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Inside the biggest municipal fraud scheme in U.S. history

What we can learn about how fraud happens and how can cities guard against it.
The scandal, which unfolded in the sleepy town of Dixon, Illinois, saw the city's comptroller steal $53 million over her 20-year career.
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Illinois allows home cooks to sell shelf-stable foods beyond farmers markets

Jul 20, 2021
A new law will enable entrepreneurs to make direct sales and deliveries of bread, cake and other homemade products across the state.
Starting in January, cottage food operators can make direct sales and deliveries of products like cookies, breads and jams.
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

Hog farmers brace for "tumultuous" time amid rebounding pork demand

“It's a pretty tumultuous time,” said Brian Duncan, vice president of the Illinois Farm Bureau. “We're trying to hang on to some profits.”
U.S. hog farmers said they’re competing with a recovering Chinese hog industry while also handling regional droughts affecting feed production and meatpacking plant slowdowns.
Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

“This is not Christmas,” Illinois comptroller warns of federal relief money

Mar 16, 2021
“That money is essentially spoken for,” Susana Mendoza says of the $7.5 billion coming to the state from the American Rescue Plan.
Federal relief money offers a chance for Illinois to pay down its debt. Above, a view of Lake Michigan from the Sears Tower Skydeck in Chicago.
Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Agriculture is counting on pent-up demand for its recovery

Feb 25, 2021
COVID-19 killed demand for many farm products. But with vaccine rollouts and consumers venturing out again, will that turn around?
A farmer plants soybeans near Dwight, Illinois.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Minimum wage rises for some despite business protests

Jul 3, 2020
Some businesses owners struggling with COVID-19 restrictions asked for the pay hike to be delayed.
Members of the Service Employees International Union call for an increased minimum wage.
David McNew/Getty Images

Illinois cracks down on AI interviews

Jan 2, 2020
A new law requires greater disclosure when companies use artificial intelligence technology to sift through job candidates.
Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images

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What if the weakest link in election security is ... confidence?

Oct 25, 2018
We take a look at what states are doing to prepare for the midterm elections.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Parking tickets are bankrupting Chicago residents

Mar 6, 2018
Why Chicago has more parking ticket debt than other major American cities, and who the system targets.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images