BEN GOLDBERGER
Ben Goldberger is the news editor at the Chicago News Cooperative, responsible for CNC's daily coverage and its digital initiatives.
He was founding Chicago editor of The Huffington Post, where he launched the first local edition of the news and opinion website. Under his direction, Huffington Post Chicago delivered breaking news and analysis of the 2008 presidential election, the Blagojevich impeachment and the 2016 Olympics bid. Earlier, he was a reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times and an editor of the paper’s weekly opinion section, Controversy. Ben also has written about politics for Chicago Magazine.
Recent Contributions
by BEN GOLDBERGER | Feb 2, 2012
THE STATE OF THE STATE IS … VAGUE Gov. Pat Quinn called for ending the state’s natural gas tax, pension and Medicaid reform and championed a series of economic development ideas in his annual State of the State address Wednesday in Springfield. “While we have downsized Illinois government more than ever before, we continue to
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Jan 11, 2012
LINES IN THE SAND As Mayor Rahm Emanuel seeks greater restrictions on protests and increased fines ahead of the NATO and G-8 summits in May, officials in other cities hosting similar, large-scale events are also changing laws in the hopes of preserving order. http://on.wsj.com/wYhuBG -The Illinois State Police taped some of their training drills for the
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Jan 10, 2012
SHHH! Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the unexpected closure of city branch libraries on Mondays happened because AFSCME Council 31 used the negotiations as a “bargaining chip” for “something else.” Emanuel did not detail what “something else” meant. http://bit.ly/z3YZna - AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall, Civic Federation president Laurence Msall, Ald. John Arena (45th) and Ald. Patrick O’Connor
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Dec 16, 2011
OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO! Unable to reach an agreement on a plan to redraw the city’s 50 wards, two blocs of aldermen are preparing to present their own maps to the public that could set the stage for a costly voter referendum. Mayor Rahm Emanuel urged aldermen to reach a consensus: “The differences are
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Dec 13, 2011
THE TAXMAN CUTETH The Illinois House overwhelmingly approved a package of tax relief bills designed to keep CME Group and Sears from leaving Illinois and provide some savings for lower-income individuals. The Senate is scheduled today to vote on the cuts. http://apne.ws/rJrpHp - Gov. Pat Quinn urged the Senate “to take swift action” on approving the
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Dec 6, 2011
BEGINNING OF THE END The sentencing hearing for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich begins today. Federal prosecutors on Monday criticized Blagojevich’s arguments for a short prison sentence as being contradictory and told Judge James Zagel his conflicting rationales show “Blagojevich accepts no responsibility whatsoever for his criminal conduct.” http://bit.ly/sdYbdx - Legal experts said Blagojevich’s bid for
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Nov 9, 2011
PENSION TENSION A state House panel passed controversial pension legislation by a vote of 5-4 Tuesday night. Yet the bill, which would require current state workers, teachers, university personnel, General Assembly members and judges to pay more for their retirement benefits, move into a 401K-type system or work longer to receive higher retirement pay, may
by BEN GOLDBERGER and DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Nov 2, 2011
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST A jury found longtime Springfield power broker William Cellini guilty on two of four counts in his federal corruption trial Tuesday. Cellini’s attorney vowed to appeal the convictions, which included conspiracy to extort and aiding and abetting bribery for his role in a scheme to trade state contracts in exchange
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Oct 20, 2011
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) questioned Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to end water fee exemptions for non-profits during the City Council’s first hearing on the mayor’s proposed budget. “We may have political issues with those,” the veteran alderman said of the effect on parishes and parochial schools. http://bit.ly/pY7HRY - Budget Director Alexandra Holt
by HUNTER CLAUSS and BEN GOLDBERGER | Sep 27, 2011
TIFS, TAXES AND TOLLS, OH MY! City Hall’s inspector general has issued a raft of revenue-generating suggestions that together would raise more than $2.2 billion for a city government with an annual budget shortfall that effectively tops $1 billion. In his “budget options” report released late Monday, Inspector General Joseph Ferguson presents estimates of how
