Inside Chicago Government

The disparity in availability of charter vs. neighborhood school financial data; why CPS finally put payroll information on-line; and the downside of Freedom of Information Act requests. Length 8.5 minutes.

What, exactly, CivicLab will reveal about tax-increment financing districts; why the printed Cook County property tax bill doesn't include tax info available on the county's Web site; and how tax-increment financing raises your taxes even if you don't live in a TIF district. Length 9.3 minutes.

New lows in veracity in the age of Rahm; adding transit and restricting cars as part of private land development; and the difference between Prentice Hospital and Wolf Point. Length 17.8 minutes.

What happened to the Emanuel administration's attempt to cut a deal with Ald. Sawyer; the neighborhoods in which the mayor feels most wary of political opposition; and how we teach critical thinking about democracy. Length 12.1 minutes.

Where United's return of taxpayer subsidy will go; the story behind the $34 million TIF "return" of 2011; and Mayor Harold Washington, the father of Chicago TIF. Length 11.9 minutes.

What happens when black aldermen's constituents rebel; possible effects of the city council holding hearings on privatization deals; and the best strategy for the water-billing workers' union. Length 15.3 minutes.

Mayor Daley's legacy of public budget meetings carried on by progressive aldermen; how and why ward remapping disposes of certain aldermen; and why aldermen should vote against the mayor's proposed 2013 budget, and who might. Length 15.8 minutes.

The expectation that kindergarten will teach students to read; why Illinois didn't receive federal Race to the Top funds; and Diane Ravitch's historical perspective of school performance. Length 14.5 minutes.

Jesse White's staggering miscalculations around legislative appointments; how poorly the West Side's political leaders serve it; and comparing Rep. Smith to former Gov. Blagojevich. Length 14.9 minutes.

Standardized testing as a barometer of what a student needs to know; whether unionization factors into student performance; and whether teacher tenure actually exists. Length 11.1 minutes.

The mistake of separating teachers from the union representing them; the Chicago Teachers Union ripe for criticism; and how the board of education has broken contractual agreements. Length 13.5 minutes.

How at-home investigators can analyze Chicago Public Schools payroll; one of the phoniest issues in the education debate; and why South Side teachers might not want to end the strike. Length 15.2 minutes.

The possible collusion between former Pres. Bush and former Mayor Daley; the normalization of Alderman Joe Moore; and predictions on whether Chicago teachers will strike. Length 16 minutes.

The surprising requirements of state law for sex education; when not to blame voters for bad election results; and the People's Rights Amendment. Length 11.9 minutes.

A rundown of the members of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks; the most rubber-stamp-like body in city government; and the public expense for saving Prentice. Length 15.2 minutes.

The two forms of justice; why prosecutors stay tight-lipped; and what made this a hard story to write. Length 9.5 minutes.

Why the mayor controls who chairs city council committees; Ben's defense of Alderman Moore; and an elected school board--a bad idea? Length 13.8 minutes.

Why property taxes go up when property values go down; how taxing bodies come up with the tax levy; and the different ways of structuring a tax-increment financing deal. Length 10.3 minutes.

Whether Chicago police will start ticketing more white marijuana users; what'll come next in Mick and Ben's marijuana-law reporting; and the schizophrenia of American marijuana laws. Length 6 minutes.

The game of comparing schools via test scores; the Democratic Party's drift toward charter schools; and why Mayor Emanuel wants a teachers' strike. Length 10.9 minutes.

When Mayor Emanuel acts in opposition to his conservative leanings; whether city officials' planning conversations should remain confidential; and the mysterious CME Group meeting. Length 12.5 minutes.

What might've motivated the Emanuel administration to make the TIF video; how the administration has done on meeting the goals identified by the mayor's TIF task force; and Ben's rebuttal video. Length 11.8 minutes.

Whether the city still doesn't check on the jobs pledges of TIF-fund recipients; what sort of central business district investments make the most sense; and the surprising bastions of unionism. Length 14.4 minutes.

Why border-situated land owners can have their land transferred to a suburb; whether landfills necessarily make for obnoxious neighbors; and Mayor Emanuel's calculus. Length 9.4 minutes.

Who voted against the mayor's proposed infrastructure trust and why; why the early infrastructure trust investors might have gotten involved; and how the city council might end up voting on certain unique infrastructure deals. Length 12.4 minutes.