Madigan, McClain plead not guilty to racketeering charges

SPRINGFIELD – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and former lobbyist Michael McClain on Wednesday pleaded not guilty in federal court to charges of racketeering, bribery, fraud and extortion. Both were arraigned on those charges during a teleconference hearing before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cole, a hearing that was prolonged several minutes because McClain had […]
Former lawmaker pleads guilty two years after arrest for attempt to bribe another lawmaker

CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors notched one more guilty plea on Wednesday as the wide-ranging corruption probe that’s rocked Illinois politics for the last nearly three years marches onward. Former State Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday a little more than two years after he was arrested for attempting to bribe […]
Madigan Right-Hand Man Indicted For Lying To Grand Jury In ComEd Bribery Investigation

SPRINGFIELD – A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted former House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longtime chief of staff for lying under oath during the grand jury’s investigation of electric utility Commonwealth Edison’s admitted bribery scheme benefitting Madigan. Tim Mapes, who served as Madigan’s chief of staff from 2001 until his ouster after sexual harassment allegations in […]
The True, High Cost We’re All Paying For ComEd’s Springfield Corruption

During ComEd’s eight-year bribery scheme, the company won two lucrative bills — and customers across northern Illinois are paying for it.
News Around Illinois – February 7, 2020

Judge Orders Municipalities To Refund Carle Foundation $6.2 Million URBANA – A circuit judge has ordered the city of Urbana and other local taxing bodies to refund $6.2 million in property tax payments to the Carle Foundation. In a ruling issued Wednesday, Judge Randall Rosenbaum also called on Carle and the taxing authorities to end […]
News Around Illinois – February 5, 2020

State Senator Trying To End FOID Cards QUAD CITIES – Once again Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline) is trying to eliminate Illinois’ firearm owners identification (FOID) card. He thinks the firearm owners identification card is un-necessary, and a costly burden for the Illinois State Police. Getting a FOID card requires a background check by the state […]
News Around Illinois – January 29, 2020

Answers Demanded About DNA Testing Backlog SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police are working their way through the backlog of DNA evidence, and have recently decreased the number of delayed cases by 16 percent. But the turnaround time is still, on average, 215 days. On Tuesday, Carrie Ward, Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, […]