The nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, a woman who called herself “super mayor” and a collection of other self-serving public servants are among the highest-profile corruption cases in decades. Here’s the naughty list for 2024.

Illinois saw more than its fair share of corruption and misconduct again in 2022, but some politicians stood out in a crowded field.

The former Illinois House assistant majority leader now faces nearly 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting and soliciting bribes to expand sweepstakes gambling legislation in Springfield.

A former Illinois House leader pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and then offering bribes to a state senator in an effort to push gambling legislation.

With Mike Madigan out as Illinois House speaker, state lawmakers have a unique opportunity to turn around the second-most corrupt state in the country. Ethics proposals are gaining support.

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke are among the politicians curbed by Chicago’s current U.S. Attorney. A bipartisan group is trying to keep him in place to continue public corruption prosecutions.

The lawyers who over 50 years ago started the fight against political patronage in Springfield and Chicago are arguing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is not ready to lose federal oversight of hiring. Efforts to hide hiring records prove that point, they said.

The federal court system has been watching Illinois for patronage hiring since 1972. There’s little evidence the problem is fixed.