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Illinois Answers Project
@illinoisanswers.bsky.social
1.2K followers 240 following 110 posts
Working every day to uncover waste and wrongdoing in government, hold public officials accountable and lift up solutions to Illinois’ most pressing problems.
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Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Jan 9
We're on Bluesky! 🦋

Follow the Illinois Answers team here to get all the latest investigations and solutions: go.bsky.app/T1JhmKW
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 8h
When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d lived in for more than two decades.

With @capitolnewsil.bsky.social: illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/31/i...
‘They are literally targeting people.’ ICE comes to southern Illinois
CARLYLE, Ill. — When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d […]
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 3d
State lawmakers just approved $1.5B to rescue CTA and other Northern Illinois transit agencies from major cuts - in part by raising a sales tax whose tricky politics we reported on this week.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 6d
Amid a looming fiscal cliff for transit in Northern Illinois that could force deep CTA cuts, less attention is on suburban riders who depend on on-demand transit.

Read the story from @gracehauck.bsky.social and @alexnitkin.bsky.social here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/c...
These Counties Spend Transit Tax Money on Ride Services. They’re Lifelines for Thousands of Residents
Fledgling dial-a-ride networks are filling gaps in public transit in the collar counties, but they struggle to meet demand.
illinoisanswers.org
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Grace Hauck @gracehauck.bsky.social · 6d
"We have a dire, dire, transit funding crisis, and we’re spending this money on roads and public safety," said Audrey Wennink of the Chicago-based nonprofit Metropolitan Planning Council. w/ @alexnitkin.bsky.social @illinoisanswers.bsky.social illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
A Little-Known Legal Loophole Has Scrambled State Efforts to Save Transit Agencies From Financial Disaster
Suburban counties last year spent $83M in RTA sales taxes on jails and courts; they'll fight to keep the money as the state scrapes for cash.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 11d
Why can’t the city cut its spending bloat before it taxes residents to close the gap?
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/t...
Calls For 'Belt-Tightening' in Chicago Budget Face Hurdles Amid Few Options for Pain-Free Cuts
Cutting city spending faces at least as many logistical and political challenges as raising taxes.
illinoisanswers.org
illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 18d
After decades of building a real estate empire out of overgrown vacant lots in the poorest parts of Chicago, Suzie B. Wilson and her sister agreed earlier this year to auction off the properties to pay off their companies’ mounting debts.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
Hundreds Of Lots Owned By 'City's Worst Landowner' Went Up For Sale. But Only A Fraction Have Sold
Parcels that belonged to Suzie B. Wilson and her sister accumulated $15 million in city fines for rat-related violations. Hundreds are sitting empty.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · 18d
Facing a nearly $1.2 billion budget gap, budgetmakers in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration have been dogged by a question: Why can’t the city cut its spending bloat before it taxes residents to close the gap?
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/t...
Calls For 'Belt-Tightening' in Chicago Budget Face Hurdles Amid Few Options for Pain-Free Cuts
Cutting city spending faces at least as many logistical and political challenges as raising taxes.
illinoisanswers.org
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Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 30
Reporter @alexnitkin.bsky.social was on @citycastchicago.bsky.social yesterday to discuss his story with @adquig.bsky.social covering tax hikes for the South and West sides.

Listen to the epsiode here: chicago.citycast.fm/podcasts/who...
And read the story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/21/b...
Whose Property Taxes Are Going Up This Year in Chicago? - City Cast Chicago
While property tax bills have been delayed, we do have a sense of who’s likely to see the biggest tax hikes in Chicago. Host Jacoby Cochran sits do...
chicago.citycast.fm
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 25
More than 37,000 residential properties on the South and West sides saw their tax assessments more than double between 2023 and 2024.

illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/21/b...
Brace For Impact: Tax Hikes Loom For South, West Side Homeowners
Property assessments double for 37,000 homes in Chicago’s historically neglected neighborhoods amid fresh investor interest.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 25
More than 37,000 residential properties on the South and West sides saw their tax assessments more than double between 2023 and 2024.

illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/21/b...
Brace For Impact: Tax Hikes Loom For South, West Side Homeowners
Property assessments double for 37,000 homes in Chicago’s historically neglected neighborhoods amid fresh investor interest.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 24
Join the Illinois Answers Project, The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and @blockclubchi.bsky.social for an evening of conversations about the promises and pitfalls of quantum computing.

Learn more and register here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 23
ICYMI: Such stark increases are expected to leave many homeowners in those neighborhoods struggling to pay their tax bills this fall.

illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/21/b...
Brace For Impact: Tax Hikes Loom For South, West Side Homeowners
Property assessments double for 37,000 homes in Chicago’s historically neglected neighborhoods amid fresh investor interest.
illinoisanswers.org
illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 22
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...
Brace For Impact: Tax Hikes Loom For South, West Side Homeowners
Property assessments double for 37,000 homes in Chicago’s historically neglected neighborhoods amid fresh investor interest.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 18
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...
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Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 11
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...
Lawsuits Pile Up as Illinois Lags on Reforming Tax Sale Laws
Illinois is the only state yet to reform its law after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 10
See the pull program for our conference and learn more here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...
Investigate the State
Thinking of expanding your coverage to statewide audiences? Looking for partnerships with newsrooms in your community or even statewide? Interested in how news outlets around the Midwest are confronti...
illinoisanswers.org
illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 10
Just added! Lunch & Learn: Empowering Investigative reporting with Solutions Journalism, featuring Tina Rosenberg (Co-Founder, @soljourno.bsky.social), Deborah D. Douglas (Director, Midwest Solutions Journalism Hub) and @gracehauck.bsky.social (Illinois Answers, Investigative Reporter).
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 9
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...
Investigate the State
Thinking of expanding your coverage to statewide audiences? Looking for partnerships with newsrooms in your community or even statewide? Interested in how news outlets around the Midwest are confronti...
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 4
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...
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 2
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...
10 Years After State Budget Impasse, Human Services in Illinois Again Brace for ‘Tsunami’
Nonprofits hurt by impasse boosted budgets with federal funding — now endangered by Trump.
illinoisanswers.org
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Reposted by Illinois Answers Project
capitolnewsil.bsky.social
Capitol News Illinois @capitolnewsil.bsky.social · Aug 28
A decade ago, Illinois began what would become a two-year budget impasse. Since then, human services have recovered, albeit unevenly, thanks in part to COVID-era federal funds. @illinoisanswers.bsky.social https://loom.ly/o80xxOY
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Reposted by Illinois Answers Project
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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · Aug 28
Today's must read from @hannahmeisel.bsky.social of @capitolnewsil.bsky.social & @ctoner.bsky.social of @illinoisanswers.bsky.social:
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Aug 28
10 years after Illinois’ budget impasse gutted human services, providers warn they’re facing another financial storm. Federal relief funds are drying up just as demand surges. @capitolnewsil.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/28/i...
10 Years After State Budget Impasse, Human Services in Illinois Again Brace for ‘Tsunami’
Nonprofits hurt by impasse boosted budgets with federal funding — now endangered by Trump.
illinoisanswers.org
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illinoisanswers.bsky.social
Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Aug 19
ICYMI: Officer Carlos Baker was accused of attacking a female cop at DSTRKT Bar & Grill. He told police he was harassed by two women — the off-duty cop and his girlfriend’s mother, who he said attacked him and referred to him as “a murderer.”
illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/18/c...
Chicago Cop Who Killed Partner Says He's the Victim in Wicker Park Bar Fight
Officer Carlos Baker told police he was harassed at a Wicker Park bar by two women — an off-duty cop and his girlfriend’s mother, who he said attacked him and referred to him as "a murderer."
illinoisanswers.org
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Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Aug 15
BREAKING: Officer Carlos Baker, the Chicago cop who fatally shot his partner Krystal Rivera while pursuing a suspect, was stripped of his police powers on Friday but not for the shooting. illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/15/c...
Chicago cop who fatally shot partner Krystal Rivera is stripped of his police powers — but not for that
Officer Carlos Baker, the Chicago cop who fatally shot his partner Krystal Rivera while pursuing a suspect, was stripped of his police powers on Friday but not for the shooting. […]
illinoisanswers.org
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