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FELON LEAVES COUNTY JOB

The BGA and FOX 32 reveal that newly elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough hires a family friend with a felony conviction for a top government job. The employee ends up resigning amid the inquiry, and Yarbrough pledges background checks of workers.

LIQUOR REFORMS PROPOSED

After the BGA and CBS2 reveal many Chicago-area mayors take campaign money from bars and restaurants they're regulating, two officials pledge changes. Aurora's mayor plans to hand off most liquor licensing duties to a three-member panel to avoid any conflict of interest. Markham's mayor indicates he'll stop taking political donations from liquor establishments in his suburb.

CONTROVERSIAL COP CLUB FOLDS

After the BGA and CBS2 raise questions about a motorcycle club founded by Melrose Park police, some of whom wore patches paying homage to a notorious outlaw biker group, the suburb's police chief cracks down on his officers, who then disband their club.

PACE CRACKS DOWN ON WEB AFTER BGA INQUIRY

After the BGA requests documents related to social media use by Pace suburban bus employees, the agency launches its own review of worker conduct, disciplines some employees and embraces tighter controls.

PENSION FUND ACTS FOLLOWING BGA PROBE

Prompted by a BGA investigation that raised questions about pension eligibility, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund decides to strip away taxpayer-subsidized retirement benefits from a politically connected attorney working for the municipal governments in Calumet City and Chicago Heights.

LEGISLATOR CUTS CHECK FOLLOWING BGA INQUIRY

After the BGA disclosed that state Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) was benefiting from two property tax breaks on his personal property when only one was allowed, Arroyo issued a refund of more than $4,400.

PENSION AGENCY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION

In the wake of questions from the BGA, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund initiates an investigation into why a part-time contract lawyer for Calumet City's municipal government stands to collect a six-figure taxpayer-subsidized pension someday.

BGA PROBE PROMPTS PAYBACK FROM POL

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and her husband refund more than $5,000 after the BGA disclosed they secured three property tax breaks during the 1990s when only one was allowed.

DUPAGE BOARD MEMBERS SHAMED INTO SHOWING UP MORE

Following a 2011 BGA analysis that found DuPage County Board members were missing numerous public meetings -- but still collecting paychecks -- their 2012 attendance improves, with officials citing the BGA's findings as a big reason.

BGA, FOX HELP RESTORE $100,000 REWARD IN COP-KILLER PROBE

While doing research into the still-unsolved murder of Maywood Police Officer Tom Wood, the BGA and FOX Chicago help reestablish a six-figure reward after discovering that village officials had allowed it to lapse.

LAWMAKER SUBPOENAED OVER LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIPS

Federal prosecutors seek records on state Rep. Dan Burke after a BGA/Sun-Times investigation raises questions about how he awarded taxpayer-subsidized college tuition waivers to the daughter of his former secretary.

CPS CRACKDOWN FOLLOWS CBS2/BGA PROBE

Prompted at least in part by a CBS2/BGA investigation, the Chicago Public Schools' inspector general cracks down on abuses in the free and reduced school lunch programs, which are supposed to help lower-income students. Turns out numerous CPS employees, including principals, were inappropriately signing their children up for the programs, saddling taxpayers with the tab.

LANSING KILLS PENSION PERK

On the heels of a BGA investigation, the Village of Lansing voted to repeal a pension spike for retiring first responders. Police officers and firefighters in the south suburb had been able to take a 25 percent raise or a $12,000 raise, whichever was greater, on their last day of work. The now-defunct boost enhanced their pensions by at least $6,000 in the first year of retirement alone, saddling taxpayers with huge long-range liabilities.

BILL ELIMINATING LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIPS ENACTED

After the BGA, the Chicago Sun-Times and others exposed repeated abuses in how Illinois legislators award college tuition waivers — and following an aggressive lobbying campaign by the BGA policy team — the General Assembly voted to end the decades-old program, which had been costing taxpayers more than $13 million a year. Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on July 11 and thanked the BGA for its doggedness.

#Legislative scholarships

RAHM RETURNING LOBBYIST CASH

After the BGA discovers that Rahm Emanuel's campaign fund apparently violated a pledge not to accept donations from lobbyists, his political action committee announces it will return five donations totaling $7,650.

PROMISING MOVEMENT ON PENSION

Prompted in part by disclosures by the BGA and Chicago Sun-Times of a pension perk apparently crafted by a state legislator just for a member of one of Chicago's most powerful political families, the Illinois Senate passes a bill to reverse the benefit. While the House didn't take up the measure, it's expected to be revisited in the next legislative session.

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