Capitol Cast: Illinois

Jerry Nowicki speaks with former federal prosecutor and current defense attorney Nancy DePodesta on what to expect in the trial of former speaker Michael Madigan, and why it's not likely to happen soon.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan was indicted this week on 22 counts of corruption involving a collection of schemes that federal prosecutors are calling "the Madigan Enterprise."

Gov. JB Pritzker announces the statewide indoor mask mandate will expire at the end of February, with some exceptions. The Capitol News Illinois team analyzes that issue and other news of the week.

The 2022 legislative session is hitting its midpoint while the state prepares to lift its indoor mask mandate. The Capitol News Illinois team discusses those issues and other news of the week.

A look at what's in Gov. JB Pritzker's budget address and the history behind his remarks.

A new survey suggests Illinois is suffering from a shortage of teachers and other educators. UIS Public Affairs Reporting program interns Andrew Adams, Taylor Vidmar and Grace Kinnicutt discuss their coverage of the issue.

On the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, we interview University of Illinois at Chicago professor Dick Simpson, whose upcoming new book is entitled "Democracy's Rebirth: The View from Chicago."

Gov. Pritzker strikes a deal to sell the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago, then signs a bill repealing the Parental Notification of Abortion Act. Unemployment falls but COVID-19 cases are on the rise. Peter Hancock and Beth Hundsdorfer discuss.

The Better Government Association's Bryan Zarou and University of Illinois political science professor Brian Gaines talk with Peter Hancock about the redistricting process in Illinois and the upcoming oral arguments in three federal lawsuits challenging the new legislative maps. See congressional maps here:https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1DuemrWTVXzfvozXGm1Vts_nkTD5jXw9W&ll=41.61853807070015%2C-87.43130960460293&z=6 See IL House maps here:https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/viewer?mid=1L7I2r4gat9nRWx9wfaizpn7XkA7i1qL4&ll=38.1288129180679%2C-89.88881118842843&z=5 See IL Senate maps here:https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/viewer?mid=13Wihm7lY1g9OwCQhbQRJU4NVFGqv_2A4&ll=40.31227872643366%2C-89.54259714843751&z=6

Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki discuss Gov. JB Pritzker's trip to the U.N. climate conference, an Illinois Supreme Court case concerning ride hailing services, and the latest developments in the legislative redistricting court cases.