Saying a federal appeals court mistakenly created a “watershed moment” that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul sides with insurance titans that administer healthcare reimbursements
Madison Hopkins
Madison Hopkins rejoined the newsroom in April 2023. Before returning, she was the health accountability reporter for The Kansas City Beacon, where she collaborated with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network to investigate Missouri's oversight of sheltered workshops for adults with disabilities.
Originally from Southern California, Madison moved to Chicago to earn her master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She initially joined the Better Government Association in 2016, where she investigated Chicago's recycling program failures, the absence of regulatory enforcement at Illinois nuclear power plants and bureaucratic failures in Chicago's building code enforcement system that contributed to dozens of fatal fires.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Incendios Mortales, Promesas Incumplidas
Los políticos de Chicago no viabilizan reglas de seguridad que hagan la diferencia.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
‘Viejas Lecciones Que Fueron Trágicamente Ignoradas’
Una y otra vez, Chicago no aprende de los horribles incendios fatales.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Waste Management Queda Fuera Del Programa De Reciclaje De La Municipalidad De Chicago
La compañía perdió el contrato con la municipalidad después de que una investigación de la BGA revelara cómo Waste Management cobraba el doble por procesar los materiales en contenedores de reciclaje.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Waste Management Ousted From Chicago’s Recycling Program
The company lost the city’s Blue Cart contract after a BGA investigation revealed how the company charged the city twice for processing materials in recycling bins.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Watchdog: Chicago Not Enforcing Recycling Laws for Big Buildings
Findings by Inspector General’s office mirror those detailed in 2019 by the BGA, which found lax enforcement and bureaucratic snafus have led to more recyclable materials from Chicago’s high-rises and commercial buildings being diverted to landfills.
Posted inNews
What the Gov: As Illinois Reopens, What Restrictions Remain for Weddings?
With state moving to phase four and easing restrictions, ballrooms and other large event spaces are still limited to 50 guests.
Posted inNews
What the Gov: Cook County Property Taxpayers Have Two Extra Months to Pay Their Bills
Property owners may still get their August bills in the mail soon but the county won’t penalize late payments until after Oct. 1.
Posted inNews
What the Gov: What is the Future of Weddings in 2020?
Restrictions have limited the size of gatherings and even getting a marriage license isn’t easy anymore. So how can people plan for the biggest day of their lives during a pandemic?
Posted inNews
What the Gov: Which Governments Are Looking Into Property Tax Help?
Amid pandemic, two suburban county boards have OK’d financial relief from late fees or interest payments for some homeowners while other county officials — including in Cook County — remain mum. A few lawmakers say they’d like to explore if the issue can be addressed statewide.
