Cook County sheriff adviser appointed to fill vacant judgeship
Cara Smith, a veteran policy adviser to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and a registered attorney, has been named to serve as a county judge. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed...
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he will sign budget with legislative pay increases, defends lawmakers’ hard work
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday defended "how hard these legislators are working" in saying he would sign $1,600 pay increases for the General Assembly's 177 members that were part...
Scandal, indictments, promises of reform: Will Ald. Edward Burke’s indictment bring real change?
For decades and decades, Chicago's City Council has followed a cycle as predictable as the seasons: scandal, indictments, promises of reform. Scandal, indictments, promises of reform. After the latest indictment,...
New training and protocols needed at Cook County, task force says after sexual harassment scandal
A new report says offices controlled by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle need updated protocols, better training and more transparency to respond to discrimination and harassment allegations. That includes...
Chicago aldermen call for reform after Ald. Edward Burke indictment: ‘Words are not enough’
Chicago aldermen promised to change the city's political culture following Thursday's federal indictment against once-powerful Ald. Edward Burke on corruption charges, saying the latest allegations require true reforms from the...
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot silences Ald. Edward Burke, easily wins approval of new committee chairs in first City Council test
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first City Council meeting played out almost like a campaign event for her, as she scored points against Chicago's old political guard and argued her progressive bona...
From green screen computers to staff shortages, a new audit says Cook County’s property tax system needs more resources
Cook County's assessor has one quarter of the staff needed to evaluate the area's more than 1.8 million property parcels. Despite plans for new technology, the office still relies on...
Mayor Lori Lightfoot will replace entire Chicago school board
Newly inaugurated Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who endorsed an elected school board on the campaign trail, announced Wednesday she will overhaul the seven-member Board of Education. The announcement came less...
Ethics complaint alleges Ald. Edward Burke exerted ‘improper influence’ on behalf of labor unions
Embattled Ald. Edward Burke allegedly violated Chicago's ethics ordinance when he used "improper influence" on behalf of labor unions who hired his private law firm but had contracts and workers'...
Crowd lines up early for inauguration, cheer Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s speech: ‘It came from her heart’
Hours before the doors opened, the crowds started arriving for the inauguration of Lori Lightfoot on Monday, many bundled up and wearing clothes bearing the names of unions, community organizations...