The trial dragged on significantly longer than expected. It began with jury selection in early October and was slated to wrap up before Christmas. But unexpected witness change-ups, lengthy legal arguments and Madigan’s choice to testify on his own behalf — among other factors — kept proceedings going for nearly four months.

A prescription drug affordability board could evaluate high cost drugs and set upper payment limits for what Illinois consumers pay.

Following reports of a sexual assault involving school kids in a small central Illinois community, State Sen. Steve McClure was shocked to find out that the student who committed the sexual assault was allowed to stay in class. “If a student brings a pair of brass knuckles to class, they are automatically expelled for a year,” said McClure. “But if you sexually assault a student at school, there is no automatic expulsion for a year.”

New state data shows at least 14,723 Illinoisans lost their jobs due to mass layoffs in 2024, with roughly two-thirds of those separations stemming from businesses that were shuttered. During the month of December alone, companies added another 670 layoffs, with business closures accounting for 518 of them.

Members of the Illinois General Assembly contribute so little to their own pensions, that former House Speaker Mike Madigan got back 50 years of contributions in just 29 months. His total contributions were $352,345. His lifetime benefit is estimated at $1.65 million, depending on his longevity and whether he is convicted.

“The city’s main objective during this time is to secure and maintain the well-being of our community by following the guidance of the Illinois Attorney General Office, avoiding participation in federal enforcement efforts by preventing the sharing of information based solely on immigration status,” Waukegan Police Department’s official statement reads.

The complaint, filed by State Rep. Tony McCombie and five voters from districts they consider gerrymandered, asks the Supreme Court to appoint a special master to draft a new map.

Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. is an active TikTok user. The 28-year-old said he uses the app to educate people and keep up with local news and businesses. “Data has become its own currency and its own weapon,” Gonzalez said. “But I think that in the same way that we worry about foreign countries trying to harvest that data, we should also worry about the folks in the states.”

Jim Dey: “Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a pension board member and former House Democrat who interacted with (one time Madigan right-hand man Timothy) Mapes, quickly announced she’ll vote to revoke Mapes’ pension. Mendoza said ‘anyone convicted of violating the public trust should be stripped of their taxpayer-funded pension.'”

Sponsored by State Sen. Neil Anderson, Senate Bill 1313 supports “targeted operations” to deport undocumented immigrants accused or convicted of felonies and calls on Illinois to take on an “active role” in helping ICE. “Governor Pritzker claims he wants violent criminals who are here illegally deported, but the policies he supports make that impossible,” Anderson said in a statement.

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the TRUST Act is binding law in Illinois and the agency’s authority does not allow his staff to enforce federal law. “Federal law violation cases can only be enforced by those empowered with the authority to enforce federal statutes,” Covelli added. “That said, we do not intentionally obstruct the federal government from conducting their duties. We must always adhere to the law.

Susan Udvance submitted piles of paperwork, including her taxes, social security card and marriage certificate, as she tries to get her hands on $19,379 from Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and his office’s I-CASH website. But the other two companies who were part of the canceled West Loop investment deal are now defunct, so she can’t get signatures the state needs to release the money to her.

Analysis of data from the Department of Justice found on average more than one Illinois public servant was convicted every week between 1983 and 2023. A previous institute analysis estimated illegal corruption cost the state $550 million per year in lost economic growth from 2000 to 2017.

If Gov. JB Pritzker signs the bill into law, Illinois would join five other states that have similar measures on the books and dozens of others that have introduced legislation attempting to address warehouse workplace issues.

The lawsuit alleges the current House map fails to meet state constitutional requirements that districts be compact and allow elections to be “free and equal.” The outcome is elections that are “rigged” to favor Democratic candidates. Republicans want the court to invalidate the maps and appoint a special master to draw new district boundaries.

Gov. JB Pritzker accused President Donald Trump’s administration of “trying to confuse the American people,” but said the state is nonetheless making contingency plans should tens of billions of dollars in federal funding disappear. “The United States Constitution clearly states that Congress has the power of the purse and sets laws to obligate federal funding for all 50 states,” Pritzker said. “What Donald Trump tried to do in the last 24 hours is illegal.”

Co-sponsor of the bill Rep. Carrol Ammons said America in the past has paid reparations to communities such as Japanese Americans and Native American tribes, but the descendants of slavery have not been paid.

“These pieces of legislation aren’t just about regulating an industry — they’re about protecting working people. … It’s time for Illinois to lead the way in protecting consumers from the growing financial burden of insurance rate increases.”