Money pours in to After School Matters
The Watchdogs: In just a few years, Mayor Daley's wife has built one of the fastest-growing charities in Illinois. The charity -- After School Matters -- has seen its revenues soar 243 percent from 2003 to 2006. And the city and city contractors are among its biggest supporters.
The Watchdogs: In just a few years, Mayor Daley's wife has built one of the fastest-growing charities in Illinois. The charity -- After School Matters -- has seen its revenues soar 243 percent from 2003 to 2006. And the city and city contractors are among its biggest supporters.
Obama's $100K Englewood garden grant being probed
The Watchdogs: A $100,000 state grant for a botanic garden in Englewood that then-state Sen. Barack Obama awarded in 2001 to a group headed by a onetime campaign volunteer is now under investigation by the Illinois attorney general amid new questions, prompted by Chicago Sun-Times reports, about whether the money might have been misspent.
The Watchdogs: A $100,000 state grant for a botanic garden in Englewood that then-state Sen. Barack Obama awarded in 2001 to a group headed by a onetime campaign volunteer is now under investigation by the Illinois attorney general amid new questions, prompted by Chicago Sun-Times reports, about whether the money might have been misspent.
School gets 30 days to return $1M grant
Gov. Blagojevich’s administration Wednesday gave operators of a dormant private school 30 days to return $1 million to Illinois taxpayers.
As economy lags, tollway execs get raises
The Watchdogs: In the last three years, salaries for the top brass at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority have soared, even as the amount of money the state agency collects from drivers has held steady. The tollway's executive director and chief engineer have seen their pay increase by 58 percent since 2006, agency records show. The tollway's chief of operations has gotten a 93 percent raise in that time.
The Watchdogs: In the last three years, salaries for the top brass at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority have soared, even as the amount of money the state agency collects from drivers has held steady. The tollway's executive director and chief engineer have seen their pay increase by 58 percent since 2006, agency records show. The tollway's chief of operations has gotten a 93 percent raise in that time.
Parked at the kid's museum? They owe you
The Watchdogs: Here's how parking at the Chicago Children's Museum works: You pull in to the garage at Navy Pier, which charges $23 a day on busy Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, $19 a day the rest of the week. You go to the museum, which counts you and everyone else who walks through the doors.
The Watchdogs: Here's how parking at the Chicago Children's Museum works: You pull in to the garage at Navy Pier, which charges $23 a day on busy Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, $19 a day the rest of the week. You go to the museum, which counts you and everyone else who walks through the doors.
The Watchdogs: The list
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones is poised to join an exclusive club: retired politicians with fat campaign funds they can spend as they please. Jones had just over $2 million in his campaign funds as of June 30 -- his most recent report. He'll likely spend some of it to help his son Emil Jones III win election to the Senate seat that he's giving up. And he'll be expected to dole out campaign cash to Senate Democrats seeking re-election. So it's too soon to tell exactly how much money Jones will have when he retires. Here's how much other retired pols have in their campaign funds (including two who have died):
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones is poised to join an exclusive club: retired politicians with fat campaign funds they can spend as they please. Jones had just over $2 million in his campaign funds as of June 30 -- his most recent report. He'll likely spend some of it to help his son Emil Jones III win election to the Senate seat that he's giving up. And he'll be expected to dole out campaign cash to Senate Democrats seeking re-election. So it's too soon to tell exactly how much money Jones will have when he retires. Here's how much other retired pols have in their campaign funds (including two who have died):