Investigations

The new mayor of cash-strapped Blue Island pledged reform, so why are politically connected companies and campaign supporters landing contracts and jobs?

State Rep. Robert Rita and his brother might each draw three taxpayer-funded pensions down the road. Even for a political family, that’s a big take-away.

Why are state-owned commuter airplanes flying with just one or two passengers at a huge cost to Illinois taxpayers?

Suburban fire department claims tight finances – but spends freely on pricey fire trucks, meals and various perks.

Patrick Ward, one of the central figures in the Metra patronage scandal, wasn’t the only political foot soldier for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to land on a public-sector payroll.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk promises “dramatic procedural changes” after missing records “crisis” slows legal process for hundreds of inmates.

Milwaukee’s handling of duty-disability claims for police officers could serve as a model for Illinois – if legislators ever tackle pension reform.

Chicago company once co-owned by Illinois Lottery director sees taxpayer-funded deal scrapped over ethics concerns – then quietly resurrected.

Tired of tapping into Chicago’s increasingly pricey water supply, south suburbs are studying if and how they can build their own water delivery system. But costs are soaring, and taxpayers could end up soaked.

The politician-grandson of late Mayor Richard J. Daley now owns the family’s iconic South Side bungalow. Why has he been collecting tax breaks on that home and another?