SCHIAZZA MADIGAN

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury 

Ex-AT&T Illinois president maintains company got legislative win through legal lobbying   CHICAGO – On Valentine’s Day in 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza got some good news: After years of trying to push for legislation in Springfield that would save the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael…

courthouse

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

The case is being heard in federal district court in East St. Louis EAST ST. LOUIS – An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade…

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

Former Illinois House speaker appears in separate courtroom ahead of own trial CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois. “Game…

In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally
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In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally

Feds allege AT&T boss bribed Madigan with contract for political ally Eddie Acevedo CHICAGO – On an afternoon in late April 2017, recently retired state Rep. Eddie Acevedo was called to a meeting in the state Capitol in Springfield. The 20-year veteran lawmaker had joined his sons’ lobbying firm and was looking for work. Meeting…

AT&T trial

On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract

Trial continues in case of ex-AT&T Illinois president accused of bribing former speaker   CHICAGO – The day before Thanksgiving in 2016, then-AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza read some news that frustrated him. It seemed that energy giant Exelon, the parent company of Chicago-based electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was going to get a big…

Newton County sheriff pays tribute to slain deputy, thanks public for support
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Newton County sheriff pays tribute to slain deputy, thanks public for support

  NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. — The body of a slain sheriff’s deputy from Newton County, Indiana was escorted earlier this week from Urbana to Springfield and from Springfield to Brookston, Indiana Thursday.   Corporal Brandon Schreiber was shot in the line of duty on September 1 while assisting Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois. A police…

Paul La Schiazza
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Trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan begins

Feds claim AT&T won big in Springfield only after hiring ex-Illinois House speaker’s political ally CHICAGO – As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017. La…

Newton County sheriff’s deputy dies after being shot in line of duty

Newton County sheriff’s deputy dies after being shot in line of duty

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. — Preparations are underway for funeral arrangements for a slain sheriff’s deputy from Newton County, Indiana, who was shot in the line of duty earlier this month.  In a recent update, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office said that the body of Corporal Brandon Schreiber will be escorted Thursday morning from Springfield.  Schreiber…

Dante Scott

UPDATE: Co-manager of Champaign’s ‘The Beat’ program faces child pornography charges

Updated Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. A Champaign DJ with ties to live music and education programs around the city has been arrested for selling child pornography. In a press release on Tuesday, the Illinois State Police said it arrested Dante Joseph Scott, 28, for multiple child pornography charges. Officers then searched his home in Champaign….

UPDATE: Newton County sheriff’s deputy not expected to survive after being shot in line of duty
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UPDATE: Newton County sheriff’s deputy not expected to survive after being shot in line of duty

  NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. — A Newton County Sheriff’s Deputy will not survive after being shot in the line of duty earlier this month.  Corporal Brandon Schreiber was shot by a suspect on September 1 while assisting the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois during a police chase that ended in Sheldon, according to Illinois…

Sonya Massey body camera
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Massey Commission plans first listening session

The newly formed Massey Commission will host its first listening session this month. The commission, which includes officials and members of the public, was created in response to the killing of Sonya Massey this summer. The first session will be to understand the public’s hopes and concerns before finalizing the final mission and goals. Massey…