Michael McClain
|

FBI ‘turned over heaven and earth’ for evidence against Madigan but found only ‘legal favors,’ defense says

The FBI “turned over heaven and earth” to find incriminating evidence against former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan but ultimately found nothing more than “legal favors,” an attorney for Madigan’s longtime friend and confidant told jurors Tuesday. That won’t be enough to convict Michael McClain, the former lawmaker and lobbyist now on trial alongside Madigan, defense attorney John…

cars on highway
|

Illinois launches push to combat distracted driving

Brenda Protz lost her 14-year-old daughter in November 2019 in a distracted-driving crash. Jenna and a friend were riding home from a football game with Jenna’s paternal grandparents when their car was struck by a distracted driver. Jenna and the others in her car died; the other driver survived. “Jenna’s life was cut short,” said…

Grayson, Massey family await court decision that could allow for his release from jail

Grayson, Massey family await court decision that could allow for his release from jail

Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson remains behind bars for the death of Sonya Massey. But a court is being asked to release him while he awaits his murder trial. Grayson, 30, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty. Grayson is being held…

Chapter Three: Fallout-Labels

Chapter Three: Fallout-Labels

By October 21st, 2023, some 6,000 people in the Gaza Strip and Israel had been killed in the expanding Israel- Hamas War. Here on the University of Illinois Campus and around the world, tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli communities were rising. As part of their coverage of the conflict last fall, Illinois journalism students spoke…

217 Today: The nation’s first commercial carbon storage plant is in Illinois. It leaks.

217 Today: The nation’s first commercial carbon storage plant is in Illinois. It leaks.

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 Today’s headlines: In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn about the nation’s first commercial carbon storage plant in Illinois. 217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Emily Hays, Stephanie Mosqueda, Dave McKinney and Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco.