Chicago businessman Juan Ochoa had heard little more than crickets in the six months since then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan asked for his resume in November 2017.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Madigan jury sees ‘Magic Lobbyist List’ seized from co-defendant during FBI search
It was a sunny and mild spring afternoon in May 2019 when roughly 100 FBI agents were dispatched to the homes – and one office – of eight allies to then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.… MORE
Illinois legislature’s fall veto session is underway
Illinois Republicans standing at attention, now that the General Assembly is back in Springfield.… MORE
Amid flurry of gun ban challenges, federal appeals court considers Cook County assault weapon law
A panel of federal judges is weighing whether to overturn a Cook County ban on semiautomatic weapons in a case that could upend other local bans and call into question the statewide prohibition on the controversial class of firearms. … MORE
Jury sees relentless ComEd job placement requests from Madigan co-defendant
Had they been any other job applicants, electric utility Commonwealth Edison likely wouldn’t have given a second look to candidates who made “politically inappropriate” comments during an interview, failed basic screening tests or didn’t even show up to take those tests – twice.… MORE
ComEd lobbyist warned FBI mole to ‘keep Madigan happy’ and not mess with no-work contracts
The FBI wasted no time giving Fidel Marquez his first assignment after the chief lobbyist for electric utility Commonwealth Edison agreed to become a government mole in January 2019.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker declines to discuss future political plans after Presidential election
As Gov. JB Pritzker and other Democrats try to figure out what went wrong Election Day, he is trying to reassure Illinoisans who depend on his policies.… MORE
Early results show Democrats likely to maintain supermajorities in Illinois General Assembly
Preliminary, unofficial election results show no seats in the state House or Senate have changed party hands, although a few races remained too close to call according to the Associated Press. … MORE
UIS Professor: President-elect Donald Trump’s strengths connected with voters
A University of Illinois Springfield political science professor said too much was going against Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday.… MORE
By the numbers: Unions lead the way on funding state elections in Illinois
This year in Illinois, there are no statewide elections. There are no fights over a Supreme Court seat. There are no constitutional amendments. At the Statehouse, more than half of general election races are uncontested. … MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…