The Costly Toll of Dead-end Drug Arrests, published in December, examined how thousands of Chicagoans — mostly Black men — are arrested on drug possession charges judges, police and prosecutors all know will never stick.
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Posted inNews
Introducing Investigative Interns Sahi Padmanabhan and Deborah Wilber
The Costly Toll of Dead-end Drug Arrests, published in December, examined how thousands of Chicagoans — mostly Black men — are arrested on drug possession charges judges, police and prosecutors all know will never stick.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: New $10M Fund for Rebuilding Chicago Businesses Is Just a Start
The mayor is seeking systemic approaches to address the violence and poverty that plague the city. It’s the right way to frame the problem. It also reveals the difficulty of the task she faces: Systemic change will be difficult, and cost a lot.
Posted inNews
BGA Sues Chicago City Council Over Open Meetings Act Violations
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, members of her administration and Chicago aldermen have repeatedly held telephone conference calls to discuss city business without public notice and without providing opportunities for citizens to observe or participate.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Defund CPD. A Popular Slogan but an Idea in Search of a Plan.
The call has gone out all across the land: “Defund the police.” It’s a popular slogan, even if the details are far from clear.
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: Will Illinois Implement Program Aimed at Avoiding Layoffs Amid COVID-19?
The federal government is offering funds to states with programs that encourage employers to temporarily cut staff hours instead of resorting to layoffs. But the agency charged with launching the program in Illinois says the state likely won’t be able to take advantage of a major piece of that support.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: FOIA Access Was Protected During a Hectic General Assembly Session. That’s a Good Thing During This Pandemic.
This year, perhaps the worst bad idea was a proposal to suspend the Freedom of Information Act and block access to public records during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Email Strings Show City Officials Warned of Health Risks Before Little Village Demolition Fiasco
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration has blown deadlines to disclose internal communications, violating state public records laws. City Hall’s decision-making process prior to the implosion remains shrouded.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Lawmakers in Hot Water With Feds Get Campaign Cash That Helps Pay Defense Lawyers
In one of his last acts, now-retired Illinois Senate President John Cullerton OK’d sending nearly $100,000 to two state senators under federal investigation.
