Editorial: Give Illinois legislative inspector general some teeth chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Illinoisans have only to look to the disturbingly long queue of former lawmakers charged with crimes or facing federal probes to know that ethics is not the Illinois General Assembly’s strong suit.
There’s former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, who has pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges, and was allegedly caught on tape trying to bribe another lawmaker while boasting, “This is, this is the jackpot.” Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty to corruption charges before dying of COVID-19 complications last December. Or how about the cadre of allies of former House Speaker Michael Madigan including his former chief of staff, Tim Mapes whose alleged misconduct led to federal charges filed against them amid the ongoing ComEd corruption scandal? Mapes has also pleaded not guilty.
Race to Mackinac returns on Lake Michigan after 2020 COVID-19 cancelation WLS
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The Race to Mackinac returns after being canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People are looking forward to being out on the water. to have that experience with their crew, said Martin Sandoval, chairman of the Chicago Race to Mackinac.
What started in 1898 with just five boats has grown to several hundred. The 112th edition of the race brings together 240 boats and 2,100 sailors from around the world to compete in the 333-mile course up Lake Michigan. The event is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world.
Tyler LaRiviere / Sun-Times file
A former Cook County official who also acted as a consultant to a red-light camera company indicated in court Wednesday he plans to plead guilty to bribery and other pay-to-play charges.
Patrick Doherty was a paid consultant for the politically connected red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC. He also was chief of staff to former county Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, who has pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
“We’ve had discussions with the defense who has requested a plea agreement,” federal prosecutor Christopher Stetler said Wednesday during a virtual court hearing.
Doherty’s attorney also confirmed her client would like to change his plea to guilty.
Illinois will hike fee for Teslas, Bolts and other EVs but to $248, not $1,000: They ve cut it back from an outrageous number By Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune
It s not quite sticker shock, but Illinois electric vehicle owners will have to pay $248 in annual registration fees next year - $100 more than what owners of gas-burning cars pay - as part of the state s sweeping road improvement legislation.
For the growing ranks of EV owners, its a big bump up from the $17.50 per year they currently pay, but a lot lower than the $1,000 fee lawmakers proposed last month in a bid to compensate for the loss of state gas tax revenue.