Illinois Answers Project

📣 We’re thrilled to welcome award-winning journalist @errinhaines.bsky.social as our featured speaker at Beyond the Byline! A founding editor and editor-at-large at @19thnews.org, Errin brings powerful insight on race, gender and politics to the conversation.
RSVP now: https://bit.ly/4kP1tY0

Chicago Police Officer ‘Inadvertently’ Fired Taser a Year Before Fatally Shooting His Partner Officials say Officer Carlos Baker unintentionally shot and killed Officer Krystal Rivera last June. He previously reported he mistakenly discharged his Taser after a high-speed chase that ended in a ...

NEW: Chicago Police Officer ‘Inadvertently’ Fired Taser a Year Before Fatally Shooting His Partner
https://illinoisanswers.org/2026/02/19/chicago-police-officer-inadvertently-fired-taser-year-before-fatally-shooting-partner/

Get your tickets for Women Who Hold Power to Account: an inspiring evening honoring Women’s History Month and spotlighting remarkable women leading with accountability and integrity across Chicago’s civic landscape.
https://bit.ly/3MxCQ5g

Cook County Tried to Rid People of Medical Debt, but, for Many, Help Comes Too Late Cook County became the first local government to buy medical debts in bulk. But data shows the majority of debt was relieved for people who likely should have qualified for free care — a sign that hos...

Gov. J. B. Pritzker announced more than $1 billion in medical debt relief for Illinoisans today. Last summer, we reported on how Cook County’s own debt relief effort came too late for many.

Read our reporting here: https://bit.ly/4qHAWgI

From Watergate prosecutor to @ms.now Legal Analyst, Jill brings sharp legal insight and principled analysis to today’s national conversations on democracy. We’re honored to feature her at Women Who Hold Power to Account. Secure your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3MxCQ5g

Join us for Beyond the Byline and the presentation of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting — celebrating the watchdog journalism that strengthens communities and holds power to account.

Secure your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4pVG4ND

Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for Chicago, joins Women Who Hold Power to Account. Appointed in 2022, she leads oversight of city government and previously headed OIG’s public safety and police reform work.

Hear from one of Chicago’s top accountability leaders: https://bit.ly/3MxCQ5g

City Sues For Millions In Damages After ‘Worst Landowner’ Property Auction Fails It’s the latest controversy surrounding land owned by Suzie B. Wilson and her sister Swedlana Dass, who have been caught in a legal web since an investigation by Illinois Answers Project and Block Clu...

The City of Chicago is suing for more than $4 million after an auction meant to sell off vacant lots tied to a major unpaid-ticket case generated less than $3 million and left the city without expected revenue.
https://bit.ly/3Mh8XGw

We're excited to have Sophia Van Pelt (She/her) moderating Women Who Hold Power to Account. A BGA Policy analyst, she focuses on government oversight, FOIA protections and criminal justice accountability with deep policy expertise to guide the discussion.
https://bit.ly/3YVXv5U

Chicago's quantum hub has some of the highest state funding per job. Here's the breakdown Editor’s Note:  This is the second of three explainers examining key issues in the 128-acre Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, or IQMP. Today, we look at the project’s potential for […]

The state’s tax incentive deals at the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park average about $276,000 in public funding per job, far above the typical incentive deal in Illinois and second only to data center agreements.
https://bit.ly/4rt6Xty

Chicago's quantum hub has some of the highest state funding per job. Here's the breakdown Editor’s Note:  This is the second of three explainers examining key issues in the 128-acre Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, or IQMP. Today, we look at the project’s potential for […]

State officials say high incentives reflect competition for quantum companies, high wages and capital costs, but questions remain about how accessible these jobs will be for local residents.
https://bit.ly/4rt6Xty

Meet Ruby Bailey, the Editor in Chief of the Illinois Answers project. She brings 30 years of award winning reporting to our Women Who Hold Power to Account panel. Hear her insights on accountability in journalism.
Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/3YVXv5U

Jane Ruby is president of the League of Women Voters of Chicago. Jane’s work has focused on protecting and expanding voting rights, civic education and women’s empowerment issues.

Don’t miss her speak on holding power to account at this Women’s History Month panel in Chicago: https://bit.ly/3YVXv5U

Chicago's quantum hub has some of the highest state funding per job. Here's the breakdown Editor’s Note:  This is the second of three explainers examining key issues in the 128-acre Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, or IQMP. Today, we look at the project’s potential for […]

Illinois’ 128-acre Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park promises “thousands” of jobs, but current tax incentive agreements guarantee only about 240 new positions — and known company commitments total just over 300 jobs so far.
https://bit.ly/4rt6Xty

Search warrant reveals FBI is investigating former Carlyle police chief Article Summary This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. CARLYLE — A search warrant executed by the FBI revealed the target of a […]

A search warrant reveals the FBI is investigating former Carlyle police chief.

Read the story with @capitolnewsil.bsky.social here: https://illinoisanswers.org/2026/02/03/search-warrant-reveals-fbi-is-investigating-former-carlyle-police-chief/

City Sues For Millions In Damages After ‘Worst Landowner’ Property Auction Fails It’s the latest controversy surrounding land owned by Suzie B. Wilson and her sister Swedlana Dass, who have been caught in a legal web since an investigation by Illinois Answers Project and Block Clu...

NEW: City Sues For Millions In Damages After ‘Worst Landowner’ Property Auction Fails
https://illinoisanswers.org/2026/02/04/city-sues-for-millions-after-worst-landowner-property-auction-fails/

‘You’re One of Us’: After Off-Duty Cop Crashed Car Then Holed Up at Home in Armed Standoff with Police, He Got a Big Hug and Initially Faced No Charges Officer Ryan Harter eventually was charged with misdemeanors — nearly three weeks later.

Body camera video shows officers telling Ryan Harter, an off-duty cop, “You’re one of us” and “You’re not in any trouble” after a four-hour armed standoff at his Plainfield home. Police initially closed the case without charges.
https://bit.ly/4c0pGYQ

‘You’re One of Us’: After Off-Duty Cop Crashed Car Then Holed Up at Home in Armed Standoff with Police, He Got a Big Hug and Initially Faced No Charges Officer Ryan Harter eventually was charged with misdemeanors — nearly three weeks later.

Reporter @gracehauck.bsky.social will be on @wgntv.com at 4:30 p.m. to discuss her newest story covering a suburban cop's armed standoff with police.

Read the story here: https://bit.ly/4c0pGYQ
And watch her appearance live here: https://bit.ly/4rrqryU

Meet Ruby Bailey, the Editor in Chief of the Illinois Answers project. She brings 30 years of award winning reporting to our Women Who Hold Power to Account panel. Hear her insights on accountability in journalism.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/3YVXv5U

‘You’re One of Us’: After Off-Duty Cop Crashed Car Then Holed Up at Home in Armed Standoff with Police, He Got a Big Hug and Initially Faced No Charges Officer Ryan Harter eventually was charged with misdemeanors — nearly three weeks later.

An off-duty suburban cop crashed his car with his kids inside, fled home and held police at bay for four hours while armed, police records show. The standoff ended with a hug — and no charges that day.
https://bit.ly/4c0pGYQ

How Much Public and Private Money Is Powering Chicago’s Quantum Push? Editor’s Note: We published a story last year examining the massive public investment aimed at developing the quantum industry in South Chicago. This week, we begin a three-part explainer series […]

Supporters say Chicago’s quantum park could someday rival other global tech hubs, but local residents continue to question whether the massive investment will translate into jobs and lasting benefits for the surrounding community.
https://bit.ly/3LElB23

Submissions are now open for the 22nd Anniversary Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting. News organizations across Chicago and Illinois are encouraged to apply. The deadline to submit your entry is Monday, February 23rd at 11:59 p.m. CDT. https://bit.ly/4k2DAvC

How Much Public and Private Money Is Powering Chicago’s Quantum Push? Editor’s Note: We published a story last year examining the massive public investment aimed at developing the quantum industry in South Chicago. This week, we begin a three-part explainer series […]

Nearly 90% of the public money going into Chicago’s proposed quantum park is earmarked for infrastructure and equipment, with a much smaller share devoted to long-term tax incentives for companies.
https://bit.ly/3LElB23

How Much Public and Private Money Is Powering Chicago’s Quantum Push? Editor’s Note: We published a story last year examining the massive public investment aimed at developing the quantum industry in South Chicago. This week, we begin a three-part explainer series […]

More than $1 billion has been committed to Chicago’s Quantum campus since 2024, with roughly half coming from the state of Illinois. Dive deeper into quantum’s funding here: https://illinoisanswers.org/2026/01/27/how-much-public-and-private-money-is-powering-chicagos-quantum-push/

Save the date! Join us for Beyond the Byline: Featuring the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting on Thursday, May 7, from 3:30–8:30 p.m. at Venue SIX10 in downtown Chicago.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4pVG4ND

Instead of making assumptions, we want to hear directly from you about what types of stories you're interested in, how you like to consume news, and more.

Take our quick audience survey here: https://medill.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eShfyyVDy5qQmbQ?Newsroom=Illinois_Answers_Project

Save the date! Join us March 10 for Women Who Hold Power to Account, an evening conversation honoring Women’s History Month and spotlighting women who exemplify accountability and integrity across Chicago’s civic landscape.
Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/3YVXv5U

Chicago Police Brass Had Rejected Troubled Cop's Move to Elite Unit Before He Fatally Shot Partner The chief of patrol approved Officer Carlos Baker’s transfer despite denying his request for the move less than a year earlier because of “discipline’ problems.

Chicago police initially blocked Officer Carlos Baker from joining a tactical unit over disciplinary concerns, only to later approve his transfer. Months after the move, Baker fatally shot his partner.
https://bit.ly/4pG7LtW

Ribbon Cutting and News Night! — Mouse Arts and Letters Club Join Mouse Arts and Letter for our ribbon cutting at noon! A day full of facility tours will follow, plus pinhole cameras, calendars, merch, and at last, a news night at 7pm. Ring in the new year with...

Illinois Answers Reporter @ctoner.bsky.social will be a guest speaker at the Mouse Arts and Letters Club's "News Night" tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Learn more here: https://mouseartsandletters.org/events/event-one-ek26a

Chicago Police Brass Had Rejected Troubled Cop's Move to Elite Unit Before He Fatally Shot Partner The chief of patrol approved Officer Carlos Baker’s transfer despite denying his request for the move less than a year earlier because of “discipline’ problems.

Records show Chicago police leaders initially blocked Officer Carlos Baker from joining an elite tactical unit over disciplinary issues, only to approve his transfer months later. Months after the move, Baker fatally shot his partner.
https://bit.ly/4pG7LtW