Better Government Association

04/29/2026

BGA is proud to stand with Impactforequity and others: the CPD Workforce Allocation Study does not support the need for an increase in funding. As Chicago faces daunting fiscal challenges, Chicago police, its largest department, must use its resources prudently.
Read the letter: https://bit.ly/48RgeF9

04/24/2026

MEET THE FINALISTS: South Side Weekly's Alma Campos and Max Blaisdell are finalists for the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for their work "Fraudsters Target Immigrants Seeking Legal Help." Winners will be announced on May 7, 2026, at our Beyond The Byline event.

04/24/2026

MEET THE FINALISTS: Injustice Watch's Dan Hinkel is a finalist for the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for his work "Denying Innocence." Winners will be announced on May 7, 2026, at our Beyond The Byline event.

04/24/2026

MEET THE FINALISTS: Injustice Watch's Maya Dukmasova is a finalist for the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for her work "Forensic Failures: How a Rogue Chicago Forensics Lab Got People Convicted for Driving High." Winners will be announced on May 7, 2026, at our Beyond The Byline event.

04/16/2026

BEYOND THE BYLINE: We hope you can join us on May 7 for a celebration of impactful journalism. Our featured speaker is award-winning journalist Errin Haines , editor-at-large for The 19th News, president of (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists and contributor at MS NOW.

Haines has built a career reporting on and shaping the national conversation around , and . Her storied career includes breaking the story of 's 2020 killing and being the first journalist to interview former Vice President Kamala Harris when her VP nomination was announced.

Get your tickets to attend our conversation with Haines and the rest of the Beyond the Byline lineup here: https://bit.ly/4triTgP

04/16/2026

What's going on with prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi in Illinois? Read our reporting here: https://bit.ly/4tmJc7w

Our reporter, Casey Toner, joins NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS at 11 a.m. CT to talk about his findings. Tune in here https://bit.ly/489mWWC

04/13/2026

Congratulations to the finalists for the 2026 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting! Their work is shaping the future of accountability journalism in Chicago and Illinois. Block Club Chicago Chicago Tribune South Side Weekly Injustice Watch
https://bit.ly/4pVG4ND

03/20/2026

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: This week, Chicago’s city council passed an ordinance to create a working group — the first step towards improving the health and safety inspections of rental units. We played a key role in getting this change passed, as a steering member of the Chicago Healthy Homes Ordinance coalition.

Chicago’s city council today passed an ordinance establishing a working group to research, evaluate, and issue recommendations regarding health and safety inspections of rental units.  The ordinance was produced and championed […]

03/12/2026

Passed in committee today: a BGA-backed ordinance to establish a Healthy Homes Working Group focused on proactive building and safety inspections in Chicago. Next step: passage by city council on Wed. 3/18!

03/05/2026

NEW! A Close Look at City Council's 2026 Budget Changes by Sr. Policy Analyst Geoffrey Cubbage

https://www.bettergov.org/2026/03/04/small-steps-for-independent-budgeting-city-councils-plan-passed-over-mayors-objections-changes-revenues-but-keeps-roughly-the-same-spending-plan/

Chicago’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year, enacted just before its Dec. 31st deadline, made history when it passed without the mayor’s support or approval.  Mayor Brandon Johnson lacked the […]

02/20/2026

📣 We’re thrilled to welcome award-winning journalist Errin Haines as our featured speaker at Beyond the Byline! A founding editor and editor-at-large at The 19th News and an MSNBC contributor, Errin brings powerful insight on race, gender and politics to the conversation.

Join us as we honor watchdog journalism that strengthens communities. RSVP now: https://bit.ly/4kP1tY0

02/18/2026

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