Latest news with #JohnRobertBlakey
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Illinois lawmaker sentenced to over 7 years in prison for corruption
Former Illinois Democratic lawmaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to more than seven years in prison following a federal corruption trial in Chicago. Madigan, the longest serving legislative leader in U.S. history, will also be required to pay a $2.5 million fine following a February conviction on 10 of 23 counts of corruption. 'I'm truly sorry for putting the people of the state of Illinois through this,' Madigan, the former speaker of the state house, said before the sentencing according to the Associated Press. 'I tried to do my best to serve the people of the state of Illinois,' he said. 'I am not perfect.' His defense attorneys pushed for five years probation, hoping that he could stay at home to care for his wife Shirley, who's suffering from aging complications. However, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey showed little leniency for the 83 year old who prosecutors said undertook corrupt dealings for years with supporting evidence from 60 witnesses and stacks of documents. 'Being great is hard. Being honest is not. It's hard to commit crimes. It actually takes effort,' Blakey said during the hearing. The Democrat was once lauded for his historic political career, after serving as speaker for the Illinois General Assembly for 50 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker said Madigan forwent opportunities to support an 'honest government' but 'fit right into the mold of yet another corrupt leader in Illinois,' as reported by the AP. As a result of Streicker's court presentation, jurors found Madigan guilty for overarching racketeering conspiracy on six counts while acquitting him on seven other charges. The former elected official was facing up to 105 years in prison for the pile of charges and the judge said Madigan should be held accountable for not accepting guilt but committing perjury on the stand instead. 'You lied. You did not have to. You had a right to sit there and exercise your right to silence,' Blakey said per AP. 'But you took the stand and you took the law into your own hands.' Updated at 10:46 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: A Yoko Ono exhibition is coming the MCA
Good afternoon, Chicago. Lawyers for convicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan are arguing for a new trial in his corruption case, saying prosecutors failed to prove the then-powerful Democrat knew about a scheme by ComEd to pay off his associates and alleging a series of mistakes by the trial judge. The 73-page motion filed Friday alleged those errors tainted the jury with highly prejudicial evidence, and asked U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to reverse the jury's verdict on certain guilty counts and grant a new trial on others. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Elon Musk and his political operatives have tried to shape the closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race in ways that are not immediately obvious but could be critical to tomorrow's outcome. Read more here. More top news stories: Chicago weather: Severe threat expected Wednesday — but timing is still up in the air Joliet man accused of sex trafficking after undercover operation, Cook County sheriff says What is sharpness really? What constitutes a cutting knife's edge? Is there such a thing as the 'best knife?' Questions of metallurgical metaphysics come up easily in conversation with the knife lovers at Northside Cutlery, a kitchen supply and sharpening shop in the North Center neighborhood founded by former chef Kevin Silverman. Read more here. More top business stories: Clarendon Hills plans village's first ever Restaurant Week Trump's promised 'Liberation Day' of tariffs is coming. Here's what it could mean for you Here's a look at the best player on each team, along with another who might make an impact in San Antonio once the games start Saturday. Read more here. More top sports stories: Paige Bueckers and UConn hope to take next step toward title in Elite Eight rematch with USC Tush push is the hottest topic at the NFL league meetings — and a vote is expected tomorrow A new solo exhibition dedicated to Yoko Ono is coming to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. 'Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind' will open in October, with the MCA as the show's only U.S. venue. It comes to Chicago from the Tate Modern in London, where it reportedly set attendance records. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Today in History: Selena killed by president of singer's fan club Biblioracle: Ron Currie Jr.'s latest novel is the dark but inviting 'Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne' Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as 'a drawn-out process,' a Kremlin spokesman said today, after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries' leaders as he tries to bring about a truce. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: Suspected US airstrikes hit Yemen Earthquake compounds humanitarian crisis in Myanmar
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Daywatch: What we know about Madigan jury deliberations
Good morning, Chicago. The jurors in the landmark racketeering trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime confidant deliberated for their first full day yesterday without reaching a verdict — though they should be all set on office supplies. The jury of eight women and four men resumed deliberations at 9 a.m. and left the courthouse at 4:40 p.m., putting their total deliberation time at about nine hours since getting the case Wednesday afternoon. Under their self-imposed schedule, the panel will return for more discussion at 10 a.m. today and call it a day at 3 p.m. So far the only communication from the jurors has been about scheduling — and office supplies. Shortly before noon yesterday, they sent a note to the judge asking for more highlighters, sticky notes and white-out. That followed requests on Wednesday for 'more pens and highlighters and tape' as well as 'at least five more copies of the indictment.' 'Apparently there is some kind of arts and crafts going on back there,' U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey quipped after reading yesterday's note. When another message from the jurors arrived later in the day, the judge joked that it would be a red flag only 'if they start asking for pipe cleaners and macaroni.' Follow along with Tribune reporters in the courtroom while jurors deliberate. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History A midair collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, officials said, as they scrutinized the actions of the military pilot in the country's deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century. At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines regional jet late Wednesday while it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just across the river from Washington, officials said. The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter. President Donald Trump said his 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico are coming tomorrow, but he's still considering whether to include oil from those countries as part of his import taxes. Trump said his decision will be based on whether the price of oil charged by the two trading partners is fair, although the basis of his threatened tariffs pertains to stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of chemicals used for fentanyl. Walgreens Boots Alliance announced that it is suspending its practice of paying cash dividends to stockholders. The change comes amid struggles for the Deerfield-based retail pharmacy giant. Walgreens announced plans in October to shutter 1,200 stores over the next three years, including in Chicago. Walgreens has been cutting costs for years, including through layoffs in Illinois and other locations. A federal lawsuit filed earlier this month alleges one of the main firms involved in managing the construction of the Obama Presidential Center racially discriminated against one of the project's African-American owned local subcontractors, leaving them $40 million in the red and at risk of bankruptcy. But the company in charge of engineering and professional design services for the center pointed the finger right back, saying in an attached memo that construction costs and delays 'were all unequivocally driven by the underperformance and inexperience' of that subcontractor, II in One. The fight over the future of hemp in Chicago moved to the City Council yesterday, weeks after a push by Mayor Brandon Johnson helped block state legislation to strictly license, tax and regulate the often high-inducing products. As aldermen sparred in a council committee meeting alongside dueling hemp sellers and marijuana dispensary owners, the council appeared far from agreement on the safety and fairness of potential local regulations — despite all sides agreeing that the unregulated product that can get users high must face some restrictions. Pedro Martinez, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, said yesterday he 'can't even imagine the need' for the Chicago Teachers Union to go on strike, saying the two sides are on the way to reaching an agreement amid contentious negotiations. 'Any work stoppage would only disrupt our children's learning, and given how close together the sides are, it wouldn't make any sense to do something so drastic,' Martinez said at the January Board of Education meeting. CPS CEO addresses ICE mixup at elementary school last week In a move that could make them some of the first undergraduate student workers to unionize in Illinois, resident advisers at the University of Illinois at Chicago filed for union representation yesterday. The undergraduates filed for representation with the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 39, a Madison, Wisconsin-based labor union that represents workers in nonprofits and health care and at universities. Union organizers said more than 85% of the 170 undergraduate housing staff workers at UIC had signed union cards. The skaters who died Wednesday were those trying to join the future elite, writes Philip Hersh. They were among 150 athletes from the sport's lower competitive levels who had been invited to a national development camp that took place Monday and Tuesday. They are mourned not just because they were young and talented. They are mourned because to anyone associated with the sport, they are part of the family. 14 from 'close-knit' figure skating community killed in crash, with 6 of them from Boston club Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95 For the second year in a row, the NBA All-Star Game will not feature a player from the Chicago Bulls. Zach LaVine — a two-time All-Star in 2021 and '22 — was passed over Thursday for a reserve spot in the Eastern Conference despite ranking 10th in the East in scoring (24 points per game) and shooting 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from 3-point range. It's early yet. Dennis Allen barely has his new office settled at Halas Hall. So it's difficult for the 52-year-old coach to deliver a concrete vision of what his Chicago Bears defense might look like in 2025. But Allen does know what he's after and how he likes his units to operate. So it was little surprise Thursday when the new Bears defensive coordinator offered up two qualities he is certain will be part of the M.O. going forward: Attacking. Aggressive. No questions asked. Head-to-head fighting games were born in the heyday of American arcade culture in the '90s and there were competitions even then — usually meetups at the local bowling alley or arcade or basement. Now they take the form of a double-elimination bracket played at a conference center. Also around the area this weekend, the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show lands in Rosemont and a concert by pop band MICHELLE.
