First batch of secret Madigan recordings released, mayoral run-off heats up, more in Chicago news roundup

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ComEd Bribery Trial Jury Learns Lessons About Machine Politics — In Michael Madigan’s Own Words

Michael J. Madigan calls one of his top lawmakers, who have decades of experience in the legislature, to step down over growing allegations of wrongdoing that could be exposed. I couldn’t be bothered to tell you that I was here.

So the influential speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives got on the phone with his key emissary, Michael McClain, to talk about longtime state legislator Lou Lang.

“So when do you want Lang to turn his boom down,” McClane said. “He’s not getting it because he’s not getting it.”

“Sooner or later,” Madigan told him.

It turns out the FBI was listening in 2018.

Yesterday, for the first time, a jury in a bribery trial of McClain and three other political powerhouses heard Madigan’s voice on a secret recording. Some of them were created when Lang was forced to resign after serving in the Illinois legislature for 30 years.

The recording provided a behind-the-scenes look at one of the #MeToo scandals that rocked the State Capitol. It also made Thursday’s embarrassing episode for Lang, who sat stone-faced on the witness stand while jurors listened to the phone call telling him it was time for McClane to step down.

Lang told McClane on November 8, 2018:

McClain told Lang that he was calling as “Agent, someone who cares deeply about you,” so it was also key evidence in the trial. McClain and others are on trial for allegedly trying to sway Madigan into benefiting ComEd by obtaining jobs, contracts, and money for Madigan’s associates, and McClain is accused of trying to sway Madigan’s demands. accepted the

Also on trial are former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former City Club president Jay Doherty. Madigan said he will resign from Congress in 2021 and has faced another indictment on racketeering charges since last year.

Tina Sfondeles and Jon Seidel provide trial details and audio recordings.

MORE NEWS YOU NEED

• A federal judge has sentenced a former prison guard, who joined at least two other guards, to 20 years for fatally beating 65-year-old Larry Irvin and trying to cover it up at the Western Illinois Correctional Center. I went down. Seeking leniency, Alex Banta, 31, said he took a job as a guard at age 23 but didn’t know how it would change him.
• Federal prosecutors have a mountain of evidence against a small Inglewood-based gang charged with 10 murders, gun trafficking and other crimes in a racketeering trial set in May. A vicious criminal gang known as the Gooney Gang spread “terror and mayhem” in Englewood from 2014 to 2018, federal prosecutors said. Our Frank Mayne has more on the case against the gang.
• Anyone arriving at O’Hare on the CTA train at night will have to show police proof that they have “business” there to be allowed into the country, officials said. The Aviation Authority emphasized that the policy has been in place since 2020. Implementation of this policy appeared to wane before it received any particular attention in recent months after the number of people outside the camps seeking shelter at airports came to national attention.
• Dozens of discount mall vendors facing eviction converged outside their Little Village fixtures yesterday and headed to Novak Construction on the Northwest Side. So the group gave the list of demands to mall owner John He Novak. These demands included Novak meeting groups and finding solutions for vendors who didn’t know where else to set up shop and needed more time to move their goods.
• A former Chicago public school official was given a suspended sentence yesterday for lying to the FBI about a bribe he received from convicted political operative Roberto Caldero. Former CPS Chief of Staff Pedro Soto was facing up to six months in prison after pleading guilty about three years ago.
• and Neuroscientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago are using rats to study the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain. WBEZ’s Zachary Nauth reports on what Dr. Kuei Tseng has found so far.

2023 Election

Paul Vallas Coming out of his technocratic shell and fighting back Brandon Johnson In last night’s lively debate, Johnson spoke about his past support for the idea of ​​defunding the police and his current plan to raise $800 million in tax dollars for “investment in people.” , stood on the spot.

In the first televised debate last week, Johnson played offense. He accused Ballas of standing before “right-wing extremists” and setting the stage for an avalanche of property tax increases with “accounting gimmicks” and pension fund raids.

Last night, it was another Varras who showed up for the finals opponent debate at ABC7 Chicago. As the race got tougher, even in his campaign’s internal polls, Vallas brought his boxing words into the fight to match his gloves. Our Frans Spielman analyzes what happened in last night’s debate.

USA representative Jesus “Chui” Garciaformer mayoral challenger backed Johnson today April 4th Mayoral Runoff Vote, reunites Chicago’s divided progressive families.US Senator Bernie Sanders It was also announced yesterday that he has voiced his support for Johnson.

Valas is Chicago Fire Union Local 2Former Speaker of the Illinois Senate Emil Jones Jr. and five more Founding city council member: 8th Ward Aldo. Michelle Harris9th district Aldo. Anthony Beale17th district Aldo. David Moore18th district Aldo. Derrick Curtis And the 37th Ardo. Emma Mitz.

bright things

This 100-foot mural in Salt Shed was created by an 11-year-old Buffalo Grove girl

Lucy Holloway, 11, a sixth grader at Buffalo Grove, was so excited when her family pulled over at the Salt Shed to see how her painting had turned into a giant mural. was closed.

The last time she saw it, “For a second, I really didn’t know what to say,” says Lucy, a contest sponsored by the Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ and Vocalo. “It was kind of crazy to see it that big.”

About 20 feet high and 100 feet wide, the mural is splashed on the north side of the Salt Shed. The mural space was donated by Wintrust Bank.

Her painting is titled “All in Harmony” and includes hands of various colors with hearts in the center of the palms floating in the night sky above the globe perched with the Chicago skyline. This is consistent with the theme of the competition, “Bringing Chicago’s Voices Together,” and is intended to celebrate diversity.

After the jury selects her as the winner, her submission will be enlarged, printed on panels and transferred to the exterior walls of Saltshed, where it will remain for this month and next.

“I definitely plan to continue painting,” Lucy says.

See Lucy’s work here.

from press box

Your daily question ☕

How has the practice of wearing face masks evolved over the course of the pandemic?

Send an email to newsletter@suntimes.com. We may feature your response in the next afternoon edition.

Yesterday we asked you: What lessons have you learned from the pandemic?

“My son passed away in December 2021. I have learned how close my daughter and I can be, the closeness of our grandchildren, and the unexpected help from our neighbors.” — Lena Neighbors

“Love your people!”— Janet Lee Sunshine

“Don’t lower the cabinets.” Cheri Weeks

“Friends are important to our well-being. As the old saying goes, make new friends but keep old ones, one is silver and the other is gold.” Eileen Lathrop

“The pandemic has taught me to use my time more purposefully. The first two weeks of shutdown felt like a storm. I worked at Time and accepted to continue working until I retired.When I was forced to stop and reflect on my life, while I was working to live, I wondered if I was living to work. I remembered not.”— Rebecca Llewellyn

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