Government Finance & Accountability Archives

Proactive building inspections one step closer to reality in Chicago — but questions of funding and logistics remain

by Alex Nitkin March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Chicago took a step toward beefing up its safety oversight of apartment buildings on Wednesday following years of criticism that the city’s patchwork of reactive building inspections has cost the […]

University of Chicago freshman Oliver Wilson analyzes interest rates bets on the Polymarket prediction market platform in his Hyde Park apartment late last year. Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan has pledged $20,000 to kickstart Wilson’s prediction market club at his university. (Credit: Victor Hilitski/For Illinois Answers Project)

Investigations

Illinois Regulators Say Prediction Markets Are Illegal Gambling, But Bettors — and the Trump Family — Love Them

by Casey Toner and Hannah Meisel March 13, 2026

Prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket rake in millions from wagers on sports and current events but pay nothing in state betting taxes and ignore regulations that govern online sportsbooks.

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket operate in a legal gray area, with federal regulators blessing their operations but with many states, including Illinois, crying foul.

Investigations

Prediction Markets Up Against Illinois’ Century-Old Gambling Law in Series of Lawsuits

by Casey Toner March 13, 2026

Class-action lawsuits against prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi seek to make the financial giants pony up for bettors’ losses in Illinois and other states. The platforms continue to argue what they’re doing is perfectly legal.

This vacant site, which is mainly south of New Poag Road between U.S. 255 and Illinois Route 111, is being eyed as a potential location for a massive new data center in Edwardsville. (Credit: Don Munsch/The Edwardsville Intelligencer)

Investigations

Edwardsville Officials Assured Residents on Facebook The City Had ‘No Formal Proposal’ For a Data Center — But City Emails Tell a Fuller Story

by Janelle O'Dea February 21, 2026

The massive facilities are a hot topic in the Metro East, as a developer, Cloverleaf, eyes three towns as possible sites. Dozens of emails obtained by Illinois Answers Project show detailed discussions between Cloverleaf and Edwardsville officials, who stress there’s nothing official.

An auction tried to sell off hundreds of vacant lots owned by the woman dubbed the city’s worst landowner, Suzie B. Wilson (above), and her sister Swedlana Dass — but it underperformed, and the city is suing for millions in damages. (Credit: Mina Bloom/Block Club Chicago)

Follow-Up

City Sues For Millions In Damages After ‘Worst Landowner’ Property Auction Fails

by Casey Toner and Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago February 4, 2026

It’s the latest controversy surrounding land owned by Suzie B. Wilson and her sister Swedlana Dass, who have been caught in a legal web since a 2023 investigation by Illinois Answers Project and Block Club Chicago revealed they owed $15 million in unpaid tickets.

Partnerships

Search warrant reveals FBI is investigating former Carlyle police chief

by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois and Janelle O'Dea February 3, 2026February 3, 2026

Article Summary This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. CARLYLE — A search warrant executed by the FBI revealed the target of a […]

A sign outside a once dying mall in Marion in Southern Illinois promises a brighter future, thanks to a $112 million bond deal made possible by the state and taxpayers dollars. (Credit: Janelle O’Dea/Illinois Answers Project)

Investigations

A Once Dying Mall in Southern Illinois is Getting a Mighty Makeover, Thanks to $112M Bond Deal, But The Project Has Hit a Speed Bump

by Janelle O'Dea and Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois December 15, 2025

Officials in Marion say the massive redevelopment is on track, but one of the three main developers has already dropped out, facing a slew of lawsuits.