January 12, 2017 Policing for Profit? Lawmakers, advocates raise alarm at growing gov’t power to seize property Massachusetts motel owner Russell Caswell wasn’t expecting to find himself at the center of a national controversy when federal authorities came knocking on his door. They said they wanted his business –and the land it was on- and said they could take it legally if they wanted to through a practice known as civil forfeiture. Caswell said no.
August 4, 2016 Missouri governor assigned to be public defender in assault case The head of Missouri's public defender system said he is appointing Gov. Jay Nixon to handle a case in protest of withheld funding.
July 15, 2016 Illinois staring down $8B deficit, report reveals The state of Illinois' spending will outstrip what it brings in by nearly $8 billion this year despite a stopgap budget agreement last month, according to a government analysis first obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
May 2, 2016 Illinois Lottery sales plummet to lowest point of year after payout delays Illinois Lottery ticket sales dropped to the lowest point yet this year in October, the same month lottery officials announced they were delaying payouts over $600 because of the state budget impasse, according to data obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
May 2, 2016 Chicago residents face ‘perfect storm’ of tax hikes Chicago already is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But the cost of living soon could rise even more, if Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel gets his way.
May 2, 2016 New Jersey Supreme Court sides with Christie on pensions New Jersey's top court sided Tuesday with Gov. Chris Christie in his fight against public-worker unions over pensions, preserving major cuts meant to stave off a budget crisis -- and giving the governor a win as he weighs a Republican presidential bid.
May 2, 2016 Illinois justices overturn state's landmark 2013 pension law The Illinois Supreme Court on Friday struck down a 2013 law that sought to fix the nation's worst government-employee pension crisis, a ruling that forces the state to find another way to overcome a massive budget deficit.
January 13, 2016 Atlantic City casino revenue cut by half over 9 years Atlantic City has lost more than half of its casino revenue during the past nine years.
December 21, 2015 Detroit bankruptcy moves forward as judge rules city can shed debt Detroit's historic bankruptcy will move forward after a judge ruled Tuesday that the financially crumbling city is eligible to shed billions in debt.
December 21, 2015 Illinois Legislature approves historic fix for $100B pension crisis The House voted 62-53 in favor of the plan, sending it to Gov. Pat Quinn, who has said he will sign it.
