Illinois quick hits: Short day expected in Madigan trial; taxpayer funding for illegal immigrants

Short day expected in Madigan trial

A short day in court is expected Thursday at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain.

The jury was not seated until after 10:00 a.m. because defense attorneys argued for more than an hour and a half about evidence to be admitted or excluded. The evidence under discussion involved former Madigan staffer Kevin Quinn. Judge John Robert Blakey denied a motion from the defense teams to exclude the evidence.

Former Madigan and Democratic Party of Illinois staffer Will Cousineau was set to return to the witness box for a third day of testimony.

Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 federal counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. Madigan spent 50 years in the Illinois House and 23 years as chairman of the state’s Democratic Party.

Taxpayer funding for illegal immigrants

The Effingham County Board passed a resolution in January saying they would not use local tax dollars to support illegal immigrants. Community members are being asked to take a stance on the issue.

A question for voters Tuesday asks with the potential exception of emergencies, should tax-based funding be spent to support illegal migrants in the county.

The ballot question is not legally binding.

Jim Talamonti contributed to this story.

Appointment controversy

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hand-picked choice to lead the Chicago Board of Education is drawing criticism for his social media posts about the war between Israel and Hamas.

A majority of city council members are asking Rev. Mitchell Ikenna to step down after his pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic media posts.

Ikenna wrote that people have an absolute right to attack their oppressors by any means necessary.