Better Government Association

Our Annual Luncheon and Celebration is just one day away! Thank you to our Silver sponsors for helping make this year’s event possible as we celebrate more than 100 years of BGA’s work toward a more equitable and accountable Illinois government.

Our Annual Luncheon and Celebration is just one day away! Thank you to our Gold sponsors for helping make this year’s event possible as we celebrate more than 100 years of BGA’s work toward a more equitable and accountable Illinois government.

A special thank you to our Platinum sponsors of the BGA's 2026 Annual Luncheon and Celebration. Join us this Thursday as we celebrate our work to advance a more transparent government for Illinois. 📅 Thursday, Oct. 22 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 📍 Palmer House Hilton, Chicago https://bit.ly/4hWJ5LN

A special thank you to our Second Century sponsors of the BGA's 2026 Annual Luncheon and Celebration. 📅 Thursday, Oct. 22 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 📍 Palmer House Hilton, Chicago https://bit.ly/4hWJ5LN

We're looking forward to hosting our 2026 Annual Luncheon and Celebration this Thursday. A special thank you to our Co-Chairs who helped make this year's event possible.

Join us for a conversation on the evolving political landscape and the future of democratic institutions with William Kristol, featured guest at the BGA's Annual Luncheon. 📅 Thursday, Oct. 22 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 📍 Palmer House Hilton, Chicago Reserve your spot here: https://bit.ly/4hWJ5LN

Don't miss BGA’s Annual Luncheon & Celebration as we recognize this year’s Watchdog Honoree, The Honorable Valerie Jarrett. 📅 Thursday, Oct. 22 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 📍 Palmer House Hilton, Chicago Learn more and reserve your here: https://bit.ly/4hWJ5LN

Celebrate more than 100 years of accountability journalism, government transparency and civic engagement with special guest and honoree Valerie Jarrett and on the future of democracy featuring William Kristol. 📅 Thursday, Oct. 22 📍 Palmer House Hilton, Chicago Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hWJ5LN

NEW ANALYSIS: Which Chicago city departments stayed within budget? 💵 Most stayed within budget in 2025. 💵 One big exception: Chicago Police Department, which outspent its nearly $2 billion budget by roughly $146 million.

Join us in supporting the incredible work of our journalist. On September 15, Illinois Answers reporters will take you beyond the published story, sharing what they uncovered, how they found it and why their reporting matters for communities across Illinois. RSVP Today: https://bit.ly/4y3WFDl

On September 15, we're celebrating the work of our journalists at Illinois Answers. Go beyond the published story with reporters as they share what they uncovered, how they found it and why their reporting matters for communities across Illinois. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4y3WFDl

Join us in supporting the incredible work of our journalist. On September 15, Illinois Answers reporters will take you beyond the published story sharing what they uncovered, how they found it and why their reporting matters for communities across Illinois. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4y3WFDl

Hear the stories behind the headlines. Join Illinois Answers Project reporters for a behind-the-scenes conversation about how investigations give us the information we need to hold power accountable and create meaningful change. Be our guest! RSVP by Sept. 1 here: https://bit.ly/4ckta7W

For years, the @BetterGov Court Transparency Coalition pushed for transparency within Illinois courts. The state Supreme Court just approved a new policy that, based on testimony, will publish budgets, staffing data, court system info, OSPS metrics, and more. A step in the right direction.

Illinois courts should be more transparent to the public. SB1826 would allow FOIA requests for judicial branch records, including information on court spending and other public records. Click the link and tell your Senator to support SB1826: https://bit.ly/4um7bED #Transparency #FOIA #ILGA

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

MEET THE FINALISTS: @blockclubchi.bsky.social Manny Ramos talks about his work, "Some Call It 'Death Hospital'," which is one of the large newsroom finalists of the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting. Tickets: https://bit.ly/4triTgPhttps://bit.ly/4triTgP

@blockclubchi.bsky.social's Francia Garcia Hernandez and Madison Savedra are finalists for the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting. Winners will be announced on May 7. Tickets: https://bit.ly/4triTgPhttps://bit.ly/4triTgP #Chicago #Illinois #ICE

BEYOND THE BYLINE: Our featured speaker is award-winning journalist Errin Haines, editor-at-large for The 19th, president of #NABJ and contributor at MS NOW. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4triTgP

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

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. https://bit.ly/4pVG4ND

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: This week, Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to create a working group, as the first step towards improving health and safety inspections of rental units. BGA Policy played a key role, as a steering member of the Chicago Healthy Homes Ordinance coalition.

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!

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/

📣 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

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

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

Our President & CEO David Greising will be on @abc7chicago.bsky.social this morning to discuss his recent column on the Bears stadium. Watch live at 8:45 a.m. here: https://abc7chicago.com/watch/live/

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

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

Vice President of Policy Bryan Zarou will be on @abc7chicago.bsky.social this morning to discuss Chicago's Board of Ethics Chair vacancy. Tune in live at 8:45 a.m. here: https://abc7chicago.com/watch/live/

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

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

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

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

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

Policy Analyst @sophiavp.bsky.social was quoted in this article discussing the increase of body cam requests in Naperville. “The more barriers that go up, the more roadblocks there are in the requesting process, the harder it is for the public to get the records." https://bit.ly/4pB0gEp

Vice President of Policy Bryan Zarou was on ABC7 Chicago's "Weekend Watch" to discuss leadership from both the Illinois House and Senate committing to transparent archives. Watch the segment here: https://abc7.ws/4px4CfL

Vice President of Policy Bryan Zarou will be on @abc7chicago.bsky.social this morning to discuss Speaker Welch and President Harmon committing to transparent online archives for Illinois. Watch live at 8:45 a.m. here: https://abc7.ws/3wRZlr1

Speaker of the Illinois House Chris Welch and @harmonil.bsky.social committed to modernizing the General Assembly’s website and creating free, searchable archives of floor & committee proceedings. Read their letters to BGA Policy here: https://bit.ly/44XfFrc

Under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act, there is a presumption that government records are open to the public. Body cam footage, however, is different. Want to get the footage? This guide from BGA Policy explains how. https://www.bettergov.org/2025/12/02/how-to-foia-for-body-camera-footage/

As we start our new year, catch up on BGA Policy's City of Chicago Policy Agenda for 2023-2027. https://www.bettergov.org/bga-policy-agenda-city-of-chicago-2023/

BGA Policy conducted an analysis to help those who rely on FOIA understand how the legislature has considered changing access to public documents. Check it out here: https://www.bettergov.org/2025/12/09/2025-foia-legislation-analysis/

Just a few months after the last remaining law enforcement agencies were required to equip officers with body cameras, several legislative efforts in 2025 tried to limit access to body cam footage. https://www.bettergov.org/2025/12/17/six-bills-sought-to-reduce-public-access-to-body-cam-footage/

Just a few months after the last remaining law enforcement agencies were required to equip officers with body cameras, several legislative efforts in 2025 tried to limit access to body cam footage, according to an analysis by BGA Policy. https://bit.ly/4jo33Q5

Bryan Zarou, the Better Government Association’s vice president of policy, has been appointed to serve on the City of Chicago’s Inspector General Search Committee. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4pgp9Fv

Illinois lawmakers considered 80 FOIA-related bills in 2025, many of which would narrow public access. BGA Policy breaks down what passed and what it means: https://www.bettergov.org/2025/12/09/2025-foia-legislation-analysis/

BGA Policy conducted an analysis to help those who rely on FOIA understand how the legislature has considered changing access to public documents. You can view it here: https://www.bettergov.org/2025/12/09/2025-foia-legislation-analysis/