Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Defense begins cross of prosecutors' key witness in 'ComEd 4' trial
Defense attorney Scott Lassar opened his cross-examination of prosecution star witness Fidel Marquez on Wednesday in the second week of the “ComEd Four” corruption trial by directly asking him if he had ever witnessed alleged plot ringleader Mike Madigan directly pass or block legislation on the utility giant’s behalf.
Marquez, a former senior vice president at ComEd, has pleaded guilty in connection with a pay for play scheme and is cooperating with the government in the high-stakes trial where longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former City Club of Chicago head Jay Doherty are all accused of playing central roles in a scheme to funnel jobs, cash and other perks to known associates of the then-House speaker in exchange for him advancing legislation the company perceived to be in its interests.
Chicago Sun-Times: Dollars vs. decentralization: Johnson’s and Vallas’ vastly different fixes for CPS
Chicago Public Schools’ next chapter hangs on the result of the April 4 mayoral runoff election between two candidates boasting unusually strong ties to public education — and diametrically opposed ideas for schools.
Chicago Tribune: George McCaskey on Chicago Bears’ potential new stadium in Arlington Heights: ‘We haven’t really kicked the ball off yet’
Over the course of this week, Chicago Bears owner and Chairman George McCaskey fielded a flurry of questions from folks around the NFL regarding his team’s exploration of a potential new stadium in Arlington Heights. That became a popular conversation starter with McCaskey throughout the owners meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. And as a member of the league’s stadium committee, McCaskey offered his formal update on the Bears closing on 326 acres of land at Arlington Park last month.
But as far as a new and noteworthy progress report on how things have advanced since that purchase became final Feb. 15?
WTTW: Vallas, Johnson Begin Closing Arguments in Race for Chicago Mayor as Focus Turns to Mail Voting
With less than a week left in the Chicago mayor’s race, Brandon Johnson campaigned on the South Side on Wednesday with religious leaders, while Paul Vallas touted endorsements from Democratic elected officials and defended his record on education.
Polls show Johnson, a Cook County commissioner, and Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, running neck and neck with a large portion of voters undecided. Tuesday is Election Day, and early voting is already underway.
WGN: Chicago mayoral candidates look to undecided voters ahead of Election Day
With the race to be the next Chicago mayor going down to the wire, both candidates are looking for any edge they can get undecided voters on their side.
A recently released poll shows about 10% of voters undecided, Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas‘ campaigns are leaning on surrogates to sway voters.
WCIA: Illinois Comptroller sets aside millions more for a rainy day
The state’s savings account has hit another record high.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Wednesday morning her office paid another $150 million into the Illinois Rainy Day Fund, also called the Budget Stabilization Fund, for the first time this year. The account now stands at $1.22 billion.