Sangamon Sun

Federal prosecutors have presented their closing arguments in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, accusing him of leveraging his influence for personal gain. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur described Madigan's actions as the "Make Mike Madigan Money Plan," which allegedly involved bribery schemes with companies like Commonwealth Edison and AT&T Illinois. MacArthur argued that Madigan ignored illegal suggestions from Chicago Alderman Danny Solis to further his own interests.

The Illinois Supreme Court is currently deliberating on a law that limits where constitutional challenges against the state can be filed. The case, Piasa Armory vs. Kwame Raoul, questions the legality of restricting such lawsuits to Sangamon and Cook counties. Deputy Solicitor General Alex Hemmer defended the law by highlighting the experience of judges in these counties, but Justice David Overstreet raised concerns about potential forum shopping.

In agriculture news, Illinois has reported a record soybean harvest for 2024, totaling 688 million bushels. This surpasses the previous record set in 2018. The Illinois Soybean Association noted that soybeans were harvested from 10.75 million acres, accounting for approximately 40% of Illinois farmland.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) released a report on Illinois' tax revenues and burdens compared to other states. In 2023, Illinois had high per capita tax revenue and was ranked second in motor fuel tax burden nationwide. The report suggests that high taxes may be impacting job creation and population growth negatively.

Fortune Brands Innovations announced plans to consolidate its U.S. regional offices into a new headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, bringing over 1,000 jobs to the area by December 2027. Stellantis also revealed plans to invest $1.2 billion in reopening its Belvidere assembly plant by 2027, creating approximately 1,500 jobs.