Illinois Answers Project

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...

See the pull program for our conference and learn more here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

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).

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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...

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."

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 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. […]

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 accused of attacking female officer Carlos Baker, the Chicago police officer who shot and killed his partner Krystal Rivera allegedly attacked a female officer at a bar in Wicker Park

Months after fatally shooting his partner during a foot pursuit, Chicago police officer Carlos Baker is accused of attacking another officer at a Wicker Park bar, leaving her with a split lip that required stitches.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/13/b...

Chicago cop who fatally shot partner Krystal Rivera accused of attacking female officer Carlos Baker, the Chicago police officer who shot and killed his partner Krystal Rivera allegedly attacked a female officer at a bar in Wicker Park

BREAKING: The CPD officer who shot and killed his partner during a foot pursuit earlier this year, allegedly attacked a female officer late Sunday at a bar in Wicker Park, the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Answers Project have learned. illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/13/b...

Work With Us

We’re hiring! Join Illinois Answers and help investigate critical issues, inform communities and drive change toward a more equitable Illinois. See open roles: illinoisanswers.org/work-with-us/

Cash-Strapped Loretto Hospital Paid Millions to Companies Formed by Ousted Executive’s Pal Before COO Anosh Ahmed resigned after hooking up friends with early vaccines, Loretto Hospital was paying millions to companies founded by Ahmed's close pal and business partner.

In 2021, we reported Loretto Hospital paid nearly $4M to firms tied to COO Anosh Ahmed’s associate. Now both are accused of stealing $300M in a COVID fraud scheme and are reportedly living in luxury in Dubai.
illinoisanswers.org/2021/04/28/c... blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/22/t...

Billions in Profits, Millions in Unpaid Claims: Medicaid Insurers Leave Illinois Providers Struggling, Patients Losing Care Clinics and hospitals are drowning in denied and delayed claims from Illinois Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). To cope, some have stopped accepting Medicaid altogether. Meanwhile, MCOs see ...

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...

Billions in Profits, Millions in Unpaid Claims: Medicaid Insurers Leave Illinois Providers Struggling, Patients Losing Care Clinics and hospitals are drowning in denied and delayed claims from Illinois Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). To cope, some have stopped accepting Medicaid altogether. Meanwhile, MCOs see ...

Providers across Illinois are facing financial crisis due to delays and denials from Medicaid MCOs. Some clinics report profits for insurers rising over $2 billion in the last two years.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/05/m...

The Promises and Pitfalls of Quantum Computing in Chicago Developers promise a quantum computing hub in South Chicago will bring jobs and revive the community. South Siders are skeptical.

As Gov. Pritzker announces a new South Chicago home for quantum startup Infleqtion, questions remain about how this fast-growing field will deliver real community benefits.
Our February investigation explored the promises and pitfalls: illinoisanswers.org/2025/02/06/t...

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet? Carterville residents say sewage floods their homes and yards. A new wastewater treatment plant could resolve the issue, but construction hasn’t started.

ICYMI: This Southern Illinois city was promised a fix for sewage flooding, but residents are still waiting.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

‘Granny Flats’ Are Illegal To Build In Most Of Chicago—And Political Gridlock Is Keeping It That Way Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or “granny flats” are illegal to build in most of Chicago, but a pilot program allowing them in some areas showed promising results. City officials are divided over the...

The City Council will consider an ordinance today that would allow construction of apartments called "granny flats" (officially, "accessory dwelling units" or ADUs) in coach houses and basements. @alexnitkin.bsky.social dug into ADUs in this @illinoisanswers.bsky.social piece

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet? Carterville residents say sewage floods their homes and yards. A new wastewater treatment plant could resolve the issue, but construction hasn’t started.

A delay in building the wastewater treatment plant has forced Carterville residents to endure overflows and foul odors. Officials say project bids opened recently, but construction has yet to begin.

Read the story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...

WBEZ Chicago - WBEZ Chicago

Reporter @alexnitkin.bsky.social will be on @wbez.org’s Reset today at 12:20 p.m. to discuss ADUs in Chicago.

Tune in live here: www.wbez.org
And read his story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...

A New Wastewater Plant in Carterville Could Stop Sewage Overflows — Why Hasn’t Construction Started Yet? Carterville residents say sewage floods their homes and yards. A new wastewater treatment plant could resolve the issue, but construction hasn’t started.

NEW: Carterville reported 40 sanitary sewer overflows over the past decade. Residents and officials agree a new wastewater plant would end the spills — but construction is still pending despite a promised start date last year.

Read the investigation: illinoisanswers.org/2025/07/15/a...