Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Forensic Services (DFS) unveiled the online sexual assault tracking system, known as CheckPoint, to allow sexual assault survivors to monitor the progress of evidence taken in their cases. 

The CheckPoint system will allow survivors of sexual assault to monitor the status of their evidence throughout the entire process, from collection at the hospital, through law enforcement pick-up and submission to the forensic lab, and ultimately to the State’s Attorney’s office where final results are received. To ensure privacy, the system will use unique case numbers and passwords to limit access to survivors and law enforcement. 

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Region 1, the northwestern most counties in Illinois, beginning Saturday, October 3, 2020. The region is seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8% or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the threshold set for establishing mitigation measures in the region under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan. This announcement follows last week’s warnings to local leaders that additional mitigation measures would be implemented if the region continued to see an increase in cases. Region 1 includes Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties.

ETHICS
House Special Investigating Committee to hear from ComEd. The Chicago electric utility holding company is one of the focal points of the Committee’s investigation into allegations that House Speaker Michael J. Madigan allegedly took part in conduct worthy of potential disciplinary action. Commonwealth Edison has already agreed to a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the Office of the U.S. Attorney that includes the payment of $200 million. Announcement of the payment in July 2020 coincided with reports that ComEd was cooperating with federal prosecutors. Now, one or more ComEd executives will be called as witnesses by the Committee.

Illinois is known for Presidents and for debates. Specifically, the four Chief Executives who came from the Prairie State and made history in the Oval Office, and the most well-known series of debates in American history: the contests on the 1858 U.S. Senate campaign trail which launched Abraham Lincoln to national fame.

Where these two come together is also in Illinois: the most famous Presidential debate in American history happened right here in Illinois some 60 years ago this week.

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst Talks Criminal Justice Reform in Illinois. Read more about Rep. Windhorst.

Have All Voted Who Wish · Leading Voices: Rep. Patrick Windhorst

ETHICS
U.S Attorney’s Office Sends Official Response to Parameters for Special Investigating Committee. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District has responded to both letters from Rep. Demmer and Rep. Welch about the parameters of the Special Investigating Committee. Ron Safer, special counsel for the petitioner Leader Jim Durkin, released the following statement:

“The US Attorney’s Office has given the Special Investigating Committee the green light to pursue all avenues of the investigation, including testimony and documents, that were articulated in the petition. We are grateful that US Attorney John Lausch told the Committee that his office recognizes the SIC’s ‘separate and independent obligation to conduct its inquiry.’ We look forward to the Committee convening promptly to do this important work.” 

The early 1930s were a time of mixed emotions in Chicago. On one hand the agony of the Great Depression was continuing with no end in sight. But on the other hand there were reasons to be optimistic. Federal agents had finally caught up with Al Capone and ended the darkest days of the city’s “Beer Wars,” the city had been chosen to host the upcoming World’s Fair in 1933, and a brash and energetic new mayor had taken the helm in city hall.

ETHICS
House Special Investigating Committee meets for first time. The Illinois House of Representatives has named a Special Investigating Committee to look into allegations surrounding Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan. The Investigating Committee met for the first time on Thursday, September 10 to discuss their responsibilities and determine a path forward.

Every two years the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) releases the latest Illinois highway map, the most up-to-date illustration of the state’s motor vehicle transportation infrastructure. Most of the time a sharp-eyed observer can spot areas of progress on new or expanded highways in the state. In recent years, that might have included the progress of the Illinois 336/Chicago-Kansas City Expressway project in western Illinois, or the Interstate 255 extension in the Metro-East area.

Ever since the first plan for Illinois’ “hard roads” was introduced more than 100 years ago there have been revisions, additions and even some subtractions. For example, nowhere on that Illinois map will you find Interstate 53. Nor will you spot Interstate 66. Even if you turn the map over to the expanded view of the large cities of Illinois, you will not see a Crosstown Expressway in Chicago.

ETHICS
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin Files Petition to Form Special Investigating Committee on Speaker Madigan. On August 31, 2020, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin filed a petition to form a Special Investigating Committee. The subject of the petition is Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and surrounds information from the Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered into by ComEd and the United States Attorney’s Office. The petition was signed by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, Rep. Andrew Chesney and Rep. Ryan Spain.

Every four years Americans are united in their support of our Olympic athletes, cheering our nation’s best swimmers, fastest runners, most spectacular gymnasts and the many others who represent the red, white and blue. Unfortunately, this year’s Tokyo Olympics were among the many events cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but they have been rescheduled for next year.

Illinois has been home to its share of Olympic heroes, both summer and winter. Perhaps the greatest of these was a man whose heroics extended far beyond the athletic arena and who came from Ohio, but made Chicago his home later in life.