Illinois Politics
CHICAGO — Exelon, the parent company for Commonwealth Edison, has been paying the legal fees for two now-convicted former Edison executives who were part of a conspiracy to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, WBEZ has learned. The move has created an unusual dynamic. On one hand, the company’s subsidiary, ComEd, is cooperating with federal investigators…
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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are considering further legislation restricting the possession and marketing of firearms, even as state and federal courts are weighing the constitutionality of an assault weapons ban passed in January. On Wednesday, the Illinois House passed a bill that would subject firearms manufacturers and dealers to the state’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive…
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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois would become one of the first states to make so-called crisis pregnancy centers subject to the same consumer fraud standards as car dealerships, retailers and service-based businesses under a bill that will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker. Upon the measure becoming law, crisis pregnancy centers could be sued under the Illinois…
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CHICAGO — In 2007, Reginald Lane shot and killed Jwonda Thurston, his pregnant girlfriend. For the murder, he was sentenced to life in prison, following state statute for someone who is found guilty of killing “more than one victim.” On Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments in Lane’s case, specifically around whether Lane was…
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SPRINGFIELD – A measure that would ban the use of electronic cigarettes inside of public buildings in Illinois needs only a signature from Gov. JB Pritzker to become law after it received final approval from lawmakers this week. House Bill 1540 passed the Senate on a 42-11 vote this week after passing the House 85-22 in March,…
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CHICAGO — State officials suspended the legislative pension of former lobbyist Michael McClain after his conviction May 2 alongside the ‘ComEd Four’ on bribery charges, but the suspension may only be temporary. McClain, a former Illinois House representative and ComEd lobbyist with longtime ties to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, was found guilty on nine counts of conspiring and falsifying…
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SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers are considering creating a grant program that would send state dollars to grocers in Illinois communities that have few options for buying food. Senate Bill 850 would direct the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or DCEO, to establish the “Grocery Initiative,” a program that would study “food deserts” in Illinois and…
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SPRINGFIELD – In the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. JB Pritzker recalls being handed a report from researchers at the University of Illinois. The analysis was written by scientists and mathematicians who were trying to estimate how many deaths and hospitalizations would occur under different scenarios – one if the state took no…
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On Tuesday, former Gov. Pat Quinn was at the Capitol to add his ideas to the mix. He delivered a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leadership in the General Assembly calling for a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to enact stricter ethics laws directly by initiative petition and binding referendum. “We need our…
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QUINCY – About 60 people attended the Saturday morning session of the New Illinois Third Constitutional Convention as the group seeks to breakaway from Cook County and Chicago. The group has been working toward its goal since 2018 and has committees set up in 28 of Illinois’ 102 counties, including Adams, Hancock and Schuyler counties…
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Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune covered the “ComEd 4” trial and also, literally, wrote the book on Michael Madigan, former speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. He and MRN’s Bob Gough talk about the outcome and what it means for future lobbying efforts in the Statehouse. McClain’s sentencing in federal court is scheduled…
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DECATUR, Ill. — Forgery and misconduct charges filed against Brent Fischer were thrown out by a Macon County judge Thursday afternoon. Macon County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Geisler ruled in favor of the defense’s argument that Macon County was not the proper venue to consider the charges Fischer. The accusations were made against him when…
Read Full Article Local and state political leaders are reacting to Tuesday’s guilty verdict of retired lobbyist Mike McClain of Quincy on nine charges of federal bribery. Statement from the office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: “Since taking office, Gov. Pritzker has advanced the cause of ethics reform in key areas, especially in bringing more transparency to the…
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A measure that passed the Illinois House would require school districts to implement full-day kindergarten across the state. State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, filed the proposed legislation, which has the backing of the Democratic majority in the House and Senate. House Bill 2396 would benefit parents and children alike, according to Canty. “Full-day kindergarten programs…
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CHICAGO – A federal jury on Tuesday convicted three ex-lobbyists and the former CEO of electric utility Commonwealth Edison for their involvement in an alleged bribery scheme aimed at longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and Mike McClain of Quincy – the utility’s longtime contract lobbyist and close confidant of…
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SPRINGFIELD – A federal judge in East St. Louis issued an order Friday blocking enforcement of Illinois’ ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines until a lawsuit challenging the law is resolved. Judge Stephen P. McGlynn of the Southern District of Illinois said the law known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act is likely to…
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SPRINGFIELD – Medicaid recipients in Illinois should be on the lookout for correspondence from the state regarding their coverage as the normal renewal process resumes for the first time in three years. Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income and disabled people that is jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Throughout the pandemic,…
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SPRINGFIELD – Legislation that would tighten anti-bullying protocols in Illinois schools will head to the full state Senate after unanimously passing out of committee this week. House Bill 3425 particularly targets cyberbullying, requiring that schools “make diligent efforts” to notify the parents or guardians of students involved in a bullying incident within 24 hours of the…
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Assistant Adams County State’s Attorney joins Bob Gough to talk about his run for state’s attorney in 2024.
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CHICAGO – Attorneys for both the defendants and the government made the same appeal to a federal jury Tuesday before it was left to deliberate the fate of four former Commonwealth Edison officials accused of bribery. “Use your common sense,” U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu said while wrapping up the government’s final rebuttal in the trial’s…
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CHICAGO – Before jury deliberations begin on the fate of four ex-Commonwealth Edison officials after a six-week bribery trial, an attorney for one of the defendants got emotional Monday afternoon when imparting the weight of the jury’s task. “Be the shield that you were meant to be,” Patrick Cotter told jurors after gathering himself. “The…
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A defense attorney for a longtime friend of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan called on a federal jury Monday to “be the shield” between a private citizenand a “very powerful government committed, dedicated and on a mission to get Mike Madigan.” But federal prosecutors asked that same jury to reject the idea that a “stunning” stream…
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QUINCY — Adams County First Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler will formally announce his candidacy for Adams County State’s Attorney this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held in the lower level of Tower Pizza & Mexican, 2701 Broadway. Eyler, a Republican, is running to replace Gary Farha, who is not seeking re-election,…
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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is one of just 12 states that still has a state estate tax, and State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is sponsoring legislation to eliminate that tax and keep Illinois competitive with the 38 other states in the nation. Senate Bill 140 amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act to eliminate the state…
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SPRINGFIELD – The state estimates an expansion of state-sponsored health care to individuals who are ineligible for Medicaid based on their citizenship status is expected to cost $990 million in the upcoming fiscal year, far outpacing the original price tag cited when the measures became law. In 2020, Illinois made noncitizens aged 65 and older…
Read Full Article July 04, 2025
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