Dave McKinney

4 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Dave McKinney |Dave McKinney

As a storied political fixture for a half century, convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan accumulated a lot of friends. Nearly 250 of them flooded the judicial docket late Friday with letters of support for the politically and legally vanquished, 83-year-old Democratic political boss who could be a federal inmate into his 90s if prosecutors get their way.

2 months ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Tina Sfondeles |Dave McKinney

The gloves are off in one of the most competitive Senate primary races Illinois has seen in decades. Expect Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Lauren Underwood to launch bids within hours and days of Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement that he will not seek reelection in the Senate, a seat he has held since winning his first term in 1996. In an Illinois exclusive interview with WBEZ on Tuesday, Durbin said more than a dozen people have expressed interest in his seat.

Feb 13, 2025 | chicago.suntimes.com | Jon Seidel |Tina Sfondeles |Matthew Hendrickson |Dave McKinney

El mejor lugar para cobertura de noticias y cultura latina en Chicago. | The place for coverage of Latino news and culture in Chicago. Durante décadas, Michael J. Madigan construyó un imperio político que en la historia de Illinois que sólo se compara con sus pares más ilustres, y llegó a convertirse en el presidente de la Cámara de Representantes del estado durante mucho tiempo, presidente de su Partido Demócrata y jefe de una poderosa firma de apelaciones fiscales.

Feb 13, 2025 | chicago.suntimes.com | Matt Moore |Jon Seidel |Tina Sfondeles |Dave McKinney

After a four-month trial featuring more than 60 witnesses, followed by nearly 65 hours of deliberations, a federal jury this morning found former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan guilty of bribery conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud in a partial verdict. In today’s newsletter, we break down this major development in the trial of the man once known as “The Velvet Hammer,” for his understated, yet powerful leadership style as state House head.

Feb 12, 2025 | chicago.suntimes.com | Jon Seidel |Tina Sfondeles |Matthew Hendrickson |Dave McKinney

Michael J. Madigan spent decades building a political empire rivaled in Illinois history only by his most storied peers, rising to become the longtime Speaker of the state’s House of Representatives, chair of its Democratic Party and head of a powerhouse tax appeal firm.