Illinois Freezes Cook County Job Training Funds, Alleges Corruption

Chicagoist reports:

The state put the brakes on county spending for the Presidents Office of Employment and Training (POET) Tuesday, citing corruption and mismanagement of the funds. “POET has been a mismanaged agency for a long time,” said Republican County Commissioner Timothy Schneider of Streamwood. “This department has seen rampant waste, corruption and mismanagement for many years.” Earlier this year Shirley Glover, who oversaw the program, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing $100,000 and was sentenced to four years in prison. And in January of last year, three former POET employees were charged along with two ministers of conspiracy to funnel more than $2 million from banks and taxpayers for bogus training.