Former Speaker Madigan’s Trial Nears as Jury Selection Begins

SPRINGFIELD – Jury selection recently began in the long-awaited trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who now faces 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, and official misconduct charges.

Once one of the most influential political figures in Illinois, the former Speaker was indicted in March 2022 with charges stemming from Madigan’s alleged involvement in a years-long bribery scheme with the state’s largest utility, Commonwealth Edison.

Madigan, who served in the Illinois House from 1971 until his resignation in 2021, held the speakership for much of his tenure and was also the chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

As Madigan’s trial begins, Senate Republicans are once again highlighting the need for sweeping ethics reforms to prevent future abuses of power. Republican lawmakers have introduced several bills aimed at closing loopholes and increasing accountability for public officials, including stronger revolving door prohibitions, banning elected officials from working as paid lobbyists, and campaign finance reforms.

With Veto Session scheduled for November, Republican lawmakers are urging immediate action, arguing that without substantive ethics reforms, the state remains vulnerable to further corruption at the highest levels of government.

IDFPR Warns of Increased Scams Targeting Students

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is making families with children who are currently attending or have attended college aware of an uptick in scams targeting those who have taken on student loans.

Due to recent challenges to federal relief programs, scammers have taken this opportunity to attempt to scam students by promising lower rates, loan forgiveness, and requests to sign over power-of-attorney. Most often, there will be a request for immediate action, which is a red flag. Students should also be wary of claims that the servicer has ties to the government.

Scammers commonly communicate through the use of telephone calls, text, email, or physical mail.

Those who believe they may have been a target of a student loan scam should immediately contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Student Loan Hotline by calling 1-800-455-2456. The Attorney General’s website can also be a valuable resource to file a complaint for those who believe they have been targeted.

October Recognized as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month

October is recognized as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month, a time to promote safe sleep practices for infants and raise awareness about the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The highest rates of death for infants are linked to unsafe sleeping conditions, with most fatalities occurring between one and four months of age. In fact, 90 percent of these deaths happen before the baby reaches six months old. In 2023 alone, more than 100 infants younger than one have died due to unsafe sleeping environments.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services emphasizes the ABCs of safe sleep: infants should sleep Alone on their Backs and in a Crib that meets safety standards. To reduce risks, infants should never sleep on a couch, adult bed, car seat, or infant swing.

Those having difficulty getting their babies to sleep should contact their pediatricians or the Fussy Baby Network at 1-888-431-BABY (2229).

Celebrating Women-Owned Businesses

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is celebrating National Women’s Business Month by highlighting the valuable impact of women-owned businesses throughout the state.

With more than 450,000 women-owned businesses in Illinois, this month is focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting their continued growth and success.

Throughout October, DCEO will offer free events to highlight the various resources, opportunities, and tools available to help women-owned businesses thrive. For more information, click here.

Return of Illinois Deer Season

Illinois deer hunting season is officially under way, with archery season starting on October 1 and running through January 19 for counties east of Route 47. In counties west of Route 47, the archery season will also run during this period, with breaks for firearm seasons beginning in mid-November.

General firearm deer season for those with the appropriate tags and accompanying license takes place from November 22 to 24 and from December 5 to 8. A separate muzzleloader-only season will occur from December 13 to 15. The lottery drawings for firearm season tags are complete, and over-the-counter sales will begin on October 15, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To ensure safety and avoid legal issues during deer hunting season, hunters should keep the following in mind:

• Have a valid Illinois Hunting, Sportsmen, Youth or Apprentice License in addition to a deer permit.
• Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
• When in the field, be sure to wear pink or orange outer garments to make yourself more visible.
• Drive with caution in areas where deer crossing signs are posted, as hunting season can cause deer to be more active.

For more information on safe hunting in Illinois, visit https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting.html.