Illinois affected by a record number of billion-dollar climate disasters in 2024, mostly severe storms
12 events cost the state a total of nearly $4 billion in damages — 9...
Investigations
A fragile haven: Venezuelan migrants face violence and uncertainty at Chicago housing complex
Migrants fleeing violence in Latin America are finding violence and fear of mass deportations under...
Purple Heart medal’s owner identified as ‘a man’s man’ who fought in WWII
A WWII veteran's sons hope to give his long-lost Purple Heart medal to his grandson,...
Purple Heart returned to daughter of WWII veteran, a Marine who helped take Saipan
The state of Illinois has returned a Purple Heart medal to the daughter of a...
Mysteries solved: Unclaimed Illinois Purple Hearts may find homes
The men left Illinois for war and returned with Purple Hearts to honor their injuries....
Illinois has the most local governments in the nation, multiplying the chances for corruption
Illinois’ thousands of government bodies make it difficult for both authorities and citizens to hold...
Illinois’ arcane ballot rules turn politics into a blood sport where only the most powerful and savvy survive
Illinois' cutthroat ballot challenge process limits voters’ choices and contributes to corruption that plagues government...
Chicago police bet big on pricey surveillance cameras. Two decades later, the devices do little to solve most crimes.
While installing thousands of police cameras has undoubtedly helped catch criminals and solve cases, Chicago’s...
Chicago never ready for reform: Code of silence, aldermanic prerogative fuel dozens of corruption convictions
In the half-century since Mayor Richard J. Daley presided over Chicago’s notorious Democratic machine at...
School district that had disabled students arrested agrees to reform disciplinary practices
An Illinois school district that frequently called police on its disabled students has agreed to...
He boasted on social media about paying strangers to take pictures of his children and ex-partner. Now he’s under arrest.
A former Chicago resident who publicly boasted about paying social media followers to take pictures...
Politics for sale: Big money floods Illinois campaigns with few rules and little enforcement
In Illinois, big money is inundating politics at a pace that virtually puts government offices...
The Dishonor Roll: Politicians who helped build Illinois’ culture of corruption
As part of its “Culture of Corruption” series, the Tribune has compiled a list of...