* You can find our previous coverage here and here. Tribune…
Madigan departed the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse just before noon Wednesday, holding hands with two of his daughters and walking out into the falling snow toward his attorneys’ offices followed by a horde of news cameras.
He greeted journalists mildly, and expressed concern about a reporter who was out in the street while he waited for the walk signal, but declined to comment. Asked about a potential appeal, Madigan attorney Todd Pugh said it was “too soon.”
Morris Pasqual, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said Wednesday’s convictions “rank high in the annals of criminal cases tried in this court.”
“The citizens of Illinois have a right to honest, clean government,” he said. “They have a right to have the decisions of their elected officials made based on what is good for the public, what is in the common good. They have a right to trust and expect that from their public officials.Michael Madigan breached and violated that trust over and over again.”
* During a news conference, a reporter asked Pasqual if he will seek a retrial on the counts where the jury was deadlocked.…
Pasqual: No decision been made on that. We will obviously closely discuss the developments, what’s happened, discuss it with the team and at the appropriate time we’ll make a decision about whether to seek a retrial.
Q: Do you still consider this a win even though the biggest charge, the racketeering, there was no verdict and McClain walked out free.
Pasqual: Well, there were guilty verdicts on 10 separate corruption counts, the statutory max and those range anywhere from 5 to 10 to 20 years. Mr. Madigan, again, he was at the top of Illinois state government. So to say that he stands convicted of 10 felony corruption counts is significant.
Q: If this case goes to sentencing and you guys determined that Mr. Madigan lied on the witness stand, could you use that try to enhance any sentencing?
Pasqual: Well he would be subject to a two point enhancement if a judge were to find that he intentionally provided false material testimony at trial. So yes, we would pursue that. And we would make our decision on sentencing after reviewing all the facts, after reviewing the investigation report. If we came to the conclusion that he knowingly provided false testimony at trial, we would pursue that adjustment.
Q: Would it surprise you to learn that McClain was actually convicted in a separate trial two years ago, along with Anne Pramaggiore and Jay Doherty and John Hooker?
Juror: I wasn’t aware of that. […] I think, as a collective. Now that you mentioned that, that wasn’t presented to us, so we didn’t include that in our deliberations, in terms of making a decision on any count.
Q: Is there any kind of broader message that today’s verdict sends?
Juror: No […]
Q: In terms of the convictions with Madigan, what was, to you, the most decisive piece of evidence that really cinched it for you?
Juror: I think a lot of Madigan’s evidence were really pertaining whatever McClain had going on. Since McClain was basically speaking on his behalf the majority of the case, but the majority of the time. It kind of was a straight shot at what Madigan had guilt in certain counts. Especially the way [the judge], laid out the instructions and the details that we had to answer regarding whether someone was guilty or not guilty.
One juror said, “deliberations were very productive. I honestly believe we all got our opinions out about the case. … I really believe that we all considered each other’s thoughts and feelings.”
However, the juror said they didn’t exactly get along.
“Most people really stood their ground on what they believed on what they saw,” he said.
He believed Madigan was speaking the truth “from his lens” when he testified during the trial.
“When you put all of the pieces together, I don’t think they were all adding up,” the juror said.
“That there will be some measure of accountability for the decades of abuse of power and corruption is critically important and will have implications for our state government for generations. Particularly in a moment when our federal government has been subsumed by blatantly corrupt forces, we need our state government to be trustworthy to the public and focused on the will of the people, not self-interest. This verdict will help move us toward that goal.”
* Senate President Harmon…
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement regarding the verdict in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
“The jury’s verdict closes a long, disturbing chapter in Illinois’ history. It’s a stark reminder that corruption, abuse of power and manipulation of public policy for personal gain can never be tolerated. We cannot be effective if people don’t trust us.
Yet, every failure is an opportunity to be better. In recent years, we have worked to restore that trust through balanced budgets, credit rating upgrades, community investments and sweeping, bipartisan ethics reform.
Today’s verdict is a sobering reminder that our work is never finished.
I stand ready to work with my colleagues to continue this fight for the people of Illinois.”
“Mike Madigan, the long-time leader of the Illinois Democrat Party, now faces accountability from decades of fleecing Illinois’ taxpayers. The Illinois Democrat Party is no stranger to corruption and putting its own interest above the Prairie State but it doesn’t have to be this way. Most Democrat elected officials will pretend today that they condemn Madigan but their history proves otherwise. Make no mistake: nearly every Democrat in Illinois has benefitted from Madigan’s corruption in some way, and they have all been willing to sell their souls for hefty donations and the support of the political machine Madigan built. While we have a long way to go to recover from more than half a century of Madigan’s corruption, today is a great day for the people of Illinois.”
* House Republican Organization…
Following the jury’s decision in Mike Madigan’s Federal bribery trial, the Illinois House Republican Organization released the following statement:
“Today, the jury confirmed what the public has suspected for years – that Mike Madigan built a political machine to favor his friends and enrich himself at the expense of Illinois families. For decades, he used his office to consolidate power, reward allies, and protect a corrupt system that put special interests ahead of taxpayers.
This conviction is a step toward justice, but it is not enough. The culture of corruption in Springfield did not start or end with Mike Madigan. Many members of the General Assembly benefited from his political operation, accepted his money, and enabled his reign. They must be held accountable.
The current members of the Illinois House, accepted nearly $16.5 million in campaign donations from Mike Madigan’s political committees including these members who received at least a half a million dollars each:
Terra Costa Howard - $1,626,379
Katie Stuart - $1,506,320
Suzanne Ness - $1,242,814
Michelle Mussman - $1,117,022
Joyce Mason - $1,063,044
Janet Yang Rohr - $1,030,974
Sue Scherer - $998,479
Fred Crespo - $925,693
Stephanie Kifowit - $727,992
Natalie Manley - $585,067
Harry Benton - $565,393
Maura Hirschauer - $523,469
Jehan Gordon-Booth - $500,441
House Republicans and the Federal Justice System are doing what these members refuse to do: the important work of reforming state government so it works for the people, not the political insiders.
It is time for immediate and sweeping anti-corruption and transparency reforms. House Republicans are ready with draft legislation and the determination to get it done. Democrats in Springfield have blocked those efforts at every turn. Today’s conviction should be a wake up call for the majority party to finally dismantle Madigan’s corrupt machine.”
* House Republicans…
Who: House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (Savanna) Deputy House Republican Leader Ryan Spain (Peoria) and Assistant Leader Patrick Windhorst (Metropolis).
What: In the wake of a partial verdict in which former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was found guilty on multiple counts of bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud, House Republicans renew their demand for the General Assembly to take action on ethics reforms to root out corruption and prevent criminal activity by politicians and their cronies.
When: [1.00] PM on Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Where: ZOOM (event will also be featured live on Blueroom Stream and the caucus Facebook page)
This post will be updated.
…Adding…Capitol News Illinois Reporter Ben Szalinski asked Rep. Ann Williams for her reaction…
…Adding… Reform for Illinois, Change Illinois and Common Cause Illinois…
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan has been found guilty on federal corruption charges. It’s an important milestone in establishing accountability for the powerful. But it’s nowhere near enough to restore public trust and strengthen our democracy. Our laws and our politicians enabled Madigan’s decades-long reign, and this verdict just underscores the need for broad, systemic change in Illinois.
The investigations of Madigan and his associates revealed a pattern of behavior aimed at maximizing political control and personal wealth at the expense of the public interest. For too long, Madigan was protected by the walls of power he had built, using money and favors to ensure the loyalty of those around him and exploiting weak ethics rules and a culture that accepted corruption as business as usual.
Springfield lawmakers have the opportunity to turn things around. They took a critical step by finally ousting Madigan when his indictment seemed inevitable, but an ethics task force prompted by mounting scandals never delivered any recommendations, and the ethics package legislators enacted in 2021 was full of loopholes and fell far short of what was needed to deliver real change.
The Legislative Inspector General at the time, Carol Pope, resigned her post in protest, saying the bill showed that “true ethics reform is not a priority” for the statehouse. Governor Pritzker delivered eloquent speeches about rooting out corruption, but despite admitting that he “wanted more”, failed to use his veto power or bully pulpit to meaningfully strengthen the laws.
Both Governor Pritzker and legislators described the 2021 package as a “first step,” with the governor vowing to “push for [more] every single year that I’m in office.” But we haven’t seen any progress on these issues since then.
For years good government groups have been advocating for common sense reforms that are the norm in many other states, including strengthening oversight by empowering the Legislative Inspector General’s office, improving lobbying regulation and revolving door rules, reducing abuse of our campaign finance system, and enforcing conflict of interest rules. A number of these policies would be new only to the legislature, already existing in Illinois’ executive branch and at the local level.
We’re encouraged by lawmakers who have introduced robust reform bills this session, including state Senators Laura Murphy, Julie Morrison, Tony McCombie, and Jil Tracy, and Reps. Kelly Cassidy, Ryan Spain, and Abdelnasser Rashid.
New faces have appeared in Springfield since 2021, and with this verdict, there are new opportunities for change. We hope lawmakers will follow through on their promise to continue this work and begin rebuilding Illinoisans’ faith in their government. Failing to fix our broken system will just leave the door open for the next Madigan, continuing the cycle of corruption, scandal, and mistrust that plagues our state. Illinois deserves better.
…Adding… Rep. Terra Costa Howard…
“It’s been almost five years since I followed my conscience and led the call for Michael J. Madigan to resign as Speaker of the House and Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Today, the jury has spoken, and Madigan stands convicted of corruption.
“At a time when the principles that have guided our government and our country for generations are under attack, I am deeply encouraged that our justice system has delivered this verdict. Corruption and unethical behavior by political leaders cannot be allowed to pervert our government and undermine the people’s trust. Today, the people won.”
“I have always believed that a court of law was the place for this to all be sorted out. Today’s outcome leaves me with great appreciation and respect for our legal system. Investigators, prosecutors, and a jury of Illinoisans did their job.”
“House Democrats have been focused on delivering for working people, rebuilding Illinois’ fiscal house, and prioritizing our shared values to combat the divisive tactics coming from Washington—and only through new leadership and a new vision of how the People’s House can operate would that work be possible. House Democrats will continue to do our job and deliver for the people.”
…Adding… House GOP Leader McCombie…
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie issued the following statement in response to the partial guilty verdict in the federal corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan today:
“House Republicans remain determined in demanding meaningful reform to restore trust in our government and serve the interests of Illinois families. Today’s federal court verdict convicting Mike Madigan, the former Speaker of the House whose 40-year reign casts a long shadow over Illinois politics, on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud underscores the urgent need for action.
“Unfortunately, Democrats in Springfield have repeatedly failed to take ethics legislation seriously, even after the resignation of the Legislative Inspector General, which should have been a wake-up call for change. Instead of seizing the opportunity to implement real oversight and accountability, the majority party has allowed the status quo of corruption and insider politics to persist.
“House Republicans are committed to fighting for robust reforms that prioritize the needs of Illinois families over political self-interest. It’s time to end the culture of corruption and deliver the honest, transparent government our state deserves.”
…Adding… Senate Republican Leader John Curran…
“The jury has spoken, and the deeply entrenched culture of corruption that has dictated public policy at the expense of Illinois taxpayers must be addressed. Accountability and transparency in public policy decisions are non-negotiable and reforming the legislative process must be a top priority in this legislative session. We will continue to advocate for our aggressive ethics reform proposals to help restore trust with the People of Illinois.”
…Adding… Governor JB Pritzker…
Trust in public officials is something that’s hard earned. Public service ought to be a high calling for honest people with integrity. And those who violate the public’s trust must be held accountable if confidence in the system is to be restored.
The Madigan verdict by a jury of everyday Illinoisans is an important message to anyone in government — or those thinking about public service — that if you choose corruption you will be found out, and you will be punished.
This week has been a vital reminder that we must maintain our vigilance in cleaning up government and always put the people we serve first.
…Adding… Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton…
Michael Madigan exploited his role to advance his personal and political agenda at the direct expense of the very people he was sworn to serve.
Illinoisans deserve leaders who demonstrate integrity, and this outcome should serve as a reminder that, despite what the current news cycle suggests, those who betray the public trust will be held accountable.
…Adding… US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi…
“For too long, our state has been marked by scandal, corruption, and self-serving politicians who will do anything for power. It’s a new day in Illinois, and we won’t go back to the days of Blagojevich or Madigan. Public service is about just that — serving the people, which is why I am fighting to increase oversight on politicians, root out corruption, and ensure that government works for the people.”
* We’ll of course update if there’s a decision in the Madigan/McClain case. Until then, here’s Sojourner Truth’s Battle Hymn…
Look there above the center, where the flag is waving bright;
We are going out of slavery, we are bound for freedom’s light;
We mean to show Jeff Davis how the Africans can fight,
As we go marching on.
Judge Blakey: the note reads "We have reached our limit for today. We would like to leave early and start fresh in the morning." https://t.co/cdcnCw9xvr
Mayor Brandon Johnson is subject to the city’s ethics ordinance and prohibited from accepting most gifts worth more than $50, the Chicago Board of Ethics announced Monday.
No longer will gifts accepted by Chicago’s mayor on behalf of the city be covered by an “unwritten arrangement” dating back to the late 1980s during the administration of former Mayor Eugene Sawyer, Board President William Conlon said during a meeting Monday.
“Any informal agreement made years ago is over and revoked,” Conlon said. “The board expects compliance with the ordinance.”
Under the informal arrangement, gifts accepted by the mayor were supposed to be logged in a book that would be available for public viewing, while the items themselves were stored in the mayor’s suite of offices on City Hall’s fifth floor.
The Turnpike Troubadours have also been added to the grandstand lineup.
*** Statehouse News ***
* Sen. Chapin Rose | Time for UI to stop short-sheeting its flagship campus: “Even after spotting the UI’s Chicago campus its special taxpayer add-ons for the hospital that it manages, under President (Tim) Killeen’s general operations allocations, the students of the Urbana campus end up effectively subsidizing the UIC campus.”
* SJ-R | New bill seeks more thorough review of officer candidates’ past employment: State Senator Doris Turner, D-Springfield, has introduced two measures in response to the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in an unincorporated neighborhood of Springfield last July. Senate Bill 1953 would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment to ensure that candidate is physically and psychologically fit for duty. The proposed legislation would include the creation of sheriff’s merit boards and sheriff’s merit commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.
* Crain’s | Illinois Realtors unveils legislative agenda aimed at easing housing shortage: “The biggest pain point for consumers right now is housing affordability, housing options,” said Tommy Choi, president of Illinois Realtors, the statewide association. Choi is also co-owner of the Keller Williams OneChicago brokerage. “It’s super important to focus on solutions that can help,” he said. In the past two weeks, state legislators have introduced five bills they wrote in collaboration with Illinois Realtors, all intended to reduce obstacles to building, buying and renting housing. They include proposals that would allow construction of multi-unit homes on many lots now reserved for single houses, get rid of bans on accessory dwelling units and hold the line on impact fees homebuilders pay to municipalities.
*** Statewide ***
* WAND | ‘Illinois Grown’ program to spotlight locally produced foods, products: “The Illinois Grown initiative is not just about food – it’s about supporting local communities,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. “Consumers who buy Illinois Grown products can feel good knowing their money is going directly to Illinois farmers and producers.” Consumers who pledge to spend at least $10 of their weekly grocery budget on Illinois Grown items can sign up to receive a free shopping bag or sticker.
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Johnson warns of City Hall housecleaning triggered by disloyalty: ‘If you ain’t with us, you gotta go.’: Mayor Brandon Johnson says he should have “cleaned house faster” when he took office and now plans to correct that mistake by sending people packing. “If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go,” the mayor said. Johnson ominous warning that heads are about to roll before the mid-term benchmark came during an appearance Monday night at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 754 E. 77th St. It was the first in a series of appearances the mayor’s office is calling Johnson’s “Faith in Government” initiative.
* Block Club | Heartland Alliance Health Shutting Down Clinics And Food Pantries, Affecting Thousands In Need: The clinics at 4009 N. Broadway and 5501 S. Halsted St. are no longer taking new appointments for patients and are directing people to other federally qualified health centers or clinics, according to Heartland’s website. After Block Club Chicago reached out, the nonprofit announced its closure on its website. There are 113 staff members at Heartland Alliance Health who will lose their jobs as a result of the organization shutting down, 50 of whom are in the union, Brieschke said. Between the low-cost clinics and the food pantries, the organization serves about 8,000 people a year, he said.
* Block Club | Cabrini-Green Lot Vacant For 50 Years Closer To Being Redeveloped With Mixed-Income Apartments: The Committee on Finance approved $14 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) funds for a $52.9 million mixed-income housing development at 547 W. Oak St., a vacant lot owned by the Chicago Housing Authority. City officials approved the project in 2021. Last spring, the Community Development Commission authorized the $14 million in TIF funding, but it still required the City Council’s approval. With Monday’s committee vote, the funding now heads to the full City Council for a final decision next week.
* Tribune | Cook County prosecutors seek to unionize in first major drive in decades: In the first major union drive to reach the office in decades, a group of assistant Cook County state’s attorneys have asked the office to voluntarily recognize a bargaining unit that would represent hundreds of lawyers working for the country’s second-largest prosecutor’s office. A majority of Cook County assistant state’s attorneys in the proposed bargaining unit have signed union authorization cards with Teamsters Local 700, according to a letter sent Monday to State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. Teamsters representatives declined to say what percentage of attorneys signed cards.
* Naperville Sun | DuPage County Board votes to strip US Rep. Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse: The DuPage County Board voted 10-5 at its Tuesday meeting to remove the Republican congressman’s name from the building and related offices in Wheaton. While Democrats and Republicans voted along party lines on the issue, Democrats Lynn LaPlante and Lucy Chang Evans abstained from the vote and expressed disappointment that the matter was raised. […] “Here in DuPage County, public buildings serve all people, regardless of race, gender, faith or … economic status,” board Chair Deb Conroy, a Democrat from Elmhurst, said ahead the vote. “This resolution reinforces the notion that the buildings on this campus support the rights of all people to receive the services they need. … I believe our actions should reflect our values.”
* Daily Southtown | Oak Forest group, Midlothian library team up to fight ‘bedlessness’: Dave King and Ed Copher were looking in 2018 for a way to make a difference in their community and found while there were agencies devoted to fighting homelessness, there weren’t as many resources available to help people turn housing into homes. “I didn’t realize there was a need but the more I learned, the more I realized “bedlessness” is not a real word but is a problem in almost every single city across America,” said King.
*** Downstate ***
* WAND | Pres. Lincoln’s bank ledger arrives in Springfield for display: Abraham Lincoln had to eat, sleep and put money in the bank just like everyone else. Now you can see the transactions and bank movements he made throughout his life in Illinois. […] The treasurers office used to be a JPMorganChase bank, who originally held the former presidents ledger on display. When the bank firm sold the building to the state for $10, they took the original copy with them and now display it at their New York City headquarters.
* SJ-R | Here are the 10 most dangerous intersections in Springfield: When agencies look to invest in roadway safety, they analyze factors like the number of crashes, fatalities, injuries, and property damage, as well as the speed of a given roadway, said City of Springfield Traffic Engineer T.J. Heavisides. Heavisides said the city is aware that these intersections are seeing a high number of crashes. Safety funds have been awarded specifically for the intersections of MacArthur and Lawrence, and for South Grand and MLK. Consultants are working on designs to improve those intersections, he said.
* WCIA | ‘Change is long overdue’: Urbana Police Chief calls for end to gun violence in the community: In a letter addressed to the Urbana community Tuesday morning, Chief Larry Boone said that for months, the police department has collected data, spoken out and urged action to prevent firearm related deaths. But, despite their efforts, Boone said they were met with “skepticism and accusations.”
* SJ-R | Restaurant selling ‘Illinois Hot Chicken’ is opening first Springfield location: Pop-Up Chicken Shop, a Bloomington-based fried chicken restaurant known for its “Illinois Hot Chicken”, announced the restaurant is opening its first Springfield location in May. […] The menu ranges from chicken sandwiches to wings and whole buckets. The menu also offers the classic Springfield horseshoe sandwich with dill pickle fries, smoked gouda chipotle cheese and two chicken tenders atop Texas toast.
* WSIL | Cats of Carbondale hosts Valentine’s Day event to fix cats: Organizers say people can donate $30; a cat getting spayed or neutered will be named after its ex. Cats of Carbondale says the reason is that “some people (and cats!) just shouldn’t reproduce.”
*** National ***
* Rolling Stone | Alabama Shakes map out summer reunion tour: “This band and these songs have been such a source of joy for all of us. It is crazy that it has been 10 years since we released Sound and Color and eight years since we played a show. But, we didn’t want this to entirely be a look back. We wanted it to be as much about the future as the past. So we have a bunch of new music that will be released soon. We just can’t wait to experience that ‘feeling’ when we start playing those first few notes of ‘Don’t Wanna Fight’ or ‘Gimme All Your Love.’”
* Crain’s | Judge orders Walgreens to pay nearly $1 billion in COVID test case: Under their contract, Walgreens used PWNHealth’s physician network to order COVID-19 tests requested from Walgreens’ website during the pandemic. But in 2022, PWNHealth initiated an arbitration with the American Arbitration Association, alleging that Walgreens breached the exclusive agreement when it used medical professionals outside the contract to order COVID tests.
* Semafor | Fake, viral conspiracies on X stump politicians, media: Shawn Ryan built one of the country’s most popular podcasts, interviewed US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, and attracted more than a million followers on X. It was there, on Monday morning, where he shared a conspiracy theory about the governor of Pennsylvania with one piece of commentary: “Wow.” That theory implicated Gov. Josh Shapiro — with no evidence — in the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Trump. Nonetheless, it went on an amazing journey — from a pro se litigant who posted TikTok videos about her multiple anti-Shapiro complaints, to a Facebook page that posts about explosive crime stories, to millions of shares on Elon Musk’s microblogging site. It got enough traction on Monday for Dan Bongino to urge his conservative radio audience to “hold on this” and be skeptical unless his sources could verify it.
* WaPo | Kendrick Lamar’s performance was as Black and subversive as all get-out: Jackson as Uncle Sam was brilliant. Back in 2012, he played the role of a house slave, Stephen, in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” who protects his master at all costs and tries to thwart the uprisings against the White masters led by the character Django. During the Super Bowl performance, his Uncle Sam chides Lamar for being too Black, “too ghetto,” and asks him to tone things down — trying to dictate the boundaries for Blackness in White spaces.
* Latin Times | American Bar Association Condemns Trump Admin’s ‘Attacks’ on Constitution and Rule of Law: ‘This is Chaotic’: In a statement released Monday, ABA President William R. Bay said the administration is undermining the rule of law in ways that “most Americans recognize as wrong.” “Instead, we see wide-scale affronts to the rule of law itself, such as attacks on constitutionally protected birthright citizenship, the dismantling of USAID, and the attempts to criminalize those who support lawful programs to eliminate bias and enhance diversity,” Bay said.
* We talked about this a bit last night as related to a different reporter, but the goofy topic keeps coming back. There is just so much wrong with today’s Politico story, but let’s look at this part…
About reentering politics: Blagojevich also declined to comment on whether he might run for office again. Illinois law forbids him to run for state or local office — but that was before the pardon wiped away his criminal record. Elections officials are studying the law. There’s nothing stopping Blagojevich from running for federal office, however.
Nobody has to study the law. I’d really like to know who claimed that was being done - if anyone.
The law is super clear. The pardon changes nothing. Presidential pardons do not extend to state law, and states can remove a constitutional officer and ban that person from running again. To suggest otherwise ignores, well, pretty much all of American history.
* As I reminded y’all last night, we just had a ruling last year on this very matter. From United States District Judge Steven C. Seeger’s 2024 ruling…
The simple reality is that federal courts have no role to play when it comes to a state impeachment. The state legislature decided to remove Blagojevich from public life, and it is not the place of a federal court to bring him back.
The House of Representatives has the sole power to conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer, whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
For starters, Blagojevich cannot sue the State of Illinois under section 1983. That statute authorizes a claim against a “person” for violating federal rights. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983. But a state is not a “person,” as the Supreme Court explained decades ago. … The same conclusion applies to the Illinois General Assembly. The legislature isn’t a “person,” either. An “arm or instrumentality of the State” cannot be sued under section 1983. […]
Even if Blagojevich could get his foot in the door, he wouldn’t get very far before hitting his head on the constitutional architecture. The structure of the Constitution stands in his way, horizontally and vertically.
From a horizontal perspective, the separation of powers prevents a court from interfering with the business of the legislative branch when it comes to impeachments. From a vertical perspective, federalism prevents a federal court from interfering with the internal affairs of the state legislature.
The Constitution vests the “Power” over impeachment in the legislative branch. It does not take much interpretative detective work to figure out that the judiciary has no seat at the table. Congress has the “Power,” and the judiciary has none. […]
Some states do allow some degree of judicial review of state impeachment proceedings, creating a limited window of opportunity as opposed to the closed door in the federal system. … Blagojevich has given this Court no reason to think that Illinois would be one of the states to allow judicial review. There isn’t a lot of case law in Illinois. In fact, there isn’t any case law. And for good reason. In its 205-year history, the Illinois General Assembly has impeached, convicted, and removed one public official: Blagojevich. […]
Blagojevich isn’t asking this Court to second-guess a federal impeachment. Blagojevich is inviting this Court to get involved in a state impeachment. If intervention by a federal court in a federal impeachment is bad, then intervention by a federal court in a state impeachment is worse. […]
Another jurisdictional issue lurks in the background. In essence, Blagojevich is asking this Court to exercise appellate jurisdiction over a state proceeding. By analogy, under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, “state-court losers” cannot run to federal court to undo what happened in state court. […]
Standing issues loom large, too. Blagojevich seeks to protect the right of voters to cast ballots for him. But a plaintiff generally lacks standing to assert the rights of others. […]
The case might not be ripe, either. Blagojevich didn’t exactly file his complaint at the federal courthouse in the dead of night. He took the unusual step of calling a press conference to let the world know that he was filing a complaint. […]
An impeachment proceeding is not a criminal prosecution. After all, Blagojevich didn’t go to federal prison because of what happened in the Illinois legislature. Blagojevich went to federal prison because of what happened in the federal courthouse. Impeachment didn’t lead to prison time. The Illinois General Assembly took away his job, not his liberty. […]
The complaint also invokes the right to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. But scholars have questioned whether there is a right to due process at all in an impeachment proceeding, let alone a judicially enforceable right to due process. … Again, the legislature has the power to create its own rules and afford as many procedural protections as it sees fit.
Blagojevich refused to testify in his own defense, instead making a lame speech at the end of his Senate trial.
Also, he was removed and barred from office long before he was convicted of anything. The federal conviction had no bearing on the impeachment.
Can people please learn to do Google searches? JJJ claims he couldn't vote last year. Wrong. I mean, WGN itself even did a story on this topic a few months ago https://t.co/Mv96Aa109Ghttps://t.co/eXyRrFpBxb
State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, said he wants a real time forensic audit of Illinois spending, especially with a looming $3 billion state budget deficit.
* Almost 15 years ago, then Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland testified on Republican legislation that would’ve required him to conduct a complete forensic audit of Illinois government. Here’s some of what he said…
How large would a forensic audit be? It would be immense. It would be an immense undertaking. It will take a lot of money and a lot of time.
The way the resolution is drafted, it calls for all transactions. I mean, this is a problematic resolution for me. I’m flattered that there would be such confidence in my office to think that we can do this, but my office has never done a forensic audit in 18 years, never done one.
And there’s a reason for that, if I can come to at the end, but there are three significant problems that would that I would be faced with. The first one is the word ‘all’ in the resolution ‘all transactions.’ Now, utilizing the records that we could get from the comptroller’s office that he has on his ‘Service, Efforts and Accomplishments’ reports, there are 15 million transactions a year, 15 million transactions a year, and I would be asked to do a forensic audit Of all of those transactions for nine years pursuant to the resolution.
That’s 135 million transactions. 135 million transactions. Can’t emphasize that enough, going back nine years. I mean, I don’t even know if all the records exist for nine years.
It would be just trying to collect the data before you could perform a forensic audit, which presupposes some type of criminal litigation, some type of ‘We’re going to court because we want to get you.’ Now with 135 million transactions, and if you start calculating what the hourly rate would be and the amount of work you got to do to look at each transaction, to look at each transaction, to look at each hiring, which is called for in the resolution, there are probably 25,000 people have been hired since 2001, to go back and determine why each person was hired, who the sponsor was, who the sponsor was and was the person qualified. And to go back and try and obtain records from nine years ago would be an immense, a gigantic, an astronomical number.
We would be talking literally in the hundreds of millions of dollars. And I hate to use numbers that big, because they sound like they’re disjointed, but the number is huge and the number of years it would take.
But probably the biggest problem that I would be faced with is that I would still have to do the annual financial and compliance audits for the agencies that I currently audit. Now I would be going down on a railroad with with two rails, one a forensic audit, which presupposes criminal activity, and one a regular financial and compliance audit. And I would probably be dealing with much with most of the same people at the same time.
Miller’s (no relation) resolution would require the Auditor General to “conduct a forensic audit of all State spending, hiring, procurement, and contracts awarded from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2024. So, not nine years like the old one, but two. Even so, we’re looking at maybe 30 million transactions (and likely much more after 15 years) which would each have to be looked at individually?
Illinois REALTORS® announced today five major legislative proposals it is supporting as part of its “Housing Stability & Affordability Initiative.” […]
During this legislative session, Illinois REALTORS® has increased it efforts and introduced its “Housing Stability & Affordability Initiative,” which includes bills it has worked with the Governor’s office and state legislators to develop, all aimed at increasing affordability and housing stability.
Specifically, these measures would increase housing supply, help first-time homebuyers and tackle zoning and local regulations that hinder growth.
“Illinois’ ongoing low housing inventory crisis has driven home prices higher in recent years, making homeownership less attainable to many and causing housing instability,” said Illinois REALTORS® President Tommy Choi.
In 2024, Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker served on Gov. JB Pritzker’s Ad-Hoc Missing Middle Housing Solutions Advisory Committee to develop initiatives and policy solutions to bring more missing middle housing to the state.
Now Illinois REALTORS® is ramping up its efforts to work with legislators to advance its package of legislative initiatives to achieve that goal. The Initiative includes:
1. Elimination of zoning bans on accessory dwelling units – House Bill 1709, sponsored by Rep. Kam Buckner and Chief Co-Sponsor, Rep. Bob Rita, would prohibit cities and towns from banning accessory dwelling units (ADUs), a relatively easy option for increasing the state’s available housing supply. Because of their smaller size, ADUs are seen as a quick supply of affordable housing units.
2. Easing density restrictions in local zoning codes to create needed missing middle housing – House Bill 1814, also sponsored by Rep. Rita, would generate more housing supply by requiring municipalities to revise restrictions on large lots previously zoned for single-family homes to accommodate duplexes, townhouses and other missing middle-style homes. This legislation preserves single-family zoning and the detached, single family home typology – recognizing the importance of this class of building in comprehensive city planning. This bill is a commonsense alternative to more exaggerated proposals that try to ban single-family zoning all together.
3. Bring fairness and uniformity to impact fees – Senate Bill 1959, sponsored by Sen. Cristina Castro, would incentivize towns and cities to bring their local impact fees ordinances in compliance with state law. Municipal impact fees add to the cost of home building and are strictly regulated by state statute. Despite this, many municipalities have applied inflated impact fees outside of those parameters. Those affected – property owners, developers and home builders – are left with paying more to comply or walking away from their developments. This bill will bring consistency to the impact fee application process and clear the way for home builders to advance new housing projects.
4. Create a homebuyer savings account program with tax benefits – Senate Bill 148, also sponsored by Sen. Castro, would create the Illinois Homebuyer Savings Account Act, allowing for first-time and second-chance homebuyers to receive a tax deduction for money they save toward a home purchase. Single tax filers could create designated savings accounts and receive up to $5,000 in yearly tax deductions while married couples or joint filers could receive up to $10,000. The bill caps contributions and tax deductions over the lifetime of the account at $25,000 for single filers and $50,000 for joint filers.
5. Prohibit discriminatory crime-free housing ordinances statewide – House Bill 3110, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, would ban crime-free housing ordinances that destabilize housing for vulnerable populations and violate both state and federal fair housing laws. Local crime free housing ordinances reflect the discriminatory practices of the 1950’s and 1960’s. These ordinances are used by municipalities to force housing providers to evict tenants if they or anyone in their household has any contact with law enforcement. Repeated studies have shown these ordinances have a disproportionate impact on underserved groups. While some argue these laws are a tool to decrease crime, there is no evidence to support that.
Mascots Matter, a national grassroots advocacy campaign dedicated to ending the use of derogatory and discriminatory mascots, team names, and logos, with an emphasis on Dwarfism, is proud to announce its collaboration with Illinois State Representative Maurice West on groundbreaking legislation. The proposed bill seeks to prohibit public educational institutions from using mascots or imagery that perpetuate harmful stereotypes or discriminate against individuals based on disability.
The bill, titled “Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act” (HB3527), aims to ensure that all public educational environments foster respect and inclusivity, aligning with the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Key Provisions of the Proposed Legislation:
• Definition of Discriminatory Mascots: The bill defines a discriminatory disability mascot as “any name, logo, or imagery derogatory or representative of a disability, aligning with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).”
• Interpretation of Public Educational Institutions: Public educational institutions as defined by the bill, includes any kindergarten through grade 12 school, public university, or community college receiving public funding within the State.
• Timeline for Transition: Existing materials may be used until September 1, 2028, if specific requirements are met. For comprehensive details, please review the full bill text.
• Effective Date: The act will take effect on a date to be determined upon its passage. […]
Rachel Wherley, founder of Mascots Matter, pointed to the national scope of the issue: “There are currently five high schools in the U.S. that use ‘Midget’ as a mascot, a term that has long been considered offensive by the disability community. Our goal is to pass legislation in all of those states, not just Illinois, to put an end to these harmful representations once and for all.”
Freeburg has been the “Midgets” for 90 years. Many people with dwarfism now consider the term a slur. […]
This fall, a grassroots group led by adults with dwarfism and parents of children with dwarfism in western and southern states lodged complaints against Freeburg High School with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, among other oversight agencies, according to group leader Rachel Wherley.
The group, Mascots Matter, is accusing Freeburg High School of violating federal anti-discrimination law by creating an environment that is hostile to people with disabilities.[…]
State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, is leading an effort in Illinois to pass legislation around school mascots.
He filed bills in 2020, 2024 and 2025 to ban Native American mascots. He also tried to get the Illinois State Board of Education to estimate what it would cost to change a mascot through a House resolution. So far, none of his efforts have been adopted.
As one of her first official actions in the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Amy Briel has introduced House Bill 2569. Based on her campaign promises, voters likely expect that Briel is laser focused on issues like taxes, economic opportunity, and providing relief for Illinois families. Nope. While the jury is deliberating in Mike Madigan’s federal corruption trial, maybe Briel is focusing on anti-corruption reforms? Nope. This legislation allows for “rehabilitation” of skunks and raccoons.
While Illinois families grapple with inflation, crushing property taxes, rampant corruption, and rising crime rates, Briel has chosen to spend her time prioritizing pests. Her bill raises serious questions about her commitment to addressing the real challenges facing her constituents.
While the stench of corruption still lingers in Springfield, Briel seems more concerned with skunks than cleaning up government. Illinois families have held their noses over politicians’ misplaced priorities for long enough. They deserve better.
The 76th district stretches from Peru and Ottawa to Dekalb.
HB 3328, introduced Feb. 7 by Rep. Natalie Manley (D), would amend the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. When the regulations initially were written, the tools they listed likely were the best available at the time, according to LeadingAge Illinois Director of Government Relations Jason Speaks. Today, many of the tools listed in the regulations are “outdated, copyrighted and costly, and do not reflect recent advancements in dementia care,” he said.
“New, more effective assessments now exist that provide deeper insights into resident needs,” Speaks told McKnight’s Senior Living. The association is the state partner of the national LeadingAge and Argentum associations. “This legislation shifts the regulations away from specifying particular assessments and instead focuses on recognizing tools that are regularly reviewed and updated to align with current best practices and clinical standards in dementia care,” he added.
The proposed bill states that resident assessments before admission to assisted living communities should be “approved or recommended by recognized Alzheimer’s and dementia care experts” to ensure that they accurately identify and evaluate cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The bill also states that those tools will be reviewed and updated as needed to align with current best practices and clinical standards in dementia care.
* Sen. Craig Wilcox…
State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) has filed legislation designed to improve police training on identifying homicides that may have been staged to look like suicides. The bill, known as Mary Ann’s Law, is based on a strangulation death that occurred in an Illinois north shore community in 1996.
“One of the easiest ways to mask a homicide is to stage the crime scene to look like a suicide,” said Wilcox. “While initially classified as a suspicious death then later changed to suicide, the Mary Ann Hayes crime scene included several questionable findings that would suggest she did not take her own life; she was murdered.
According to Wilcox, in the Hayes case there was a history of domestic violence, including coercive control. When she died, she was found on the floor and a cord was found near the body. “Science tells us that suicide by strangulation is nearly impossible without a locking mechanism or leverage on the device used,” Wilcox said. “When a person falls unconscious during a strangulation attempt, unless a locking mechanism or leverage holds the tension in place, all pressure is removed and oxygen begins flowing to the brain, preventing death.”
Mary Ann’s Law aims to equip law enforcement officers with the knowledge and tools to better investigate such complex cases. Specifically, Senate Bill 1781 will mandate enhanced training for police to recognize staged suicides, particularly in instances involving a history of domestic violence. This new standard would require officers to closely scrutinize crime scenes for signs of domestic abuse, manipulation, or intentional staging.
The bill outlines a set of specific criteria that, when met, would require a deeper investigation into a death that appears to be a suicide. The criteria include:
- The victim died prematurely or in an untimely manner
- The scene appears on the surface to be a death by suicide or accidental death
- One partner ended or wanted to end their relationship
- A history of domestic violence and/or coercive control exists
- The victim is found in a home or place of residence or business
- The body is found by a current or former partner or family member
- A history of domestic violence that includes strangulation or suffocation exists
- A current or previous partner or child of the victim or family member was the last person to see the victim alive
- A partner had control of the crime scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement
- The victim’s body has been moved or evidence has been altered in some way
If three or more of these warning signs are present, law enforcement would be required to interview family and friends for context and could request a full autopsy before drawing any conclusions about the cause of death.
Wilcox stressed that the goal is not to undermine the work of first responders or investigators but to provide additional tools for solving cases where abusers attempt to cover up their crimes. “Our law enforcement officers are already doing a great job,” Wilcox said. “But this legislation will ensure they have the training to spot the signs that could reveal a hidden homicide, prevent abusers from getting away with murder, and bring justice to victims and their families.”
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Retail creates more jobs in Illinois than any other private sector employer, with one out of every four workers employed by the retail sector. Importantly, retail is an industry in which everyone, regardless of credentials, can find a viable career path.
Retailers, like Andrea and Fran enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
* ICYMI: Pritzker signs ‘Karina’s law’ to remove guns from domestic violence situations. Capitol News Illinois…
- After more than a year of negotiations, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Monday designed to remove guns from domestic violence situations.
- House Bill 4144, also known as Karina’s Law, clarifies that local law enforcement must temporarily remove guns from a person who has an order of protection against them when the alleged victim successfully seeks firearm removal as a remedy in court.
- Current law allows people asking a court for an order of protection to request a “firearm remedy” that would lead to law enforcement removing guns from the alleged abuser’s possession.
- Karina’s Law closes the loophole that made it unclear who was responsible for removing the gun from the situation.
* NBC Chicago | What’s open and closed this week on Lincoln’s Birthday? Illinois DMVs, USPS and more: Illinois Secretary of States facilities and DMVs will be closed this week, but it’s not because of President’s Day. It’s due to Lincoln’s Birthday — the day that honors Abraham Lincoln, the country’s 16th president who hailed from Illinois — which falls on Feb. 12 each year. However, Lincoln’s Birthday is not a federal holiday, which means the United States Post Office will still deliver mail on Wednesday. Still, DMVs across the state will be closed in observance, along with Illinois courts.
* Sun-Times | City’s homeless shelters fail on accessibility for people with disabilities: Two homeless senior adults we have been working with for the last few months, one with a mobility disability requiring personal assistance from the other, have now been waiting for an accessible shelter bed for 47 days. In that time, they have been living in their truck and desperately seeking housing after an unexpected eviction from their apartment of eight years.
* AFP | AFP-Illinois Launches Campaigns Targeting Pension and Tax Proposals: oday, Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-Illinois) launched a pair of digital campaigns targeting various lawmakers for their lack of action to deliver meaningful property tax relief while at the same time considering various pension and tax proposals that would crush hardworking Illinois families.
* Cook County Record | Plaintiff accuses Illinois Environmental Council of pregnancy discrimination: The situation escalated when Koerner announced her pregnancy in October 2023. Walling expressed concerns about how Koerner’s due date would coincide with an upcoming legislative session. By December 2023, after confirming that Koerner’s delivery would occur during this critical period, Walling sought to terminate her employment and pressured her to alter maternity leave plans to suit the legislative calendar. Despite being eight months pregnant and without any performance issues noted by HR, Koerner was terminated on February 29, 2024.
* Statement from the Illinois Environmental Council: “The Illinois Environmental Council will fully defend itself against false allegations that are without merit and have been filed by a disgruntled former employee. The organization and its leaders prioritize providing a professional and respectful environment that supports our employees in their work to advocate for policies that support clean water, air and energy across Illinois. While we typically do not comment on personnel matters, because this former employee has made her case public, we note that she was terminated for legitimate reasons having nothing to do with her pregnancy status.”
* Center Square | Black health advocacy group calls for more Illinois tax dollars for HIV care: “Despite the rate of infections going down across the state among other ethnicities, African Americans continue to comprise 47% of new cases,” said BLACHE Board Chair Creola Hampton. Hampton claims the state is withholding funds that were promised four years ago and believes white organizations are getting preferential treatment from the state.
* Tribune | President Donald Trump pardons ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich nearly 5 years after commuting his sentence : Hours after the arrest, then-U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald detailed elements of what he called “a political corruption crime spree,” which also included attempting to shake down a children’s hospital for campaign donations, that he said “would make Lincoln roll over in his grave.” It also prompted then-FBI Special Agent Robert Grant, who headed the Chicago office, to declare that if Illinois wasn’t the most corrupt state in the union, “it’s certainly one hell of a competitor.”
*** Statewide ***
A 25% tariff on aluminum will be devastating for Illinois.
Our craft breweries could see a $10.2 million increase in packaging costs, testing their already delicate supply chains and razor-thin margins.
* Sun-Times | CFPB, saving Illinois consumers from corporate wrongdoing, goes dark in Trump attack on federal agencies: U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, the ranking member on the House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, which deals with consumer protection issues, is among the Democrats alarmed at the CFPB’s shutdown. They plan to march to the CFPB offices in Washington Monday afternoon. Schakowsky said it was hypocritical for billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk to target an agency that helps consumers with financial problems. On Friday, Musk had posted an emoji of a gravestone with the taunt, “CFPB RIP,” on his X platform.
* Sun-Times | How Trump’s education plans might affect Illinois schools: rump cannot just close the Department of Education — or any other federal agency — through an executive order. That’s because Congress created the department and would have to shut it down. There are some early efforts in the U.S. House to dissolve the agency, but their prospects for passing both chambers of Congress are uncertain.
* Sun-Times | Finance Committee signs off on Johnson’s $830 million general obligation bond issue: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to issue $830 million worth of general obligation bonds to bankroll a year’s worth of capital projects cleared a City Council committee Monday amid questions about borrowing that much money when federal funding is at risk and the impact of the city’s recently reduced-bond rating. Last month, Chicago suffered the borrowing consequences of a marathon budget stalemate that ended with no property tax increase and a tension-filled 27-to-25 vote to pass Johnson’s $17.1 billion spending plan. Standard & Poor’s followed through on its threat to drop the all-important bond rating that determines Chicago’s borrowing costs. It went down from BBB+ to BBB, just two notches above “junk bond” status.
* Chicago Mag | The Next Mayor: Has there ever been a Chicago mayor as unpopular as Brandon Johnson? A new poll has his favorability rating at a cringeworthy 14 percent. As political consultant Tom Bowen delicately puts it: “This mayor is so weakened by his own hand that eight out of 10 Chicagoans would rather get punched in the face than reelect him.” Ouch. Even with the primary two years away, that kind of sentiment has already fueled early jockeying for who might succeed Johnson. We’ve ranked 11 speculated-about contenders in order of who we think has the best shot.
* Tribune | Chicago says it hopes to open city-owned market instead of city-owned grocery store: A year-round public market, city officials said, would sell staple grocery items, such as milk and bread. The market would also contain retail spaces for local farmers and food retailers to sell their products, which the city said it would rent out at low cost. Still, details are scarce about when such a market would open, how it would be funded and operated and where it would be located.
* Block Club | Chicago Public Schools Fair Aims To Prepare Students With Disabilities For Life After High School: The Student Transition FAIR — Fostering Access, Independence, and Responsibility — held last month at Malcolm X College in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago is one opportunity students with disabilities have to explore their options for life after high school. Over two days, teachers, counselors, and other school support staff from 46 high schools brought about 700 students, who could check out booths staffed by representatives from colleges and employers, as well as a virtual reality area related to trade jobs and a room for mock interviews.
* Tribune | Chicago has not been immune from air traffic controller shortages in recent years: For example, in one facility that oversees planes coming to and going from Chicago, the number of fully certified controllers was about 70% of the target staffing levels recommended by the union and Federal Aviation Administration working group. At another regional facility, the number of fully certified controllers was 82% of the group’s recommendation. Shortages in Chicago were not as acute as those in some other major cities, like New York. Still, they can force air traffic controllers to work overtime and face fatigue in a busy air space that has been recognized as among the nation’s most critical because of the number of airlines and flights served.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Tribune | As Bally’s Chicago navigates challenges, south suburban newcomer Wind Creek becoming big player among state’s casinos: Wind Creek, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, opened its permanent, 70,000 square foot casino in East Hazel Crest on Nov. 11 to large crowds and seemingly pent-up demand. The facility features 1,400 slot machines, 56 table games and other attractions, with a hotel set to open early this year. Last month, perennial leader Rivers Casino Des Plaines once again topped the list at nearly $39 million in adjusted gross receipts and 236,000 visitors. Hard Rock Rockford, which moved from a temporary casino to a larger permanent facility in August, ranked third with $11.3 million in adjusted gross receipts and 111,000 admissions in January.
* Fox Chicago | Early voting opens in suburbs as Dolton mayoral race heats up: Among the key races is Dolton’s mayoral contest, where incumbent Tiffany Henyard faces a challenge from Jason House, a senior village trustee. Henyard has stirred up controversy in both Dolton and Thornton Township, where she was a supervisor, and now she’s facing an FBI investigation.
* Daily Herald | Pace picking up for new businesses in and near Gurnee Mills: The busy pace in and around Gurnee Mills is picking up with the opening or planned arrivals of several new businesses at the Gurnee shopping center. […] Nearby, Ashley Furniture is replacing the former Toys R Us space and the onetime Baker’s Square has been demolished to make way for a Bank of America branch. Inside the mall, the former Bed Bath & Beyond space is being renovated for two businesses — international clothing retailer Primark and an expanded Boot Barn, which has an announced opening of May 31. There is no specific timetable for Primark’s opening.
* Sun-Times | Into the heart of darkness for good crappie: Juan Macias capped off a Sunday of catching “amazing crappies” on the Fox Chain O’Lakes in a big way. He messaged that they were “biting constantly after sunset. Finishing with this beauty [of a] 15-incher. It swam back after a picture so it can go and produce lots of eggs when spawning time [comes].”
*** Downstate ***
* WLPO | Former State Representative Candidate Wants To Be La Salle’s Next City Clerk: Fresh off a close loss in her race to get a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, Liz Bishop of La Salle is seeking a political seat closer to home. The Republican on Monday announced her intention to be a write-in candidate for La Salle City Clerk. Bishop says with no official city clerk candidate on the April ballot in La Salle, she’s hoping La Salle voters take a few extra seconds to write her name in on their ballots.
* SJ-R | Former chamber of commerce CEO in central Illinois pleads guilty to theft: The former CEO of the Taylorville Chamber of Commerce has pleaded guilty after she was arrested in 2023 for allegedly stealing between $100,000 and $500,000 from the organization over multiple years. Patty A. Hornbuckle pleaded guilty last week to the charge of theft, which is a felony. Hornbuckle, who was 63 years old at the time of her arrest, was sentenced to first offender second chance probation with 24 months.
* SJ-R | ‘No confidence’: Massey family have misgivings about citizens commission: Sontae Massey said he was “actively defying” his family’s wishes by staying as a member of the Massey Commission, formed in the aftermath of the July 6 fatally shooting of his cousin, Sonya Massey. Addressing the commission Monday, Massey said his family “sent me here today to leave this commission and take our name with it.” Massey told The State Journal-Register that family members he spoke with Monday, including Sonya’s mother, Donna Massey, “had no confidence in this (commission) whatsoever, but I do. I do see a glimmer of hope.
*** National ***
* Unherd | JB Pritzker is replacing Newsom as anti-Trump figurehead: As a beleaguered Democratic Party grapples for ways to mount effective opposition to an ever-more assertive Trump administration, one governor has taken the lead in demonstrating how it may be done. It is not California’s Gavin Newsom, whose need to work with the President on disaster relief has muted his earlier posturing. Rather, the title of “Resistance governor” could go to Illinois’s JB Pritzker. Like Trump, he’s a billionaire-turned-politician with national ambitions; and aside from antics such as renaming Lake Michigan “Lake Illinois” and threatening to annex Green Bay, he’s been in the news for efforts to counter key items in the agenda of Trump 2.0.
* American Bar Agency | The ABA supports the rule of law: It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule of law and in an orderly manner that respects the lives of affected individuals and the work they have been asked to perform. Instead, we see wide-scale affronts to the rule of law itself, such as attacks on constitutionally protected birthright citizenship, the dismantling of USAID and the attempts to criminalize those who support lawful programs to eliminate bias and enhance diversity.
* You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/or here to follow breaking news. Hopefully, enough reporters and news outlets migrate to BlueSky so we can hopefully resume live-posting.
