SPRINGFIELD -- Michael Madigan, the Chicago Democrat who set much of Illinois' political agenda as House speaker for four decades before his ouster last month, announced Thursday that he is resigning his seat as a state representative immediately.The longest-serving state legislative leader in U.S. history -- he had held the state representative post since 1971 -- first sent a letter Thursday to the new House speaker announcing that he would resign at the end of the month. Then Thursday afternoon, his spokespeople said his resignation was immediate. Madigan, who was...…   SPRINGFIELD -- Michael Madigan, the Chicago Democrat who set much of Illinois' political agenda as House speaker for four decades before his ouster last month, announced Thursday that he is resigning his seat as a state representative immediately.The longest-serving state legislative leader in U.S. history -- he had held the state representative post since 1971 -- first sent a letter Thursday to the new House speaker announcing that he would resign at the end of the month. Then Thursday afternoon, his spokespeople said his resignation was immediate. Madigan, who was...WW…

   Preliminary results from an autopsy confirm Marcellis Stinnette, 19, "died from injuries due to a gunshot" fired by a Waukegan police officer while he was a passenger in a vehicle, Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper announced Thursday.The fatal police shooting of Stinnette, a Waukegan resident who is Black, on Tuesday night is provoking questions and outrage about whether it was justified although authorities said the officer who fired feared for his...…   Preliminary results from an autopsy confirm Marcellis Stinnette, 19, "died from injuries due to a gunshot" fired by a Waukegan police officer while he was a passenger in a vehicle, Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper announced Thursday.The fatal police shooting of Stinnette, a Waukegan resident who is Black, on Tuesday night is provoking questions and outrage about whether it was justified although authorities said the officer who fired feared for his...WW…

   While the COVID-19 toll is dire with 74 more fatalities and 1,222 new confirmed cases as of Tuesday, cumulative data shows the respiratory disease is losing steam.Slowly, the state is "bending the curve," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at his daily briefing. But he also noted he was wary of lifting restrictions on social...…   While the COVID-19 toll is dire with 74 more fatalities and 1,222 new confirmed cases as of Tuesday, cumulative data shows the respiratory disease is losing steam.Slowly, the state is "bending the curve," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at his daily briefing. But he also noted he was wary of lifting restrictions on social...WW…

   Could political lightning strike Illinois twice?Thirteen years after Barack Obama launched his campaign for president, Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth's name is popping up as a potential vice presidential...…   Could political lightning strike Illinois twice?Thirteen years after Barack Obama launched his campaign for president, Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth's name is popping up as a potential vice presidential...WW…