Good morning, Chicago.
In the six years since Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker took office, members of the Illinois General Assembly have run afoul of the law at a staggering pace, even for a body with a history of greed and graft stretching back more than a century.
During Pritzker’s reign in Springfield, 11 now-former lawmakers have pleaded guilty or been convicted of crimes, a stain on the Illinois government he heads even though the governor himself has not been accused of any wrongdoing. That total avoided becoming an even dozen when a mistrial was declared last week in the federal court case alleging that Democratic state Sen. Emil Jones III of Chicago sought a bribe and a job for a former intern from a rogue red-light camera company executive working as a government mole.
The rapid rate of such convictions, at least in the short term, surpasses even the notorious Chicago City Council, which has seen nearly 40 members imprisoned in the last half century. And no conviction in recent memory was bigger than the epic February takedown of Chicago Democratic powerhouse and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the longest-serving speaker in American history.
The lack of legislative action also follows the 2024 Tribune “Culture of Corruption” series, which outlined how state laws are riddled with loopholes and plagued by weak oversight, issues underscored earlier this month when the Tribune revealed that Illinois election officials said Senate President Don Harmon collected millions of dollars more in campaign donations than he was allowed to under a law Harmon sponsored. Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, is appealing the decision.
Despite all of that, as the legislature enters the final weeks of its spring session, strengthening the state’s ethical safeguards doesn’t appear to be anywhere near the top of the agenda in Springfield.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Ray Long, Dan Petrella and Jeremy Gorner.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what Donald Trump voters think of the controversial first 100 days of his second term, the turning point in WGN’s Mike Lowe’s battle with colorectal cancer and a remembrance of larger-than-life Chicago Bears great Steve McMichael.
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Vatican announces conclave to elect a new pope will start on May 7
A conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis will begin on Wednesday, May 7, the Vatican announced today.
The date of the conclave was chief on the agenda of cardinals holding informal meetings to hash out church business following the April 21 death of Pope Francis. They held off on announcing the opening of the conclave until after his funeral on Saturday.
Federal cuts threatens program that allows suburban libraries to share books
President Donald Trump last month ordered the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that serves as a key source of funding for museums, libraries and educational institutions across the country. The cuts, which are still being rolled out, could prove devastating to the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, a popular library loaning system that has allowed suburban towns, local universities and small museums to share their books and other materials with each other.
‘Sweeping change.’ Donald Trump voters reflect on controversial first 100 days of second term.
As Donald Trump approaches 100 days in office, the Tribune interviewed voters who supported the president in November to gauge their opinion on the whirlwind first few months of his second term — from a flurry of more than 120 executive orders and controversial immigration crackdowns to deep federal government cuts and so-far failed attempts at peacemaking.
- Facing Trump’s trade war, Illinois soybean farmers say they’ve seen this before
- Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, headlines New Hampshire fundraiser
With US Sen. Dick Durbin retiring, Illinois’ tradition of upstate-downstate senators is in peril
Ever since Illinois voters gained the right to directly elect their U.S. senators in 1913, they have largely embraced — whether by choice or chance — an unofficial tradition of splitting the state’s two Senate seats geographically, with one coming from the Chicago area and the other from downstate, regardless of party.
But with Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement Wednesday that he will retire after the 2026 election, the issue of geographic balance of Illinois’ Senate representation appears to be at serious risk of coming to an end, at least based on the candidates who so far have shown interest in succeeding him.
Blue Angels jets are parked at Gary/Chicago International Airport during a preview day for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 18, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bill could end Gary airport bi-state pact, stuns mayor who cites loss of revenue
Without explanation, the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly approved the termination of a bi-state alliance that’s pumped millions of dollars into the Gary/Chicago International Airport.
The move comes as state lawmakers scrambled to cut millions from the state budget Thursday after a revenue forecast projecting a $2.4 billion shortfall.
Diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 44, WGN’s Mike Lowe shared his battle with viewers. Now, he’s at a turning point.
It was a year that started with surprise at WGN-TV reporter Mike Lowe’s colorectal cancer diagnosis at the age of 44. Lowe’s surprise, however, quickly turned into a conviction that he would use his platform as a television news reporter to raise awareness about the disease, which has increasingly been striking people at younger ages.
For the past year, he’s taken WGN viewers along on his journey, talking about his diagnosis in news segments, inviting cameras into his appointments and procedures and sharing very personal details about his experience.
Steve McMichael’s journey: Few squeezed more out of their days than the larger-than-life Chicago Bears great
Anyone who spent even five minutes with Steve McMichael knew he would have kept life’s party going forever — an endless supply of laughter and revelry.
He reveled in the company of others, especially those who looked at him with admiration. “If you think I’m something special, I’m happy to agree with you,” he used to boast.
After the NFL draft, is it possible Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears have too many toys on offense?
Was Luther Burden III perhaps a luxury pick for Bears general manager Ryan Poles and new coach Ben Johnson, particularly with more glaring needs on both lines and in parts of their secondary?
“We really did a good job following the board,” Poles said, “kind of letting it talk to us. It was clear (Burden) was the most talented player on the board.”
- Bears add undrafted free agents: 2 receivers, 5 defensive players and a kicker among newcomers
- ‘A match made in heaven’: How the Bears settled on ‘Idaho tough’ Colston Loveland at No. 10
Your museum’s federal grant has been terminated. Best wishes, Keith E. Sonderling
On April 9, DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville received an email from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that recently had been gutted on President Donald Trump’s orders. “We regret to inform you,” it read, “that your IMLS grant has been terminated.”
A termination notice from the institute’s new acting Director Keith Sonderling was attached to the 38-word email. “Best wishes,” the message concluded.
Review: Denzel Curry at Salt Shed: This one’s for the fans
Denzel Curry is for the people, writes Britt Julious. That much was clear during his show Friday night at the Salt Shed, where a bevy of teenage and 20-something fans were bouncing off the walls (literally) from start to finish.
