Voter choice wins in slating case before Illinois Supreme Court

By Dylan Sharkey

08/23/2024

Illinois lawmakers changed the rules about placing candidates on the ballot in the middle of an election cycle. A judge said they can’t do that and the Illinois Supreme Court dropped the state’s appeal. Now voters will have more choices Nov. 5.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court: Criminal cash bail goes away Sept. 18

By Dylan Sharkey

07/18/2023

Illinois will become the first state to eliminate cash bail. The Illinois Supreme Court on July 18 upheld the Pretrial Fairness Act, ruling it doesn’t violate the Illinois Constitution.

TAGS: cash bail, Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court rejects back pay for former state lawmakers

By Dylan Sharkey

09/23/2022

In a unanimous decision, the Illinois Supreme Court denied a lawsuit by two former state senators seeking back pay. The senators bragged about voting against the raises, then decided they deserved them after leaving office.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court chief justice retiring ahead of husband’s corruption trial

By Dylan Sharkey

09/16/2022

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke will retire Nov. 30, allowing her replacement to be appointed rather than elected. Her husband, Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, faces reelection in February and a corruption trial in late 2023.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions, schools move to mask optional Feb. 28

By Amy Korte, Mailee Smith

02/25/2022

After the Illinois Supreme Court determined the state’s appeal of decisions regarding the governor’s school mask rules was moot, the governor declared schools can move to mask optional policies on Feb. 28.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

Pritzker appeals to Illinois Supreme Court after two courts derail his school mask mandate

By Brad Weisenstein

02/18/2022

A judge’s ruling threw Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s school mask mandate into chaos. Now that an appellate court has ruled against Pritzker, too, he’s taking his fight to keep masks on students to the Illinois Supreme Court.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker, mask mandate

Illinois Supreme Court ponders politicians using campaign cash for criminal defense

By Patrick Andriesen

01/21/2022

Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez argued a publicly elected official facing corruption charges should not be able to use campaign funds for a legal defense. If the person is not running for office, the legal bills are a “personal” expense, he contended.

TAGS: campaign finance, Illinois Supreme Court

Pritzker bans outside donors ahead of Illinois Supreme Court races

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned ‘dark money’ in Illinois’ judicial elections after record spending unseated a longtime Madigan ally from the Illinois Supreme Court. Voters will decide more high court vacancies soon.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker

Kilbride is first Illinois Supreme Court justice to lose retention vote

By Joe Tabor

11/04/2020

After receiving $550,000 from Madigan’s Democratic Party of Illinois campaign committee, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride lost his bid to continue on the court. He is the first justice voters failed to retain.

TAGS: election, Illinois Supreme Court, Mike Madigan, Thomas Kilbride

Kilbride takes $550K from Madigan despite vowing not to accept ‘one penny’ from speaker’s committees

By Joe Tabor

10/23/2020

The Democratic Party of Illinois campaign committee, chaired by House Speaker Mike Madigan, recently contributed to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride’s retention campaign. Kilbride had sworn he would take no Madigan money.

TAGS: corruption, Illinois Supreme Court, Mike Madigan, Thomas Kilbride

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students