The Public Investigator

NEWS ALERT: Lake County has increased all its court fees to partially offset the state’s default in paying for criminal justice obligations.

Why this news is important to you: When the state shirks its responsibility to adequately fund the criminal justice system, the burden falls on local governments, which must make up the deficit by increasing the cost of justice.

Subscribers can read The Public Investigator’s news report to find out how the state’s default will be passed on to the people of Lake County.

NEWS ALERT: Lake County road is getting roundabout intersections.

Why this news is important to you: Local motorists who have never encountered roundabouts need to know how to use them.

Subscribers can read The Public Investigator’s news report to find out where the roundabouts will be installed and the rules in how to use them.

Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Diana O’Kelly of Mundelein

Why this news is important to you: Elected officials deny it, but money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.

Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to find out the lone contributor to Diana O’Kelly’s campaign fund during her reelection campaign last year.

Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Steve Carlson of Gurnee

Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.

Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of individual contributors to Steve Carlson’s campaign fund, which includes multiple contributions from another candidate who was elected to the County Board.

Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Melinda Bush of Grayslake

Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.

Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of individual contributors to Melinda Bush’s campaign fund and find out which union was the majority bankroller of her campaign.

Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Bonnie Thomson Carter of Ingleside

Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.

Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of individual contributors to Bonnie Thomson Carter’s campaign fund, which includes The Alter Group, an engineering firm that recently got a county contract and a couple other interesting names.