Tax Breaks, Leaving Suburban Homeowners to Cover the Gap
Northwest suburban data centers had nearly $2 billion knocked off their taxable property values, an Illinois Answers Project/Chicago Tribune analysis shows.
Posted inInvestigations
Data Centers and Tax Breaks: How We Reported the Story
The Illinois Answers Project and Chicago Tribune used third-party databases, county records and municipal sources in Elk Grove Village and Northlake to compile a list of data centers in Cook […]
Posted inInvestigations
Firms Linked to 2 Men Convicted of Public Corruption Have Gotten Campaign Business from JB Pritzker and the CTU
The firms tied to former Ald. Isaac “Ike” Carothers and former Blagojevich administration official Bamani Obadele have gotten campaign business from Gov. JB Pritzker and in the hotly contested race for Chicago School Board president.
Posted inInvestigations
More Than $1.8 Million Raised in Chicago School Board Election, as Contribution Caps Are Lifted in Race for Board President
An analysis of money candidates received from Oct. 1, 2025 to June 30 found the majority of that total – $1.2 million — went to people running for board president.
Posted inFollow-Up
Chicago Police Failed to Place Troubled Cop Under Strict Supervision Before He Fatally Shot Partner
Carlos Baker was referred to a program that subjects officers to intense oversight. Those who fail can face “severe” discipline or be fired. But Baker wasn’t enrolled before he shot Officer Krystal Rivera because a supervisor didn’t respond to an email.
Posted inInvestigating Responses
City Leaders Tout Tree-Planting Bonanza, But Neighborhood Disparities Persist
Departments have turned to community groups to help break through cultural barriers that have contributed to wide gaps in tree coverage, a critical public health measure
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Addicted to Gambling in Illinois: ‘Someone Has Decided They Can Make Money Off You’
People in Illinois lost more than $7.7 billion gambling last year. As lawmakers increasingly bet on gambling to pay the state’s bills, they have only spare change to treat compulsive gamblers
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
What Compulsive Gamblers Know
The hopes, dreams and tragedies of people who can’t stop betting
