McLean County Times

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after being convicted of corruption. In addition to the prison term, Madigan faces a $2.5 million fine. The conviction was based on ten federal felony counts, with U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey stating that Madigan lied during his testimony.

An assistant U.S. Attorney commented on the case, saying Madigan "had every opportunity to set the standard for honest government," but instead became another corrupt leader in Illinois politics. Madigan held significant influence in Illinois for 36 years as House Speaker and state Democratic party chair until his indictment on racketeering and bribery charges in March 2022.

In other news, Republican members of the Illinois House and Senate have urged Governor Pritzker to veto Senate Bill 328, claiming it benefits trial lawyers at the cost of jobs and economic growth. They have also filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of how the bill was passed.

The state's budget includes unprecedented spending power for Governor Pritzker, with a $100 million fund available at his discretion if federal funding is withheld from other programs.

Meta Platforms has partnered with Constellation Energy to keep its nuclear plant in Clinton operational for another two decades. This agreement marks Meta's first involvement with a nuclear power facility and hinges on approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

A fishing derby hosted by Senator Chris Balkema will take place next Saturday at Heidecke Lake for children aged 12 and under, featuring prizes and safety presentations.

Currently, Illinois' unpaid bills total over $1.8 billion according to figures from the state Comptroller's office, an increase from last year's $1.1 billion backlog.