Latest news with #MichaelMadigan
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bill aimed at helping Illinois farmers control deer populations heads to Pritzker's desk
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Legislation aimed at making it easier for residents to obtain a hunting permit — and to help control the deer population — has passed both the Illinois Senate and House, and is headed towards the governor's desk. Under Senate Bill 710, IDNR would implement new rules for the Deer Removal Permit. Landowners would be allowed to let other individuals 'destroy' deer responsible for damage under a permit given to the landowner. Legislature bumps right up against midnight deadline as they pass $55 billion budget And, landowner deer and turkey permits could be given for free to an Illinois resident that owns at least 40 acres of Illinois land and that wishes to hunt on their own land. Tenant deer and turkey permits could be given for free to Illinois residents that are living on at least 40 acres of commercial agricultural land, wishing to hunt on land they live on. The legislation would also allow for permits to automatically be issued, specifically for those who have effectively reduced the deer population, and other certain conditions. You can read more about those conditions here. Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan said this legislation will help farmers and address costly damage from deer. Prosecutors recommend 12.5 years in prison for ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan 'Illinois farmers know all too well the costly damage nuisance deer can cause to crops and farmland,' Duncan said. 'This legislation will provide farmers with effective tools to help manage deer populations and protect farmland across the state. We thank Sen. Patrick Joyce and Rep. Marcus Evans for championing legislation that provides these practical tools, as well as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources [IDNR] for their efforts.' If Governor JB Pritzker signs Senate Bill 710 into law, it would be effective Jan. 1, 2026. You can read more about the legislation here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prosecutors calling for 12.5 years of prison, $1.5M fine for Mike Madigan
CHICAGO - Federal prosecutors are recommending a 12½-year prison sentence and a $1.5 million fine for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in his corruption case. The Brief Federal prosecutors are recommending a 12½-year prison sentence and a $1.5 million fine for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in his corruption case. Prosecutors cited Madigan's "obstructive conduct and lying on the witness stand" as factors supporting the proposed sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for two weeks from Friday. What we know In pre-sentencing documents filed this week, prosecutors cited Madigan's "obstructive conduct and lying on the witness stand" as factors supporting the proposed sentence. Madigan, 83, was convicted in February on charges including bribery and conspiracy. What's next Sentencing is scheduled for June 13.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds want lengthy 12 1/2-year prison sentence for ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan
CHICAGO — Calling former House Speaker Michael Madigan 'steeped in corruption,' federal prosecutors on Friday asked for a whopping 12 1/2-year prison term and $1.5 million fine for Madigan's conviction nearly four months ago on bribery and other conspiracy charges. 'The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,' prosecutors wrote in their 72-page memo. 'Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection.' Prosecutors also want U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to punish Madigan for what they say were a series of lies he told on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January. 'Madigan has expressed no remorse for his crimes, nor has he acknowledged the damage wrought by his conduct,' the filing stated. 'Indeed, Madigan went so far as to commit perjury at trial in an effort to avoid accountability, and he persists in framing his actions as nothing more than helping people.' If prosecutors were successful, Madigan would be around 94 years old when eligible for release given federal convicts must serve 85% of their incarceration time. Madigan's lawyers, meanwhile, are set to file their own sentencing recommendations later Friday. His sentencing is set for June 13. Madigan, 83, once the most powerful politician in the state, was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including one count of conspiracy related to a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit bribes from utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts. Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. But after 11 days of deliberation, the jury's final verdict was mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant, Michael McClain. The verdict came after a four-month trial and capped one of the most significant political corruption investigations in Chicago's sordid history. It also cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party. ____
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Feds want lengthy 12 1/2-year prison sentence for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan
Calling former House Speaker Michael Madigan 'steeped in corruption,' federal prosecutors on Friday asked for a whopping 12 1/2-year prison term and $1.5 million fine for Madigan's conviction nearly four months ago on bribery and other conspiracy charges. 'The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,' prosecutors wrote in their 72-page memo. 'Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection.' Prosecutors also want U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to punish Madigan for what they say were a series of lies he told on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January. 'Madigan has expressed no remorse for his crimes, nor has he acknowledged the damage wrought by his conduct,' the filing stated. 'Indeed, Madigan went so far as to commit perjury at trial in an effort to avoid accountability, and he persists in framing his actions as nothing more than helping people.' If prosecutors were successful, Madigan would be around 94 years old when eligible for release given federal convicts must serve 85 percent of their incarceration time. Madigan's lawyers, meanwhile, are set to file their own sentencing recommendations later Friday. His sentencing is set for June 13. Madigan, 83, once the most powerful politician in the state, was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including one count of conspiracy related to a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit bribes from utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts. Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. But after 11 days of deliberation, the jury's final verdict was mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant, Michael McClain. The verdict came after a four-month trial and capped one of the most significant political corruption investigations in Chicago's sordid history. It also cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party. This is a developing story. Check back for details. jmeisner@
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Feds want lengthy 12 1/2-year prison sentence for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan
Calling former House Speaker Michael Madigan 'steeped in corruption,' federal prosecutors on Friday asked for a whopping 12 1/2-year prison term and $1.5 million fine for Madigan's conviction nearly four months ago on bribery and other conspiracy charges. 'The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,' prosecutors wrote in their 72-page memo. 'Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection.' Prosecutors also want U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to punish Madigan for what they say were a series of lies he told on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January. 'Madigan has expressed no remorse for his crimes, nor has he acknowledged the damage wrought by his conduct,' the filing stated. 'Indeed, Madigan went so far as to commit perjury at trial in an effort to avoid accountability, and he persists in framing his actions as nothing more than helping people.' If prosecutors were successful, Madigan would be around 94 years old when eligible for release given federal convicts must serve 85 percent of their incarceration time. Madigan's lawyers, meanwhile, are set to file their own sentencing recommendations later Friday. His sentencing is set for June 13. Madigan, 83, once the most powerful politician in the state, was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including one count of conspiracy related to a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit bribes from utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts. Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. But after 11 days of deliberation, the jury's final verdict was mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant, Michael McClain. The verdict came after a four-month trial and capped one of the most significant political corruption investigations in Chicago's sordid history. It also cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party.
