Capitol Cast: Illinois

The Capitol News Illinois team breaks down the General Assembly's lame duck session and the election of a new House speaker.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed positive signs in Illinois as federal funding for state responses is about to run out. Troubling outbreaks occurred at state-run veterans homes and the attorney general joined a multi-state antitrust suit against Facebook.

The CNI news team breaks down the new surge in COVID-19 cases, how that's affecting the General Assembly and the results of the Nov. 3 general election that produced changes in the state Supreme Court and the Legislature.

As Election Day nears, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in Illinois. The Capitol News Illinois team discusses the upcoming votes for a graduated income tax amendment and two seats on the Illinois Supreme Court as well as a legislative push for statewide police reform.

Voters in Illinois and across the country are shattering records for early voting this year. Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, talks about what that means as well as the pros and cons of early voting.

The Capitol News Illinois team discusses a new surge in COVID-19 cases, record level advance voting ahead of the 2020 elections, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda and other major news of the week.

An interview with former Gov. George Ryan about his new book, "Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped the Death Penalty in Illinois."

The U.S. Attorney's office has given the Special Investigating Committee a green light to pursue its probe into Speaker Michael Madigan's role in the ComEd bribery case. Rep. Tom Demmer, the ranking Republican on the panel, discusses what's next. Plus, a roundtable discussion of the 2020 Census and the state of the coronavirus pandemic.

A special Investigative Committee got underway this week to examine House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal. And Black and Latino lawmakers became upset when finalists were announced for the first 75 "social equity" marijuana business licenses was announced.

A special committee is about to meet to investigate House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in an alleged bribery scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Peter Hancock talks with two members of that committee, Democratic Chairman Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Republican Rep. Grant Wehrli.