UPDATE: The man fatally shot by an ICE agent during an traffic stop in Franklin Park this morning has bene identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, 38. DHS says he is in the U.S. illegally and was targeted for arrest due to a history of reckless driving www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/12/i...

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks $90 million in settlement of suits tied to corrupt cop, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @jmetr22b.bsky.social w the details. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/11/m...

"A wired-up executive entertaining politicos at his suburban cigar lounge, secret contracts siphoning funds from red-light cameras to a mob-connected businessman, and another mayor ... handing over an envelope of bribe money at a Crestwood pancake house called Stacked." @jmetr22b.bsky.social

“It takes courage to speak up, to say no in the face of power like Mr. Madigan’s,” a judge told ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker today. “It’s easy to say yes when you have the talent and the wherewithal to play within the corrupt system." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/14/j...

Michael J. Madigan spent decades as speaker of the Illinois House, but when he strode to the lectern in a packed federal courtroom on Friday he seemed almost unsure of what to say. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/13/m...

Chicago-born Elias Rodriguez, a UIC grad and son of an Iraq war veteran who railed against Israel’s attacks on Gaza, is now facing a potential death sentence in the fatal shootings of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington DC. Our final report here: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/22/a...

“I kick myself in the ass every day for having got it so wrong.” Tragic ending to a federal fraud case as ex-CPS principal Sarah Jackson Abedelal is found dead on the day of her sentencing www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/07/e...

In his testimony so far, state Sen. Emil Jones III has called FBI mole Omar Maani a “used car salesman,” former colleague Martin Sandoval a “bully” and ex-Senate President John Cullerton a “boss” And he says he can dance Catch up here: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/s...

This week in politics, State Sen. Emil Jones III of Chicago is accused of taking bribes from a red-light camera company. Now, his political career, and his freedom, are at stake in federal court, as @jmetr22b.bsky.social reports. Plus, Linda Kenyon and the latest on tariffs.

'They always asked me for money': Ex-red light camera exec talks about cigars, dinners, bribes www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/10/e...

Former red-light camera company executive Omar Maani, one of the more prolific FBI moles in recent Chicago history, is expected to take a federal witness stand for the first time today as the bribery trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III kicks off in earnest. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/09/r...

Anointed by powerful father, state Sen. Emil Jones III heads to trial on bribery charges www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/06/a...

A Skokie man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison in a multi-million-dollar bank fraud case that involved a 58-foot party yacht known as the “Flying Lady,” a onetime fixture in Chicago’s summer boating scene adorned with a pink stripper pole attached to the afterdeck.

'They've got everlasting money, bro': Chicago archdiocese alleges conspiracy to file false sex abuse claims against defrocked priest www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/25/c...

“If I were a criminal and I knew I did something bad, the last person I would want to see show up in court on my case is Amar Bhachu.” Top Madigan prosecutor known for bringing blockbuster mob, corruption cases, stepping down www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/14/t...

NEW: 2 years after Chicago's last Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney departed, the number of indictments is in free fall, there's been an exodus of leadership, and upheaval in DC has many on edge. The city's storied U.S. attorney's office is at a crossroads: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/10/c...

“If Mike Madigan is being bribed in 2016, how the hell does that happen? Because he wasn’t.” Madigan defense attempts to chip away at bribery allegations as closing arguments continue www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/27/m...

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan's "made out like bandits" comment on a federal wiretap has finally been aired in court and is attached to this updated story: Prosecutor: "That’s you laughing, sir, isn’t it?" www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...

In a stunning and risky move, Michael J. Madigan, once the state’s most powerful politician, took the witness stand in his own defense Tuesday, offering wide-ranging testimony about his rise to power as well as emphatic denials he ever betrayed his office: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/07/m...

Far Northwest Side Ald. Jim Gardiner has agreed to pay more than $157,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by Northwest Side residents who accused the alderman of violating their First Amendment rights when he blocked them and deleted their comments on his official government social media account.

Historic preservationists thought demands had been answered when the federal government appeared to green-light the rehab of century-old office towers on State Street. But security restrictions governing how the buildings are used have raised questions.

With Michael Madigan’s defense case now underway, one angle that has so far not materialized is the idea that Madigan would try to throw his old friend and co-defendant, Michael McClain, under the proverbial bus. So what will they argue to the jury? Read on: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/22/d...

After weeks of legal wrangling, ex-state Rep. Eddie Acevedo is finally on the witness stand in the Madigan corruption trial. His testimony has so far been as expected— he claimed Monday he did do work for AT&T, but only “verbally” …and, he forgot his glasses www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/16/m...

A prosecutor in the Madigan corruption trial accused the defense of trying to insinuate that fired 13th Ward political aide Kevin Quinn was “just a poor guy with kids when we all jolly well know” he’d been accused by a woman of sexual harassment. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/16/m...

Alongside all the allegations of power plays, insider deals, and shakedown schemes, another side of the man known in Springfield as “The Velvet Hammer” has emerged in court. How will the jury size up Michael J. Madigan? www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/15/w...

“Between you and me only, Madigan said once he gets sworn in as speaker and gets his rules he’s going to take care of Kevin.” Jurors in Madigan trial hear call detailing plan to kick $$ to 13th Ward worker Kevin Quinn after sex harassment ouster. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/11/m...

A federal judge is expected to rule early Wednesday whether ex-state Rep. Eddie Acevedo can be compelled to testify in the Madigan corruption trial. Acevedo’s lawyer argues the 61-year-old ex-cop has dementia and is medically incompetent to take the stand. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/10/m...

The jury in Michael Madigan’s corruption trial has heard many nicknames given to the powerful Democratic House Speaker, from the obvious, like “MJM” or “Mr. Speaker,” to the more esoteric, such as “Himself” and “our Friend.” Today they heard a new one: “Sphinx” www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/09/s...

Ex-state Rep. Eddie Acevedo has been granted immunity and could be compelled to testify at former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial next week — though Acevedo’s lawyer may try to argue he’s medically incompetent to take the stand. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/06/e...

We’ve reached the final phase of the feds’ case in the Madigan corruption trial, where jurors are seeing more evidence of the speaker’s reach, from a clout list of hiring recommendations for incoming Gov. JB Pritzker to an insurance contract for his son Andrew www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/04/m...

After six days of testimony against ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, former Ald. Daniel Solis exited stage left alone, off the witness stand and out of the public eye, perhaps this time for good. Our story on an FBI mole’s memorable final act: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/03/d...

Prostitutes and pot in Puerto Rico, blowing campaign funds at high-end department stores and on private school tuition, and potential tax fraud involving more than $600k from his sister. It’s was all on the table in cross- examination of ex-Ald. Daniel Solis: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/02/m...

It’s up to the jury to decide whether Michael Madigan stepped over the line and committed a crime. But regardless of the outcome, his corruption trial has offered a fly-on-the-wall opportunity for the public to see how the levers of power are pulled in private. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/01/m...

Michael Madigan was never really known for his warm and fuzzy personality during his record reign as House speaker. So what had Madigan seemingly so giddy in a private 2018 meeting with Ald. Daniel Solis? Read on: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/26/m...

Our story on a wild day of testimony in the Madigan corruption trial, including happy ending massages, Viagra, affairs, foreclosures, a suitcase full of Chinese money in Shanghai, and everyone’s favorite law firm hold music: “In the Hall of the Mountain King” www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/25/m...

Good morning, Bluesky. As some of my followers know, I've been posting a lot about the Madigan corruption trial over on that other site. At some point I'll weigh whether to move that operation over here. For now, catch up with our Sunday story: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/24/m...