Profiling Illinois' political criminals before Blagojevich sentencing

Dec. 5, 2011
Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was scheduled to be sentenced in federal court this week after being found guilty on 18 corruption charges and was expected to join a long line of Illinois politicians that have served time behind bars. Some of those former Illinois politicians were Gov.

Court again denies ex-Gov. Ryan's request for prison release

Jul. 7, 2011
An appeals court has denied former Illinois Gov. George Ryan's latest attempt to get out of prison.  It's just one in a string of denials for Ryan from appeals courts, including a 2008 refusal by the U.S.

Attorney for ex-Ill. Gov. Ryan vows to 'fight on'

Jul. 6, 2011
An attorney for George Ryan says the imprisoned former Illinois governor won't give up his legal fight despite a federal appeals court ruling upholding his corruption convictions.      The 7th U.S.

Death penalty officially ends today in Illinois

Jul. 1, 2011
Friday officially marks the end of capital punishment in Illinois. A ban that Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law in March took effect at midnight, marking a quiet final chapter in story that propelled Illinois into the center of an international debate just a decade ago. In 2000, then-Gov.

George Ryan was at wife's deathbed

Jun. 28, 2011
An attorney for George Ryan says the imprisoned former Illinois governor was with his wife when she died Monday.

Abolishing death penalty a national trend?

Mar. 10, 2011
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's decision yesterday to abolish the death penalty will likely contribute to a nationwide trend. At the height of support for the death penalty, 38 imposed the ultimate sentence but  Quinn's decision Wednesday means that number is down to 34 according to Richard