Not only does Illinois have the second highest gas taxes in the nation, Illinois is also an outlier for tacking on a sales tax on top of the state, federal and sometimes local gas taxes. Republican state senators unveiled their plan to cap the sales tax on gas to 18 cents a gallon.

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Not guilty pleas were entered Wednesday by former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Madigan, 79, faces 22 counts of corruption, including bribery, fraud and racketeering charges in connection to an investigation into utility giant ComEd and its attempts to gain favor with the former speaker in exchange for favorable legislation.

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Prosecutors indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on 22 counts of corruption Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. announced the charges Tuesday afternoon, connecting Madigan to the nearly decade-long bribery scheme utility Commonwealth Edison admitted to in the summer of 2020.

The indictment alleges the “Madigan Enterprise” engaged in interstate commerce and constituted an “ongoing organization whose members functioned as a continuing unit for the common purpose of achieving the objectives of the enterprise.”

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According to the Fourth District Court of Appeals, Pritzker’s emergency rules for schools to require masks, exclude “close contacts,” and require vaccine or testing for staff, aren't in effect after being blocked by a bipartisan legislative panel last week.

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The temporary restraining order blocking Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mask and exclusion policies in schools remains in place as the Fourth District Court of Appeals dismissed the governor’s appeal as moot.1

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Masks mandates for most indoor activities in Illinois will be lifted Feb. 28. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is keeping his mandate for masks in schools in place, despite a judge ruling the policy null and void.

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The governor’s proposed budget seeks to spend nearly $4 billion more in the coming fiscal year than he proposed the year before. He laid out his priorities Wednesday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said he’s not accustomed to hearing good news in a budget speech.

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Candidates for Illinois governor are making law and order a focal point in this election year.

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The field for Illinois Republicans seeking their party’s gubernatorial nomination just grew. The amount of money in this election cycle is also expected to grow.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday gave his reelection campaign $90 million. IllinoisSunshine.org compiles campaign finance reports and shows the billionaire Democratic incumbent has more than $114 million on hand. That far exceeds any of the Republican candidates.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin announced his bid Monday. He picked state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, as his running mate.

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Lawmakers were scheduled to be in this week, but canceled. They also canceled two of three scheduled days last week, marking eight of nine days scheduled this year that have been canceled. Some speculate they won't return until March.

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