CORRUPTION

‘Everyone in the system is beholden to the speaker’: Opening statements kick off trial of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan. AT&T Illinois had tried for years to win powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan’s support for a bill ending mandated landline service, but it wasn’t until the company’s president agreed to secretly pay thousands of dollars to a Madigan associate for a do-nothing contract that the deal got done, federal prosecutors told a jury Wednesday.

Illinois is home to an array of apple orchards that offer a delicious harvest and fun-filled adventures for the whole family. Across the state, orchards open their gates to visitors eager to enjoy crisp autumn days filled with apple picking, hayrides, and tasty treats.

Illinois’ apple orchards are a significant part of the state’s agricultural landscape. With over 1,000 acres dedicated to apple orchards, Illinois ranks among the top 25 apple-producing states in the country. Popular varieties grown across the state include Honeycrisp, Gala, and Jonathan, which thrive in the state’s fertile soil and temperate climate.

Last month, in a special dedication ceremony, the Peoria Riverfront Museum unveiled display cases that would ultimately feature duck decoys. But it wasn’t the decoys that were the subject of the celebration. It was unprecedented collaboration that resulted in the first business deal in generations between a central Illinois entity and the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

23 years ago, on a September morning that seemed like any other, America was forever changed. It’s a day etched into the collective memory of all of us, a day when the world stood still, watching as the unthinkable unfolded. The events of September 11, 2001, shook us to our core, but they also revealed the indomitable spirit of a nation bound together by resilience, courage, and unity.

Anyone who has visited the Illinois State Capitol in the past couple of years has noticed a lot of construction. The north wing of the Capitol is currently in the midst of a three-year renovation project which will bring the historic building into the 21st century while preserving its 19th century atmosphere and décor.

Route 66 was an iconic highway that captured the imagination of the American traveler and made for the quintessential road trip.  U.S. Highway 66 operated as a federal highway from 1926 until its decommissioning in 1985. In celebration of the historic highway's 100th anniversary in 2026,  the Illinois State Museum is collecting stories from individuals who experienced the Illinois leg of the original Route 66. 

FLAG OF ILLINOIS
Process begins to accept public suggestions for possible new Illinois state flag. The Flag of Illinois, which is the State seal on a white background (“field”) with the name “Illinois” under the seal, has bene in place since 1970. A key element of the flag, the State seal, was adopted in 1869. This 1869 state seal is an old-fashioned emblem, influence by the heraldic tradition of European aristocracy, which was adopted after the successful end of America’s Civil War. The seal draws a complicated picture that includes a triumphant eagle with an American shield, the State motto, a rising sun, key dates of Illinois history, and other symbolic images.

The Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court ruling that declared a controversial sweeping election law passed by Illinois Democrats unconstitutional. Senate Bill 2412, which House Republicans nicknamed the “Katie Stuart Protection Act,” sought to end the longstanding practice of allowing local party organizations to appoint candidates to the ballot for the general election in uncontested legislative races. The slating process requires a candidate to collect and file signed petitions by registered voters within the respective district, but Democrats tried to eliminate the slating practice altogether.

Periods of warm, dry, and windy weather can lead to the dangers of wildfires burning in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) urges Illinois residents to become more vigilant and educated on wildfire safety so that incidents of fires can be prevented. In the last decade there have been instances of large fires at state park properties. 

Central Illinois will soon have a new trade school focused on traditional Catholic education. San Damiano College for the Trades is expected to open the doors in the Fall of 2025. Kent Lasnoski, the president of the school, is excited for this new chapter in his life. He is eager to start offering quality education through trades such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical contracting.

In August of last year, House Republicans were fielding calls from doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals fearful that they would lose their jobs due to continued delays at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), the state agency responsible for approving and renewing their licenses.

Something had to be done, Illinois couldn't afford to lose more healthcare professionals as we face a growing nursing shortage.

For many Americans, Labor Day marks the end of summer, a time for parades, picnics, events and store sales. But Labor Day is rooted in much more. The holiday was instituted in the late nineteenth century to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.