The Watchdogs: Chicago investigative journalism

Renderings of the proposed new Bears stadium

Bears stadium costs? Add another $1.2 billion

The Bears put the figure at $4.7 billion. But a state official says the tally to taxpayers goes even higher when you include the cost of refinancing existing debt.

By Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout

A grey wind turbine with three blades stands against a hazy blue sky, near the Testa Produce facility in Chicago.

The Watchdogs

Will climate change suck the air out of Illinois' wind power industry?

Wind and solar are supposed to replace coal plants that are closing, but that didn’t happen in 2023. Another fossil fuel, natural gas, filled the void.

By Brett Chase and Dan Gearino | Inside Climate News

Housing & development

House next to Obamas' Kenwood home, once linked to Tony Rezko, nears completion

The Watchdogs

'Deceptive' real estate firm tied to Loop's Monroe Capital sued by Kwame Raoul

End cars on two subway trains shine their red lights as a CTA worker wearing a yellow vest walks between them.

The Watchdogs

CTA touts its ‘Second Chance’ program for ex-offenders, but few end up with permanent jobs

The Rev. Mark Santo, shown at St. Philip High School in Chicago in the 1960s.

The Watchdogs

Catholic priest accused of sex abuse served in 9 church jurisdictions, including Chicago. So why is he on just one abuser list?

Citibank’s South Michigan Avenue branch in downtown Chicago, where former Citi wealth adviser Helen Grace Caldwell worked.

The Watchdogs

Ex-Citi VP in Chicago ripped by judge for bilking elderly clients of $1.5 million, gets 30 months in prison

Before sentencing Helen G. Caldwell, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said, “The only difference between Ms. Caldwell and a bank robber is that she didn’t have a mask and a gun.”

By Eva Putnam | Injustice Watch

City officials were warned of possible dangers months before the botched implosion of the Crawford smokestack in the 3500 block of South Pulaski Road in 2020.

Environment

Official who oversaw Little Village implosion gets City Council OK to head buildings department

Marlene Hopkins should have been disciplined for her role overseeing the botched Hilco demolition of the former Crawford power plant in 2020, a watchdog report said. On Wednesday, nearly two dozen alderpersons praised the new top buildings official.

By Brett Chase

FBI agent James Rudisill takes down a flag at sunset at his home. The Army veteran and his Chicago lawyer are asking the Supreme Court to take his case, which could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

GI Bill

Supreme Court ruling in GI Bill case could force VA to give more than 1 million vets greater college benefits

The ruling Tuesday in favor of Rudisill, who’s now an FBI agent, also could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

U.S. Supreme Court associate justices, from left, Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2022; Neil Gorsuch in 2021 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2022.

Chicago corruption trials

Supreme Court puzzles over corruption definition in bribery law at center of Madigan trial: 'Is it a sin?'

The case before the nation’s high court Monday was actually the corruption case against James Snyder, a former mayor of Portage, Indiana. The justices acknowledged their decision in the case will have implications for prosecutions across the country.

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse early this year.

Chicago corruption trials

What is corruption? U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments that could impact bribery cases in Illinois

The high court is reviewing a law that’s popular among federal prosecutors — including those pursuing former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan.

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Rendering of a proposed new White Sox ballpark at The 78.

The Watchdogs

The billionaire behind the scenes in White Sox' stadium plan

If the White Sox succeed in getting the city and state to build them a new home on ‘The 78' site in the South Loop, this little-known Iraqi-British billionaire stands to profit.

By Tim Novak and Frank Main

Paycheck Protection Program

PPP fraud investigation by state watchdog finds $7.2 million in improper loans

The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General found workers paid kickbacks to brokers who processed their fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans.

By Frank Main

The Watchdogs

FDA panel reviewing Abbott heart device included 10 doctors with financial ties to the north suburban health giant

The FDA said nothing about the payments from the North Chicago company when the panel met to assess new technology, a “breakthrough device” for which the agency “may be willing to accept greater uncertainty” when considering risks and benefits.

By David Hilzenrath | KFF Health News and Holly Hacker | KFF Health News

The Watchdogs

Gun cases in Chicago turned down by feds at higher rate than in most cities

Federal prosecutors are less likely than those in most other places — including New York and Los Angeles — to approve gun charges. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is taking up some of those rejected cases.

By Frank Main

A medical scan of Lisa Schmidt, who has been treated for TMJ disorders for decades, shows how both of her jaw joints were replaced with artificial implants. Additional implants near her chin were part of her overall treatment.

TMJ horrors include chronic pain, metal jaws, futile treatments

By Brett Kelman | KFF Health News and Anna Werner | CBS News

LaQuana Johnson wears pink protective gloves as she applies hair relaxer on a client who sits in front of a mirror at Elite Hair Therapy in Chicago.

Inside the court fight over the safety of hair relaxers and Black hair care

By Andy Grimm and Natalie Y. Moore

Mayor Brandon Johnson shakes hands with Soo Kim, chairman of the board of directors at Bally’s Corporation, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at Bally’s Casino Chicago at Medinah Temple in River North.

Casinos and Gambling

Bally's takeover bid 'jeopardizes' Chicago casino project, investors argue

As Bally’s chairman Soo Kim tries to take the company private, a pair of influential investors say his bid should be rejected — and that a more experienced company should be brought in to build the city’s long-sought casino.

By Mitchell Armentrout

The Watchdogs

A gun charge filed during George Floyd rioting in Chicago is dismissed amid controversy

Another federal judge in Chicago who also has dismissed gun cases based on the same Supreme Court ruling says the high court’s decision in what’s known as the Bruen case will “inevitably lead to more gun violence, more dead citizens and more devastated communities.”

By Jon Seidel, Frank Main, and 1 more

Ex-Alderman Ed Burke, right, walks towards his West Elsdon home after being found guilty in a federal corruption trial, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Ex-Ald. Ed Burke retires as a lawyer after the state’s highest court failed to pull his law license

Burke’s legal retirement marks a shift from earlier this month, when the state listed him as eligible to practice law despite his federal conviction.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ and Jon Seidel

Fidel Marquez, former ComEd senior vice president of governmental and external affairs.

ComEd bribery trial

Feds say crucial witness against Michael Madigan gave false answer while trying to buy gun

Fidel Marquez did not succeed in purchasing the firearm, and no criminal charges appear to have been filed against him. Prosecutors confirmed earlier this week that he is expected to testify at the trial of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Jon Seidel

Traffic control workers stand outside the United Center during a concert at the stadium Thursday.

The Watchdogs

City Hall got $1M in fees after Sun-Times asked promoters, teams: Why haven't you paid up?

One reason for the long-delayed payments for traffic control outside big events is the city takes so long to send a bill, according to Live Nation and others.

By Tim Novak and Mitchell Armentrout

A dust cloud from a smokestack implosion blanketed part of Little Village on April 11, 2020.

The Watchdogs

Brandon Johnson appoints official negligent in Little Village implosion debacle to run Buildings Department

Marlene Hopkins was the city official in charge of reviewing plans for the 2020 Crawford coal plant implosion that ended up blanketing the Southwest Side community in dust.

By Brett Chase and Lauren FitzPatrick

The Watchdogs

Hemp products often mislabeled, posing potential danger to consumers, Chicago researcher finds

Lab tests of hemp products sold in Chicago showed wildly varying levels of THC and unexpected cannabinoids in edibles and flowers. Lawmakers are calling for the items to be regulated.

By Stephanie Zimmermann and Tom Schuba

A semi-automatic Glock pistol is fired at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), National Services Center, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Martinsburg, W.Va.

The Watchdogs

Chicago sues Glock over design that allows easy conversion to machine guns

One critic says suing a gun maker over its design is like suing an automaker for cars that go too fast and crash.

By Frank Main

Crime

After transgender migrant was shot in Little Village, a cartel-tied Venezuelan was arrested but soon released

The shooting last month outside the VLive nightclub is being investigated as a hate crime. The gunman allegedly said, “Bad gay,” before firing.

By Tom Schuba