CAPITOL RECAP: Madigan indicted on 22 counts
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on 22 counts for allegedly using his position as the top House Democrat to solicit “personal financial rewards” for himself and his associates, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois.…
‘The Madigan Enterprise:’ Inside the federal indictment of the state’s former speaker
By BETH HUNDSDORFER & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In a 106-page, 22-count indictment, federal prosecutors painted a picture of former House Speaker Michael Madigan as the leader, along with a longtime confidante, of a sweeping criminal enterprise that influenced legislation for personal power and financial gain. “The Madigan Enterprise,” as prosecutors…
House passes bill to reimburse teachers for college tuition, fees
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed a bill Wednesday that would reimburse public school teachers for tuition and mandatory fees paid to a public institution of higher education. The measure is intended to promote the retention of teachers, but Republicans said it would skew toward the benefit of…
CAPITOL RECAP: Madigan indicted on 22 counts
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on 22 counts for allegedly using his position as the top House Democrat to solicit “personal financial rewards” for himself and his associates, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois.…
UPDATED: Ex-Speaker Madigan indicted on 22 public corruption counts
By JERRY NOWICKI PETER HANCOCK BETH HUNDSDORFER & GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on 22 counts for allegedly using his position as the top House Democrat to solicit “personal financial rewards” for himself and his associates, according to…
Feds: Ex-Speaker Madigan indicted on 22 counts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 22 counts for allegedly using his position as the top House Democrat to solicit “personal financial rewards” for himself and others, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District…
IDOC director makes $1.6 billion budget request at state Senate committee
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys appeared before the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday to ask for approval of the department’s $1.6 billion budget, a 6 percent increase from the current fiscal year. Although the prison population is the lowest it has been…
CAPITOL RECAP: IDPH Director Ezike plans to leave state government
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans. Ezike, a mother of four, was appointed IDPH director in 2019, became…
CAPITOL RECAP: IDPH Director Ezike plans to leave state government
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans. Ezike, a mother of four, was appointed IDPH director in 2019, became…
House passes paid leave for vaccinated teachers
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed a bill Tuesday that would give teachers, professors and other educational employees paid leave if they miss work for COVID-19-related issues, but only if they’ve been fully vaccinated. The House voted 70-28, with only Democrats voting in favor, to advance House Bill…
Farm Bureau opposes nutrient loss bill as negotiations continue
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill meant to stem nutrient pollution resulting from farm runoff has met opposition from a formidable foe – the Illinois Farm Bureau – as negotiations on a final package continue. Nutrient loss is one of the most serious pollution threats in the country, creating a…
UPDATED: IDPH Director Ezike to step down March 14
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans. Ezike, who was appointed IDPH director in 2019, became a widely recognized public figure in the…
IDPH Director Ezike to step down March 14
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans. Ezike, who was appointed IDPH director in 2019, became…
Backlog of 3,759 criminal appeals cases has been resolved, state appellate defender says
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A backlog of cases before the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender that the agency’s leader once described as a “crisis in the criminal justice system” has largely been resolved, State Appellate Defender James Chadd told a state Senate committee Tuesday. Chadd told a Senate…
CAPITOL RECAP: State issues new mask guidelines after Supreme Court denies appeal
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Facial coverings are now optional in most public places in Illinois, including schools, after Gov. JB Pritzker issued new guidance Monday to comply with new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Under a new executive order issued by Pritzker on Monday, masks are no longer required in…
Mask mandates come down in schools, most public places
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Facial coverings are now optional in most public places in Illinois, including schools, after Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that he would update guidance to comply with new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Those developments came as the Illinois Supreme Court declined to…
