South Side Ald. Willie Cochran pleaded guilty March 21 to felony wire fraud for spending his ward’s charity funds on personal expenses. That’s 30 Chicago aldermen convicted of corruption since 1972.

Chicagoland and northern Illinois have seen more corrupt public officials put behind bars than any other part of the nation, a new analysis found.

What’s important for Illinoisans to know now is not just whether politically powerful people such as Burke and Madigan broke the law, but how the law itself encourages indecent behavior.

Madigan has long been criticized for his control of a lucrative law firm specializing in Cook County property tax appeals.