Tim Mapes, longtime chief of staff to former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to federal charges he lied to a grand jury about Madigan and bribery. Strong ethics reforms can help fix Illinois’ culture of corruption.
Senate Bill 4, the likely vehicle for ethics reform in Springfield, offers slight improvements over the Madigan era. But if Illinois is serious about ending its culture of corruption, key points need more muscle.
HB 2789 could threaten in-person instruction at public and private schools while the COVID-19 emergency order – or any other emergency order – persists.
When a child’s lemonade stand was targeted by government regulators, the 11-year-old entrepreneur fought back. Now Illinois is about to bar government from interfering with a child’s right to sell cold summer drinks.
A federal probe again hit close to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. The indictment of his former chief of staff is the latest indication questions are still being asked about Madigan, bribery and corruption.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave fellow Democrats a very clear signal to gerrymander state legislative maps when he backed off his veto threat and said he trusted them to be fair. Mike Madigan-style maps place 23 Republicans into races against other incumbents.
Illinois is listed as one of the states under ‘extreme’ danger of partisan gerrymandering of its state legislative and congressional redistricting maps. Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop that threat.
A proposed map for new U.S. House districts in Illinois has been making the rounds in Springfield. Republicans stand to lose a lot.
Illinois is following new CDC guidelines on masks and social distancing for fully vaccinated people; Pritzker pushes vaccinations, says masks stay on for unvaccinated; Chicago mandates remain
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a donation of $4 million in Six Flags tickets will be used as an incentive to get more Illinoisans their COVID-19 vaccinations. The 50,000 tickets will be targeted to minority communities.
The CDC just revised the mask mandates for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot quickly followed the advice.
There is no such thing as free beer in Illinois, which is why state lawmakers are considering allowing one mug or another alcoholic beverage as a reward for getting a COVID-19 shot. State lawmakers have no plans to pick up the tab.
Illinois is about to reach the extra COVID-19 reopening phase Gov. J.B. Pritzker added in March. Here are the rules of the ‘Bridge’ phase expected to begin May 14 and last until June 11.
“Since April 1, I’ve called them 20-30 times. I’ve tried to reach out to IDES a number of times using the 1-800 number. Most times when you call, they just put you in a queue.”