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Madigan’s reign ends as longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history

By Austin Berg

01/13/2021

Illinoisans watched the politically impossible become the politically inevitable.

TAGS: Chris Welch, corruption, House Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives, Mike Madigan

Illinois House in limbo until speaker is elected

By Joe Tabor

01/12/2021

With Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reportedly short of the 60 votes needed to hold on to the speakership, Illinois House members will have to line up behind a new candidate before they can get down to business.

TAGS: House Rules Committee, House Speaker, Mike Madigan, voting

Illinois was most corrupt of 10 largest states under Madigan’s reign

By Joe Tabor

01/12/2021

Illinois averaged over one federal public corruption conviction a week during the Madigan era. That is the most convictions per capita among the top 10 most populous states between 1983 and 2018.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, House Speaker, Mike Madigan

51 House Democrats back Madigan for speaker in caucus vote

By Austin Berg

01/11/2021

See who your representative backed in a historic fight for the Illinois House speakership.

TAGS: corruption, House Speaker, lame duck session, Mike Madigan

Madigan suspends campaign for House speaker

By Austin Berg

01/11/2021

The most powerful speaker in American history may finally be stepping aside amid a wide-ranging federal corruption probe.

TAGS: corruption, House Speaker, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan

Unless legislative map process changes, Pritzker’s veto threat means little

By Ann Miller

01/08/2021

Illinois legislative maps are drawn by state lawmakers who pick their voters, instead of the other way around. Without independent mapmaking, nothing will be changed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s threat to veto a partisan map.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative district, Mike Madigan

Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein, Ben Szalinski

01/08/2021

This page will be updated daily to reflect developments related to the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot

Pritzker extends mask mandate for another 150 days

By Brad Weisenstein

01/06/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to run the state’s COVID-19 response by executive mandate, with state lawmakers still silent 10 months into the pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, JB Pritzker, restrictions

Leaving an 8th grader ‘Home Alone’ could land parents in jail

By Joe Barnas

12/23/2020

A vague and restrictive state law could mean the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services comes knocking if parents leave their 13-year-old home alone.

TAGS: DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services, home alone, negligence, regulations

Illinois government saw too many make ‘naughty’ list in 2020

By Brad Weisenstein

12/22/2020

COVID-19 showed everyone the heroes in health care and essential services, but it also exposed weak character or bad behavior of many in Illinois government.

TAGS: Christmas, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s power over Illinois politics is more precarious than ever. A steady stream of federal investigations, wiretaps and raids of people close to him, a deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison wherein the utility giant admitted to bribing the speaker, and a grand jury subpoena served to Madigan’s office have led...

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Good Government

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Timothy Carroll

Website posting requirements for local governments in Illinois

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students