Ray Long

Ray Long is a Chicago Tribune investigative reporter, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with experience at state Capitol, City Hall, courts and county beats. He covered two governors who went to prison and a state senator who went to the White House. He wrote The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer." 312-222-3448."

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime chief of staff is now a federal inmate, the highest-ranking associate of America’s longest-serving speaker to go to prison -- so far.

Crime and Public Safety |
Tim Mapes, former Madigan chief of staff, reports to federal prison

June 12, 2024 at 3:19 p.m.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime chief of staff is now a federal inmate, the highest-ranking associate of America’s longest-serving speaker to go to prison -- so far.

A flood of letters made public this week reinforced what nearly everyone in Chicago already knows: Ed Burke was an extremely powerful man.

Crime and Public Safety |
Dozens of supporters hail convicted ex-Ald. Ed Burke as devoted public servant

June 11, 2024 at 4:20 p.m.

A flood of letters made public this week reinforced what nearly everyone in Chicago already knows: Ed Burke was an extremely powerful man.

Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was "steeped in corruption."

Crime and Public Safety |
Feds say ex-Ald. Ed Burke used his power on ‘dark path’ of corruption, seek 10 years in prison

June 11, 2024 at 4:52 p.m.

Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was "steeped...

Former phone company exec Paul La Schiazza is to be tried on charges he approved a scheme to funnel payments to a Madigan associate in exchange for the speaker’s help passing favorable legislation.

Crime and Public Safety |
‘We’re on the friends and family plan now’: New details emerge in alleged AT&T scheme to bribe House speaker

May 13, 2024 at 7:02 p.m.

Former phone company exec Paul La Schiazza is to be tried on charges he approved a scheme to funnel payments to a Madigan associate in exchange for the speaker’s help...

Glenda Miller, the McHenry County Treasurer from 2014 to 2022, has died.

News Obituaries |
Glenda Miller, former McHenry County treasurer, dies at age 68

April 19, 2024 at 10:39 a.m.

Glenda Miller, the McHenry County Treasurer from 2014 to 2022, has died.

Yarbrough garnered her biggest accolades for her House sponsorship of the ban on executions in Illinois, culminating in the passage of the legislation in January 2011.

Politics |
Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73

April 7, 2024 at 8:53 p.m.

Yarbrough garnered her biggest accolades for her House sponsorship of the ban on executions in Illinois, culminating in the passage of the legislation in January 2011.

Federal prosecutors said in a court filing Monday they plan to call former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis to the witness stand at the upcoming corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Crime and Public Safety |
Feds say they will call ex-Ald. Daniel Solis to testify against Madigan

March 19, 2024 at 10:07 a.m.

Federal prosecutors said in a court filing Monday they plan to call former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis to the witness stand at the upcoming corruption trial of former House Speaker...

Ex-state Sen. Terry Link, who wore a secret FBI wire in a sting against a colleague in the legislature, was sentenced to three years of probation Wednesday on tax evasion charges.

Crime and Public Safety |
Ex-state Sen. Terry Link gets probation for campaign-cash tax conviction

March 7, 2024 at 8:36 a.m.

Ex-state Sen. Terry Link, who wore a secret FBI wire in a sting against a colleague in the legislature, was sentenced to three years of probation Wednesday on tax evasion...

A sitting state appellate judge, a former Illinois Supreme Court justice, multiple ex-legislators, and the Cook County Clerk all wrote letters of support for Tim Mapes, the former Springfield insider who was convicted of perjury last year.

Crime and Public Safety |
Judges, ex-legislators and the Cook County clerk wrote letters of support for convicted Springfield insider Tim Mapes

March 5, 2024 at 4:26 p.m.

A sitting state appellate judge, a former Illinois Supreme Court justice, multiple ex-legislators, and the Cook County Clerk all wrote letters of support for Tim Mapes, the former Springfield insider...

Legislation would require statehouse lobbyists to report client compensation and give secretary of state power to boot bad actors.

Politics |
As corruption trials continue, Illinois lobbyist reform effort pushed in General Assembly

February 19, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

Legislation would require statehouse lobbyists to report client compensation and give secretary of state power to boot bad actors.

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