(SPRINGFIELD) Former lawmaker Michael Madigan was sentenced last Friday to 7.5 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $2.5 million for crimes committed during his tenure as the longest-serving speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. The federal judge also imposed three years of supervised release after Madigan’s prison time ends. The upstate Democrat is required to report to prison later this fall, on October 13th, 2025.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Police did not comply with the requirements of the FOID Act, according to an Illinois Auditor General report for the two years ending June 30th last year. Alongside not dispositing FOID funds into the right accounts, of the Firearm Owner’s Identification cards tested, at least 5% of FOID card holders were not notified within 180 days of their card expiring, which was a repeat finding from years before. The report also said the ISP didn’t maintain adequate controls over reporting & monitoring state property.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is highlighting the link between social isolation and financial abuse among the state’s senior population. In fact, the office marked yesterday as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by announcing a partnership with the North American Securities Administrators Association to spread knowledge about financial literacy. Scammers frequently target older populations during vulnerable times, such as during a health crisis or after the long sickness and/or death of a loved one.
(CHAMPAIGN) It was a colder and drier month of May for Illinois on average. In the May 2025 Illinois Water & Climate Summary, temperatures last month averaged 61.9 degrees, just over 1 full degree (1.3) below the 1991-2020 normal for May, making it the 55th coldest on record in Illinois. The statewide precipitation averaged 3.37 inches last month, which is 1.40 inches below the long-term statewide average, making it the 45th driest May on record in Illinois. While both the soil moisture & shallow groundwater levels decreased in May, 6 of the 20 reporting reservoirs in Illinois reported below below full pool or target levels, with most downstate lakes being higher. For more, go to the isws.illinois.edu website.