Longtime Chicago politician George Cardenas’ campaign website, apparently written with heavy AI use, left citywide voter roll data available for anyone to download
Investigations
Posted inEducation
More Than $9 Million in Spending is Pouring Into Chicago School Board Races. Here’s Where It’s Going.
Even as the race for school board president race has claimed the spotlight, district-level competitions are seeing an influx of cash and intense campaigning, including a wave of attack ads.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Special Taxing Districts’ Uncertain Future Looms Over Historic School Board Races
Candidates running for Chicago school board have different views on how to account for TIF surpluses in the district’s annual budget.
Posted inFollow-Up
Chicago Leaders ‘Optimistic’ an Apartment Registry Will Boost City’s Troubled Record on Building Safety
Many of the buildings in the city with the most violations have unclear ownership, an Illinois Answers Project analysis found.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Evanston Faces $20M Discrepancy in Motor Fuel Tax Fund After Years of State Warnings
The Illinois Department of Transportation has repeatedly expressed concerns about Evanston’s motor fuel tax expenditures. Now, a city council member wants to improve competition for contracts and compel the city to follow state rules.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
A ‘Backdoor Loophole’ is Pushing Up Property Taxes With Little Accountability
An obscure financing tool is quietly raising property taxes to pay for a growing range of spending, an Illinois Answers Project and Mansueto Institute analysis found.
Posted inInvestigations
Lights, Camera, Tax Credits
llinois lawmakers give big boost to movie industry while academics claim the Hollywood giveaway is a bad deal for taxpayers
Posted inInvestigations
Cook County Board Defers Resolution Calling for Independent Review of State’s Largest Jail
At least 85 people died while detained in Cook County Jail between 2019 and 2025. That’s more than a third of all jail-related deaths statewide during that time.
Posted inInvestigations
Childcare Access Is Strained in Illinois. The State’s Slow Background Check System Continues to Threaten It
Chronic understaffing at DCFS and an unimplemented state law are leaving some childcare centers short-staffed, turning away kids and in some cases risking their funding.
Posted inInvestigations
State Standards Designed to Prevent Jail Suicides Don’t Always Work
Dozens of people have died by suicide in Illinois jails in recent years. Advocates say a multipronged approach could prevent such deaths.
