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
www.bettergov.org/2026/03/04/small-steps-f...
📣 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.
www.bettergov.org/2025/12/02/how-to-foia-f...
As we start our new year, catch up on BGA Policy's City of Chicago Policy Agenda for 2023-2027.
www.bettergov.org/bga-policy-agenda-city-o...
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: www.bettergov.org/2025/12/09/2025-foia-leg...
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.
www.bettergov.org/2025/12/17/six-bills-sou...
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