Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: Time to prevent the next Madigan—even while he's still here
Sure, the feds would strike a strong blow against corruption if their investigation of the Commonwealth Edison bribery scheme leads to a conviction of the state’s most powerful politician. There’s little doubt that he’s “Public Official A” depicted in ComEd’s deferred prosecution agreement as the ultimate beneficiary of favors handed out by the utility as it pursued favorable legislation. Madigan denies wrongdoing and hasn’t been charged.
The Center Square: More Illinois officials’ communications now subject to state's open records laws
Previously when public officials used their private emails and personal phones to conduct public business, it was largely shielded from Illinois’ open records laws, but a court ruling this month now requires governments to turn those over to the public.
The First District Court of Illinois agreed with the Better Government Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit, that an elected official or public worker cannot keep messages about their public dealings secret by using a private email.
Chicago Tribune: Lawyers for indicted Ald. Edward Burke to challenge evidence against him, but some detail expected to be sealed
After months on the back burner, the bribery case against Chicago Ald. Edward Burke is expected to heat up Thursday when his lawyers file long-awaited motions challenging the government’s wiretaps and other evidence.
How much of the material will be made public, however, remains to be seen.
State Journal-Register: Springfield revenue shortfall revised; budget director pressed for plan
Though offering some good news on Springfield’s revenue shortfall, the city’s budget director was pressed by the city council Tuesday evening for more details on how the city plans to fill the expected gap.
Budget director Bill McCarty said sales tax receipts the city received for May were down but slightly better than expected. Based on that, the city’s expected revenue shortfall for this fiscal year has been revised to between $8.7 million and $14.3 million.
Chicago Sun-Times: Gun charge dropped against South Side state rep. allegedly cuffed to bench for 6 hours
A misdemeanor gun charge against a South Side state representative has been dropped because prosecutors did not have enough evidence to continue with the case.
Curtis Tarver II, D-25th, was charged in November with failing to surrender a concealed carry license when officers found him with a gun during a Woodlawn traffic stop.
Belleville News-Democrat: State toughens coronavirus restrictions. How did southwestern Illinois get here?
Crain's Chicago Business: Why the Cook County ethics ordinance needs reform
The ethics ordinance requires Cook County officials and employees — all 22,000 of them — to abide by a Code of Conduct, commonly referred to as the “ethics ordinance”, that aims to ensure fair and honest government in Cook County. The ethics ordinance governs areas including conflicts of interest; improper influence; dual employment; campaign contributions; nepotism; and political activity. The Board of Ethics enforces the ordinance by investigating complaints of violations, conducting audits, issuing advisory opinions, and delivering training sessions. It is the fiduciary obligation of the Board of Ethics to apply the ethics ordinance fully and fairly.
Chicago Sun-Times: Man who claims he was torture victim of Jon Burge’s ‘midnight crew’ released after nearly 30 years behind bars
A man who alleges detectives working under former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge tortured him into falsely confessing to murder was released from custody last week after prosecutors dropped charges against him.
Keith Walker, 52, spent 29 years behind bars.
Chicago Tribune: Metra falling further behind budget amid COVID-19 ridership decline, with cost cuts coming down the line
As the pandemic persists and people stay home in droves, Metra is falling further behind its revenue schedule.
The Chicago area’s commuter rail system upped its projected two-year budget deficit to $682.5 million at a virtual monthly board Wednesday, and warned that it will have to start cutting costs more aggressively without additional federal aid like the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed in March.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago Public Schools’ new fall plan includes full days of remote and live learning, but prompts union grievance
Chicago Public Schools had barely released its fall remote learning plan Tuesday when the Chicago Teachers Union announced it had filed a grievance over the guidance that union President Jesse Sharkey said was made “without imagination or input from teachers.”
The fall plan has a stricter structure and more accountability measures than the spring, when schools were suddenly forced to figure out remote learning amid an evolving pandemic.
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor and CPS chief unveil reforms for cops-in-schools program
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her schools chief, Janice Jackson, on Wednesday announced reforms to the controversial program that stations police officers in schools, including beefing up protections for undocumented students and giving officers additional training in cultural sensitivity and implicit bias.
School officials also said police officers will undergo more extensive reviews to make sure candidates are free of excessive force allegations.