Author: Jim Talamonti | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and U.S. government attorneys are expected to face off Monday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in downtown Chicago. Madigan surprised many observers when he reported to the witness stand last Tuesday in his own defense. The former speaker and his longtime associate,…

(The Center Square) – Two Chicago aldermen have proposed eliminating sanctuary-city protections for foreign nationals convicted of or arrested for certain crimes. Aldermen Raymond Lopez and Silvana Tabares say their proposed amendment to the Welcoming City Ordinance would allow the city to work with federal immigration officers. Lopez said the measure would only apply when…

https://denvergazette.com/news/nation-world/he-should-have-worked-defendant-madigan-testifies-about-no-work-job-allegations/article_4b9e9d83-6747-590d-8127-a3e37a1ba1d1.html

(The Center Square) – Jurors are scheduled to return from an 18-day holiday break on Monday at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain in Chicago. Judge John Robert Blakey held a charge conference for attorneys on Jan. 2, when prosecutors and the defense teams discussed terminology used…

(The Center Square) – Illinois employers are bracing for minimum-wage hikes, which may lead to more job cuts around the state. Illinois’ minimum wage is rising from $14 per hour to $15 on Jan 1, the final increase in a series of annual increases from a law Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed in February of 2019. In…

(The Center Square) – Starting Jan. 1, Illinois schools will be face new mandates and bans. State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, sponsored a bill requiring school districts to provide students with at least 20 minutes a week of relaxation activities in addition to recess. “So this would also allow them to utilize public and private…

(The Center Square) – Jurors are off until next year at the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. The court is in recess until Dec. 30, when Judge John Robert Blakey scheduled a charge conference for attorneys and parties. Blakey instructed the jury to return on…

(The Center Square) – Defense attorneys have begun making their case at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain separately enter the federal court building in Chicago Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, where their corruption case defense begins.Jim Talamonti…

(The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council on Monday approved a new budget without a property-tax increase, but many aldermen say the mayor still needs to cut spending. The council voted 27-23 in favor of a $17.1 billion dollar budget, which includes a $40 million loan. Protesters disrupted Monday’s meeting multiple times as aldermen…

(The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council still don’t have a budget agreement. Reports surfaced early Friday that the mayor did not have enough votes to pass a budget, which included more than $230 million dollars in higher taxes and fees. At Friday’s council meeting, which started about 30 minutes…