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Politics

Politic-IL Insider

Analysis of Illinois’ Political Issues and Personalities

When it comes to politics, there’s nowhere like Illinois. Throughout the election season, ProPublica Illinois reporter and political junkie Mick Dumke will analyze the state’s political issues and personalities in this occasional column.

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Politic-IL Insider

Chicago’s Inspector General Finds the City’s Gang Database Is Riddled With Errors

The database has been accessed more than 1 million times, including some 32,000 times by immigration officials. Police said they will fix the database but not erase it.

by Mick Dumke,

Politic-IL Insider

Cook County Takes Steps to Erase Its Regional Gang Database

Commissioners are set to pass a law banning the database and requiring it to be destroyed.

by Mick Dumke,

Politic-IL Insider

A Political Boss Goes Down

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, one of the last leaders of the old Democratic machine, loses the Democratic primary to a wealthy political newcomer.

by Mick Dumke,

21 stories published since 2018

When Is a Meeting Not a Meeting and a Lawmaker Not a Lawmaker? When It’s Lori Lightfoot’s Chicago.

by Mick Dumke,

As Trump Calls for Law and Order, Can Chicago’s Top Prosecutor Beat the Charge That She’s Soft on Crime?

by Mick Dumke,

In Lori Lightfoot’s Chicago, Bridges Have Become Barricades

by Mick Dumke,

Bill Barr Has Done This Before

by Mick Dumke,

Leaked Recordings Reveal Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Firmly in Charge and City Alderman Left Largely on the Sidelines

by Mick Dumke,

The Chicago Housing Authority Was Slow to Protect Residents During the Coronavirus Outbreak

by Mick Dumke,

During Tuesday’s Illinois Primary, Chicago Alderman and Former Firefighter Nicholas Sposato Delivered Pizzas at the Polls as His Ward Office Remained Open

by Mick Dumke,

Promises, Tamales and Even Truth-Telling: Chicago’s Mayoral Race Hits the Final Stretch

by Mick Dumke,

Chicago’s Election Signals Break from the Past — in Wards and at City Hall

by Mick Dumke,

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office Says Its Gang Database Is on Lockdown, but Questions Remain

by Mick Dumke,

The Laquan McDonald Shooting Keeps Exposing Critical Flaws in Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act

by Mick Dumke,

The Election Is Over. And Now the Next Elections Begin.

by Mick Dumke,

In Illinois Governor’s Race, Rauner and Pritzker See a Clear Need to Promise Transparency

by Mick Dumke,

Note to the Next Mayor: Chicago Is a City of the World, But We Want the Neighborhoods Fixed, Too

by Mick Dumke,

Protests and Blaming the Media. Sound Familiar? That Was During the ’68 Democratic National Convention.

by Mick Dumke,

Illinois House Candidate Will Walk for Votes — And Has To

by Mick Dumke,

Like Chicago Police, Cook County and Illinois Officials Track Thousands of People in Gang Databases

by Mick Dumke,

The Administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel Keeps Monitoring Protesters

by Mick Dumke,

Chicago’s Gang Database Is Full of Errors — And Records We Have Prove It

by Mick Dumke,

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Builds Power From the Ground Up — And Sometimes From the Basement

by Mick Dumke,

Win or Lose in GOP Primary for Governor, Jeanne Ives Helps Push Illinois to the Right

by Mick Dumke,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

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Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

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Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

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    by Patricia Callahan,

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