The little-known legislative rules that govern the legislative process in the Illinois House of Representatives give the House speaker extraordinary power to orchestrate the legislative or political outcomes he or she wants. Those rules allow the speaker to influence the makeup of legislative committees; how lawmakers vote; and when, if ever, the bills get voted...

2017 will usher in more transparency and opportunity in areas from criminal justice to government employee expenses to pensions.

This year was full of corruption and mismanagement from public officials, but four instances in particular stand out.

January 2017 will see a new General Assembly, but the lame duck session casts a long shadow over the new legislature.