Leodus Thomas Jr. sees a brighter future for Chicago’s West Side. It’s why, after buying his house in Austin nine years ago, he decided to become a developer. But in the last several years, a new threat has emerged. illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/21/b...

Our Investigate the State conference is up and running! If you didn't register, you can still sign up and join this free, virtual conference here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

Join us for Investigate the State, a virtual conference bringing together news leaders across the Midwest to discuss, share strategies and forge partnerships to bolster Investigative journalism in every community. Learn more and register here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

NEW: Illinois is the only state that has yet to reform its tax sale laws after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences. illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/11/l...

Strange, in court this morning. In the middle of a hearing, judge took a phone call from her "boss," then came back and ruled that documents + videos would remain secret despite prosecutors + defense agreeing the secrecy order could be lifted. When asked, chief judge's office refused to comment.

Today's must read from @hannahmeisel.bsky.social of @capitolnewsil.bsky.social & @ctoner.bsky.social of @illinoisanswers.bsky.social:

ICYMI: 10 years after Illinois’ budget impasse devastated human services, providers say they’re once again bracing for a financial storm. illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/28/i...

Join us for Investigate the State, a virtual conference bringing together news leaders across the Midwest to discuss, share strategies and forge partnerships to bolster Investigative journalism in every community. Learn more and register here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

When Medicaid claims are denied, patients suffer the consequences. Providers report weeks‑long waits for care and some refusing Medicaid altogether as payments stall. Read the story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/05/m...

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet? My latest illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

After investigating the decades of sewage flooding in Cahokia Heights, state investigative reporter @jayohday.bsky.social is back w/ a look into sewage flooding in Carterville & why a new wastewater treatment plant approved years ago still hasn't been built. illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

Here at the National Public Housing Museum, where we're talking about our "Making it in Chicago" project. We've got storytelling sessions on affordable housing, violence interrupters, child care subsidies, & student loan debt. First up is Marisa Novara in conversation with @alexnitkin.bsky.social

The Chicago police officer who accidentally shot+killed his partner earlier this month was accused of flashing a gun at a woman while she was on a date with another man at a North Side bar. This was during his probationary period when CPD could have summarily fired him. #chicago

The officer who authorities say accidentally shot + killed his partner had accrued more than a dozen misconduct allegations against him during his 3.5 years as a PO. Five were during his probation period, when CPD could have summarily fired him. Unclear how he ended up on a tac team. #chicago

Some senior homeowners turn to reverse mortgages when they need extra income to repair their homes. But for those who come after them, reverse mortgages can effectively close the door to inheritance. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/f...

Wasted Waters: How Southern Illinois is Coping with Decades of Sewage Flooding… and Why it Still Isn’t Solved. My latest for @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/06/17/w...

Five dozen Southern Illinois towns saw a third of the state’s sewer overflows over the last decade—but shrinking populations and red tape make fixes elusive. Read the investigation: illinoisanswers.org/2025/06/17/w...

More than 300 ADUs have been permitted in Chicago since 2021. Most are basement spaces that were converted into apartments, and more than 90% are located on the city's north side. Read our full solutions story on 'Granny Flats' in Chicago here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...

Granny flats could help ease Chicago’s housing crunch—adding affordable units without costing taxpayers a dime. But political gridlock is keeping them illegal in most neighborhoods. Read the story from @alexnitkin.bsky.social here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...

illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/13/c... Such a great story about the Kafka-esque "crime-free housing" laws in the Midwest and the tenants caught in in the mess

Here's my story, on an affordable housing tool nearly everyone seems to agree is a good idea, but that the Chicago City Council and (so far) state legislators can't manage to push forward: t.co/YDh0XBRHiP (1/6)

Peep my girl @meredithnewman.bsky.social breaking down the strict eligibility requirements locking over 100,000 families out of the state's largest subsidy on @wbez.org 's Reset. Then read our investigation at makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org www.wbez.org/reset-with-s...

Listen to @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social talk violence prevention on the West Side with @citycastchicago.bsky.social this morning. #makingitinchicago chicago.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...

"Granny Flats" have been illegal to build in Chicago for decades, but studies show that it can make an impact in creating affordable housing. For one family, it helped relieve some child care expenses too... @alexnitkin.bsky.social reports on what's been stalling legislation to legalize it.

Chicagoans are taking violence prevention into their own hands, investing in jobs, block clubs and neighborhood programs to address root causes - even as city-backed efforts remain underfunded and scattered. Read the story with @southsideweekly.bsky.social here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/j...

ICYMI: Under ‘Crime-Free Housing’ Laws, Families May Be Evicted for Minor Offenses With @nytimes.com: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/13/c...

Upward mobility is increasingly out of reach for many Chicagoans as the cost of living skyrockets. We investigated the barriers that stand in the way of getting ahead in Chicago and explored some of the efforts to mitigate them. Read the series here: makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org

As part of @IllinoisAnswers' series "Making it in Chicago," @_MJHopkins and I investigated the cost of child care in Cook County. We found the state's largest child care subsidy doesn’t provide enough relief for many families and providers. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/w...

After a community listening tour last fall, we charged ahead, reporting on topics as big as... child care costs affordable housing & healthcare student loans Gig work violence interrupters and aging in place. Our series "Making it in Chicago" is the result: makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org

How have other states tried to address the misuse and abuse of restraint chairs in county jails? This week, we bring you examples from 3 states. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/15/h...

An investigation by @nytimes.com and the Illinois Answers Project shows that many cities in Illinois have turned crime-free housing programs into a blunt instrument to oust families for virtually any alleged infraction, no matter how minor. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/13/c...

New from me: An obscure, perennially resource-starved oversight office is set to take center stage in the Chicago City Council's effort to wrest more control over the city budget-making process. They face a mighty task. (1/5)

A pistol turned in at a CPD / St Sabina buyback was stolen from a room full of cops and was missing for a year before it was found on a 16yo. During that time, the gun was used in at least three shootings. #chicago illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/02/g...

illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/02/g... Our latest on the Glock that was stolen from a room full of cops at the Gresham District station after being exchanged for a gift card at a buyback. Before it resurfaced in the hands of a teenage boy, it was used in three South Side shootings.

A @kmbc9.bsky.social investigation identified 102 people in 29 states who died or reported injuries after law enforcement’s use of restraint chairs or full-body restraints. We @illinoisanswers.bsky.social spoke about what we found on restraint chairs here in Illinois. www.kmbc.com/article/kmbc...

Cook County Jail restrained people in chairs 874 times — and never reported it to the state. @IllinoisAnswers reports: buff.ly/04oLtio

Cook County Jail used restraint chairs 874 times over five years — and never reported a single incident to the state, as required. An Illinois Answers investigation uncovered the pattern. Read more here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/04/22/r...

A review by Illinois Answers Project of publicly available payroll data for 259 ward and committee staffers found that 65 council staffers received increases in their salaries between October and December 2024, representing more than $260,000 in taxpayer funds for bonuses. bit.ly/3Gd3Bsw

The state requires jails to report when they use restraint chairs. For 874 cases from 2019 to 2023, Cook County Jail didn't report a single one. After @gracehauck.bsky.social's statewide investigation into restraint chair use, the jail began reporting them. illinoisanswers.org/2025/04/22/r...

NEW from @alexnitkin.bsky.social: Quiet Use of Bonuses for City Council Aides on the Rise illinoisanswers.org/2025/04/14/c...

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... Our other story about the CPD investigation into how a judge's gun turned into a buyback wound up at a fatal police shooting. Police said it would be "unwise and impractical" to interview hundreds of cops involved in the buyback. So they didn't talk to anyone.

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... My latest about police gun buybacks, a Glock handgun that was stolen inside a Chicago police district, the mad scramble to find it, and the consequences being borne by a 16-year-old-boy the w/ @schuba.bsky.social @peternickeas.bsky.social

"Crump noted during the news conference that a recent @illinoisanswers.bsky.social investigation into jails’ use, misuse, and abuse of restraint chairs found Madison County was an outlier in the state." Story by Lexi Cortes ↓ www.bnd.com/news/local/a...

NEW: DCFS has failed to produce legally required public reports after examining what went wrong in hundreds of cases of child deaths and thousands of serious injuries. illinoisanswers.org/2025/03/18/a...

NEW: Nearly half a billion dollars in taxable real estate value has been added onto the Cook County rolls after the county assessor fixed hundreds of mistakes identified in an investigation by the Illinois Answers Project and @chicagotribune.com illinoisanswers.org/2025/03/16/c...

Quick🧵updating a story we did last year: Nearly $500M in taxable real estate value was added to Cook County rolls after an investigation by @illinoisanswers.bsky.social & @chicagotribune.com uncovered hundreds of mistakes in property assessments. The corrections come from an audit. 1/5

illinoisanswers.org/2025/03/12/c... My latest on the tentative $11.5 million settlement between the City of Chicago and the woman the city dubbed the "worst landowner," who spoke out against the agreement in court, calling it "crazy" after her attorneys dropped her as a client

Reporters @meredithnewman.bsky.social and @mjhopkins.bsky.social are reporting on child care access in Illinois and want to hear from families. Tell us about your experience by filling out this form bit.ly/IllinoisChildCare

Great to see @jayohday.bsky.social and @ctoner.bsky.social with the 411 on 311 at #NICAR25

Champaign County Jail updated the way it documents, tracks and reports use of restraint chairs after @illinoisanswers.bsky.social raised questions about the facility’s record-keeping practices and failure to report incidents to a state oversight unit. illinoisanswers.org/2025/02/08/c...