ComEd bribery scandal restitution denied for second time

By Patrick Andriesen

01/25/2022

The lawsuit filed on behalf of millions of ratepayers sought to recover the costs incurred during Commonwealth Edison’s attempts to sway former House Speaker Mike Madigan. It was dismissed for a second time.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, Mike Madigan

Secretary of State Offices reopen as Omicron peak subsides, statewide mitigations mount

By Patrick Andriesen

01/24/2022

Secretary of State Jesse White said the offices will reopen over the next two days as drivers’ facilities resume in-person services after the Omicron peak. Governor offers no such assurances about lifting mitigations in the state.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois Secretary of State, Omicron

Illinois might allow parents to leave 12-year-olds home alone

By Dylan Sharkey

01/24/2022

Illinois has the strictest latchkey law of any state. A new bill looks to change the minimum age parents can legally leave their children home alone from 14 to 12.

TAGS: abuse, home alone, Illinois, negligence

Illinois Supreme Court ponders politicians using campaign cash for criminal defense

By Patrick Andriesen

01/21/2022

Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez argued a publicly elected official facing corruption charges should not be able to use campaign funds for a legal defense. If the person is not running for office, the legal bills are a “personal” expense, he contended.

TAGS: campaign finance, Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois lawmakers fail to replace their ethics watchdog

By Hannah Max

01/21/2022

The Illinois General Assembly is without a watchdog. The former legislative inspector general quit after saying she was just a paper tiger. Now lawmakers cannot agree on her replacement.

TAGS: ethics reform, Illinois, Legislative Inspector General, watchdog

Chicago’s COVID-19 rules hit minority neighborhood restaurants harder

By Patrick Andriesen

01/19/2022

Restaurant owners in Chicago communities with low COVID-19 vaccination rates, mostly on the city’s South and West sides, say pushback against the vaccine proof mandate has hurt sales and cost them customers.

TAGS: Chicago, COVID-19, vaccine mandate

Chicago alderman from Daley family implicated in bank embezzlement

By Patrick Andriesen

01/19/2022

Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson was implicated in the plea agreement of a former bank employee who federal prosecutors said played a critical role in the embezzlement scheme. She said millions in theft was covered up before the bank failed.

TAGS: Chicago City Council, corruption, embezzlement, Patrick Daley Thompson

Secret footage of Chicago alderman detailed in corruption probe

By Patrick Andriesen

01/18/2022

Chicago Ald. Edward Burke was secretly videotaped in City Hall by federal authorities as part of the corruption probe into Illinois politics. Burke reportedly confided in an informant how they would avoid being caught.

TAGS: Chicago City Council, corruption, Ed Burke

Pritzker seeks end to hiring oversight as watchdog details more patronage

By Dylan Sharkey

01/17/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker argues his state agencies no longer need a federal minder to ensure hiring is not political. That federal watchdog has four recent examples of why state hiring still needs oversight.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Shakman decrees

Illinois child protection director gets 3rd contempt charge in 8 days

By Dylan Sharkey

01/14/2022

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services director was held in contempt of court for allegedly violating the right to proper housing of a 17-year-old boy. It’s the director’s third contempt charge in eight days, highlighting DCFS’ struggle to place kids.

TAGS: DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services, Marc Smith