Articles by Mike Chirillo

Credit: Minipress For many, corruption and Illinois go hand in hand. From the convictions of ex-Governors Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan to the more recent charges against ex-congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, Illinois has become the poster child for “back-door politics.” It is because of such transgressions – and the frequency with which they have occurred – that Chicago was voted the most corrupt city in the nation earlier this year. Not only has corruption tainted the city’s image, but it has ...

Credit: Cancer Cure Illinois could be the latest state to legalize medical marijuana. In past attempts, the bill’s passage was approved in the Illinois Senate, only to be stymied upon its arrival in the House. However, State Representative Lou Lang – longtime advocate for legalization – has supposedly garnered enough votes to get both Senate and House approval, potentially making medical marijuana a reality in Illinois. A vote on the measure was scheduled for this past week, before Lang decide...

Credit: Chicago Tribune Jesse Jackson Jr. has submitted his resignation from Congress. The Illinois congressman resigns amid allegations and health concerns, since being the subject of a House Ethics Committee's investigation pertaining to the misappropriation of campaign funds for personal use and his alleged role in the "pay-to-play" scheme hatched by ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich to sell off Barack Obama's senate seat. Shortly after the investigation was made public, Jackson took a leave of a...

(Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Democrats in Illinois made huge gains in the US House of Representatives last week. Four GOP incumbents were unseated by their Democratic challengers. In addition, two other Democratic candidates -- one already under indictment; the other, still pending -- easily defeated their opposition in what many across the country have called a mockery of the voting process. In a race held steadily in the national spotlight, Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth defeate...

(Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune) In Illinois, abortion has raised tensions between candidates for the 8th Congressional District. In a new poll released Friday, Tammy Duckworth has a 10-point lead over Representative Joe Walsh. The lead comes in the wake of Joe Walsh (R) decrying an approved ad by Duckworth (D) in which Walsh's child support dispute with his ex-wife is attacked. This has been one of the most bitter races in the country, as both sides have employed controversial attacks on ...

Credit: Olivier Douliery / Abaca USA Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. has been missing from Congress since June. According to Jackson, he has been undergoing treatment for bi-polar disorder -- a revelation that was admitted two months after his initial absence. The diagnosis came at the heels of the House Ethics Committee's investigation into Jackson's alleged role in the "pay-to-play" scheme, hatched by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to sell off Barack Obama's senate seat to...

(Source: Ron Cogswell) Last week, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed his disapproval for Governor Pat Quinn's choice for the state's stadium authority. Quinn handpicked Kelly Kraft, a former TV reporter, to serve as Executive Director. The post would require Kraft to not only manage the same body that runs US Cellular Field, but also to oversee a much-needed Wrigley Field renovation that was halted by the Mayor this past July. This latest disagreement is the most recent example of dysfunction...

(Al Podgorski / Chicago Sun-Times) Republican Representative Joe Walsh and Democratic nominee Tammy Duckworth are currently locked in a contentious battle for the House of Representatives. Walsh will be trying to retain his seat in Illinois' 8th congressional district-- a seat he won by the narrowest of margins in 2010. As it was two years ago, the independent vote is critical for Joe Walsh in Illinois. Out of 200,000 ballots cast, Walsh propelled himself to victory in 2010 over Democratic inc...

Credit: Chicagoist / Aaroncynic Cook County Associate Judge Thomas Donnelly overturned 92 arrests of Occupy Chicago protesters on Thursday. The arrests took place last year as the protesters gathered in Chicago's Grant Park in October. Police made the arrests when the crowd failed to vacate the park by the 11 pm curfew. In total, 303 arrests were made over two nights. Donnelly based his opinion on Barack Obama's 2008 Grant Park victory speech, which ran from approximately 10:57 PM until 11:20 ...