John Hooker former executive at Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) | Wikipedia
John Hooker former executive at Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) | Wikipedia
John Hooker, a former executive of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement in bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hooker is the first among the "ComEd Four" to be sentenced, with others awaiting their hearings. In wiretapped calls played during trials, Hooker and co-defendant Mike McClain discussed concealing no-work contractors within legitimate lobbying contracts.
In a related case, former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan was convicted of bribery and influence peddling and sentenced to 7½ years in prison. Madigan's attorneys have requested that he remain free while appealing his conviction.
The state of Illinois faces ongoing challenges with political corruption. Illinois House Republicans are advocating for anti-corruption reforms, with Patrick Windhorst leading efforts on the House Ethics & Elections Committee.
In education news, there is a push to reinstate the "Invest in Kids" program after its expiration in 2022-2023. This program provided scholarships through tax-free donations but was not renewed despite Republican support.
The Illinois State Police recently graduated its largest cadet class in 25 years, assigning new troopers across regional locations.
Illinois ranks low nationally in new home construction, placing 48th among states according to Construction Coverage data from 2024.
Finally, Illinois' unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.6% in June, marking the lowest rate since August 2023 but still higher than the national average of 4.1%.
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