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.

Former Chicago Ald. Ricardo Munoz, appointed by Richard M. Daley, faces federal charges stating he used campaign funds to pay for personal expenses and committed money laundering. Over 30 Chicago aldermen have been convicted or charged with corruption.

Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, related to both Mayor Daleys, faces federal charges stating he filed false tax returns and lied about $219,000 in payments from a neighborhood bank. Over 30 Chicago aldermen have been convicted or charged with corruption.

New federal corruption charges state a former Illinois House member conspired to use bribes to get a red-light traffic camera contract renewed and more of them installed in a suburban Chicago community. Traffic cameras collected $5.5 million during a decade in the suburb.

The Illinois General Assembly busies itself with limiting balloon releases and regulating pitchfork fishing along highways when ethics reform is the need in a state with a rich history of corruption.

Chicago’s longest-serving alderman, Ed Burke, tried to extort redevelopers of the old West Loop post office and others. They said there was no need to entrap Burke because his hand was regularly out.

Putting the public’s business on public display can help Illinois reform its culture of corruption and control government waste. An Illinois House bill will put more local government records online.

A longtime political operative for Chicago Ald. Ed Burke and the late state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about bribes.

A former Illinois state senator was charged with federal income tax crimes. Her Senate financial disclosure statement shows why they are known as ‘none’ sheets. Reforms are needed.