Want to know a police officer’s job history? There’s a new tool for that from Invisible Institute
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Want to know a police officer’s job history? There’s a new tool for that from Invisible Institute

The non-profit journalism organization Invisible Institute has launched a new tool that allows people to look up police employment history.  The National Police Index, created in partnership with Innocence Project New Orleans and Human Rights Data Analysis Group, compiles data obtained from state police training and certification boards. The tool currently shows data in 17 states, including…

Parkland College

Champaign man arrested for making threats against local college

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign man was arrested Tuesday after making violent threats against a local college campus. Champaign Police arrived at 9:06 a.m. to Parkland College following a report of threats made on social media, according to a news release. Police were made aware of a social media post that contained threats against the college…

Illinois Supreme Court statue

Illinois Supreme Court rulings address FOID seizures, hospital room privacy

Justices unanimously overturn decision that would have voided part of FOID law SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court last week vacated a lower court ruling and reinstated a statute that authorizes the state to revoke a person’s Firearm Owners Identification card once they’ve been charged with a felony, even if they haven’t yet been convicted….

Illinois Board of Elections
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FBI investigating after Illinois, more than a dozen other election offices receive ‘suspicious’ package

The Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield was evacuated Friday after receiving a suspicious package — joining a growing list of election offices that have been targeted nationwide. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said last week they were investigating the origin of suspicious packages that have been sent to, or received by, elections officials…

David Olson
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A year after end of cash bail, early research shows impact less than many hoped or feared

Jail populations down, no change in failure to appear rate, analysis shows   SPRINGFIELD – One year after Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate the use of cash bail, the impact on the state’s criminal justice system appears to have been far less dramatic than people on either side of the…

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…