Over at Bourbonnais Village Hall, bullets have been the subject of controversy, with a top village official leaving his $100,000-a-year job after a gun shop he runs as a side business sold ammunition to his own police department, causing a stir.
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Six-Figure Pension Payouts Soar
Over the past year, the number of public-sector retirees drawing $100,000 or more in retirement payouts has grown significantly, putting added stress on the pension systems.
Tri-State Trustee Resigns
Mike Orrico, the last remaining member of the Tri-State Fire Protection District board that came under BGA scrutiny beginning in 2013, has resigned.
CPS Leaders: Where Do Their Kids Go To School?
CPS CEO Forrest Claypool, is refusing to say whether his children are attending or have attended CPS schools.
Why Is MWRD Board So Quiet On Pollution Questions?
MWRD handles flooding and sanitation for much of the Chicago region. And it has tools to ensure its land – our land, the taxpayers’ land, and nearby water sources – aren’t poisoned. Yet MWRD doesn’t appear to be doing very much or, unfortunately, saying much.
State Parks’ Cash Crunch: $720 Million For Repairs
Illinois’ inability to fix or upgrade hundreds of basic projects threatens the environment and pubic safety, according to a BGA Rescuing Illinois investigation.
Neighborhood Schools Hit By Cuts, Charters Spared
Dollar reductions target traditional Chicago public schools for upcoming year while privately managed learning centers get additional funding.
The Chicago River’s Rancid Wake
City still routinely dumps sewage into the Chicago River, even as Mayor Emanuel touts the waterway for recreation. Environmentalists say now is the time for regulators to crack down.
Despite Reforms, Pension Spiking Still Stinging Taxpayers
Roughly 450 municipalities have given employees end-of-career raises in recent years that translated to higher pensions. Taxpayers are paying the price in more ways than one.
Curiosities Abound, But MWRD Insists Hiring Process Is Sound
Denis Lawlor’s stint as a Chicago cop ended, in effect, with a bang, as a copy of his official CPD personnel file reveals.
