The refunded money, which could amount to $450 million over several years, will be used to pay for programs to hire and train more health care workers across Illinois.
Government Finance & Accountability
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
$141M in Pritzker Projects Have Close Ties to Governor’s Allies But Face Serious Questions
Three projects under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois program, including a proposed port in beleaguered downstate Cairo, have benefited his friends or political allies. Pritzker insists the projects were funded on their merits.
Posted inInvestigations
Smoke Detectors Save Lives, But Chicago Slow to Toughen Rules
A joint investigation with Illinois Answers and the Chicago Tribune found that smoke alarms were absent, defective or missing batteries in 57 out of 87 fatal residential fires in Chicago from 2020 through 2022.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Fires Continue to Kill People in Unsafe Buildings as Chicago Ignores Problems with its Inspection System
As other cities across the country adopt innovative programs to fix problem buildings, Chicago lags behind
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Lightfoot Made Headway on Pensions, but the Next Mayor Still Faces a Gaping Crisis
Mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson have given few hints on how they’d replenish the city’s severely depleted pension funds.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Ald. Rod Sawyer did legal work for firm that bought Beverly home for $32K from man with dementia
A judge later invalidated the sale, but Sawyer, who is running for mayor, notes he was dismissed from the court case involving the purchase, with no finding of wrongdoing
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
A Revived Push for a Labor Peace Agreement With City Nonprofits
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd) told the Illinois Answers Project she was disheartened by nonprofit leaders who showed their opposition for an ordinance that would bar employers from interfering in union organizing efforts.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Chicago Boards the ‘Social Bonds’ Bandwagon — And Gets Results
The trendy debt maneuver has been tried in other major cities with some success
Posted inFollow-Up
Feds Probing Massive State Contract that Failed Foster Kids with Inadequate Health Care
An investigation by the Illinois Answers Project found that insurance giant Centene Corp. routinely fell short in providing basic care. Federal officials now want answers from the two state agencies overseeing the program.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Cook County TIF revenues smash records, squeeze taxpayers
Tax-increment financing districts raked in $1.6 billion in 2021, accounting for nearly 10 cents of every dollar in taxes paid by Cook County property owners last year.
