Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO – After watching prosecutors spend more than 10 hours over three days dissecting every element of the racketeering and bribery case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the defense on Friday acknowledged the government’s presentation seemed “very polished.” “But it’s incomplete,” Madigan attorney Dan Collins said as he began his…

Capitol News Illinois Over 5,000 preschool seats have opened for low-income families in Illinois through Smart Start Illinois in the past year. Smart Start Illinois is an initiative of Gov. JB Pritzker that’s designed to expand publicly funded preschool programs and increase the number of preschool seats available to 80% of all working families in…

Capitol News Illinois For the first time in more than a decade, a Republican will chair an Illinois House committee. Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, received the call from Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, earlier this month that he was tapped to head the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Swanson said the appointment was a…

Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO – Federal prosecutors continued their closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, accusing the longtime Democratic powerbroker of using Chicago Ald. Danny Solis’ positions of power “to gain private benefits.” Read more: In closing arguments, prosecutor alleges Madigan was driven by ‘power and profit’ It…

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education is encouraging local school districts to adopt clear policies spelling out how and when their staff should cooperate with federal immigration officials carrying out enforcement actions or seeking information from school officials. The “non-regulatory guidance” on immigration enforcement actions was issued Wednesday, Jan. 22,…

Capitol News Illinois Phillip Brown called his motorcycle Elvira: Mistress of the Night – the custom 2000 Harley Davidson he built with flames licking the black tank and fenders, plenty of chrome and a $5,000 motor. That motorcycle is now at the center of a two-count federal indictment in the southern district of Illinois in…

Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO – As prosecutors began their closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, they accused the longtime Democratic powerbroker of lying to the jury when he testified in his own defense earlier this month. “Ladies and gentlemen, what you heard on the witness stand was a…

Capitol News Illinois The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments in a case centered on whether a state law passed in 2023 violates the due process rights of Illinoisans outside Sangamon and Cook counties. A 2023 law restricts certain types of lawsuits – namely challenges to a law’s constitutionality – to courts in those…

Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO — A wave of executive orders and bold pronouncements of his vision for the country highlighted President Donald Trump’s first day back in the White House Monday. In Illinois, Trump’s ascension back to power kicked off new frustrations for Gov. JB Pritzker, who ripped into the new president at an unrelated…