Attorneys for the state of Illinois called their first witness to the stand in the trial against the state’s gun and magazine ban. Day 3 of the bench trial featured plaintiffs’ final witness Randy Watt. Day 3 of the trial also had the state call its first witness. Retired Col. Craig Tucker, who served overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and trained other soldiers for combat, testified that semi-automatic fire is preferred in a military setting for accuracy and not wasting ammo. But, he testified he...
Sep 19, 2024•12 min•Ep. 360
Whether commercially available semi-automatic rifles now banned in Illinois are common or too similar to military grade firearms was the focus of Day 2 of the bench trial of Illinois’ gun and magazine ban. On preliminary grounds, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state last year, saying commercially available rifles that Illinois banned in January 2023 are too similar to military grade rifles and are able to be regulated. Now up for final judgment in the Southern Di...
Sep 18, 2024•14 min•Ep. 359
Greg Bishop, Illinois editor for The Center Square, hosts Illinois In Focus Daily, a review of some of the top Illinois headlines with timely and relevant news and interviews. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Sep 17, 2024•14 min•Ep. 358
Greg Bishop, Illinois editor for The Center Square, hosts Illinois In Focus Daily, a review of some of the top Illinois headlines with timely and relevant news and interviews. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Sep 16, 2024•12 min•Ep. 357
A Chicago economics professor has questions about the potential effectiveness of the city’s new budget restrictions. City Budget Director Annette Guzman outlined the changes this week, after Mayor Brandon Johnson projected a budget deficit of nearly a billion dollars in 2025. Guzman said a citywide hiring freeze would take effect immediately. Frances Lee is an economics professor at Loyola University of Chicago. Lee said economists have a saying when it comes to hiring. “We can achieve full empl...
Sep 13, 2024•24 min•Ep. 356
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan doesn't want the word "corruption" mentioned at his upcoming corruption trial. Madigan laid out a litany of things he wants excluded from his upcoming racketeering trial in October. The words Madigan's defense team doesn't want the jury to hear are "patronage," "political machine," "Shakman Litigation," "corrupt politicians," "corruption," and "Public Corruption Task Force," and their derivatives, according to a motion pending before Judge Manish Sha...
Sep 06, 2024•24 min•Ep. 355
Defense attorneys for the four former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists convicted of bribing one of the state's most powerful politicians have asked a judge to drop the case. The four defendants, who have not be sentenced, want Judge Manish Shah to dismiss the indictment against them and issue an acquittal after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the federal bribery statute. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of a federal bribery statute that makes it a crime for state and l...
Aug 30, 2024•24 min•Ep. 354
Greg Bishop reviews the response from the Illinois State Board of Election to concerns raised by the Illinois Election Integrity Project. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 28, 2024•38 min•Ep. 353
With the national parties’ conventions over, it’s a mad dash to the general election finish line. Leaders from both of Illinois’ major political parties are laying out their get-out-the-vote efforts. Democrats officially nominated Kamala Harris for president last week in Chicago. Republicans nominated Donald Trump in Milwaukee last month. The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the ballot Friday that included keeping independent candidate Robert Kennedy on. Kennedy has now endorsed Trump...
Aug 27, 2024•34 min•Ep. 352
Greg Bishop reviews some of the themes heard around last week's Democratic National Convention, including reaction from party leaders to concerns about the economy and border security. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 26, 2024•41 min•Ep. 351
While Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker didn’t get selected to be Kamala Harris’ vice presidential candidate, he did get a primetime spot on the stage of the Democratic National Convention Tuesday. Chicago plays host to the convention this week where an array of speakers addressed Democratic delegates. Among the speakers on the national stage was former President Barack Obama. Before that and shortly after the states’ roll call giving Harris the official nomination, Pritzker took the stage and said De...
Aug 24, 2024•24 min•Ep. 349
Greg Bishop reviews some of the moments from the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago featuring several Illinois politicians on the main stage. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 350
Greg Bishop reviews some of the themes discussed at Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago with the Illinois delegations. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 22, 2024•32 min•Ep. 348
Greg Bishop reviews some of the questions and answers from Illinois Democrats during Tuesday's breakfast in Chicago as part of the Democratic National Convention. He also shares comments from Republican state representative candidates Leslie Collazo and Fredrick Walls. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Aug 21, 2024•26 min•Ep. 347
The mantra on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from Illinois' Democratic party leaders was “when we fight, we win.” Monday evening’s speeches included President Joe Biden seemingly passing the torch to Kamala Harris. Earlier in the day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was not selected to be Harris’ running mate, hinted at vying for a third term for governor. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_...
Aug 20, 2024•25 min•Ep. 346
Monday begins the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and leaders from both parties in Illinois are outlining how they see the major event impacting taxpayers. Just as with the Republican National Convention last month in Milwaukee, the DNC in Chicago will cost taxpayers $75 million. Law enforcement agencies from around the area are on the ground with security perimeters around the United Center and McCormick Place. Tens of thousands of protesters are also expected. Rallying Democrats at t...
Aug 19, 2024•30 min•Ep. 345
Illinois Democrats rallying at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield are pushing for more power at the statehouse while making the case for a Kamala Harris presidency. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Sept. 26. Ahead of that and next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told party officials during a breakfast program in Springfield Wednesday that Illinois Republicans have the wrong policies. “It’s embarrassing for them,” Pritzker said. “No won...
Aug 17, 2024•24 min•Ep. 343
Politics continued taking over the Illinois State Fair Thursday with Republican Day. In Springfield at the fairgrounds Wednesday, Democrats during Governor's Day said their piece on why they need more power. Thursday, Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said Democrats bring taxpayers “one big hurt.” Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Aug 16, 2024•27 min•Ep. 344
Illinois Democrats rallying at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield are pushing for more power at the statehouse while making the case for a Kamala Harris presidency. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Sept. 26. Ahead of that and next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told party officials during a breakfast program in Springfield Wednesday that Illinois Republicans have the wrong policies. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/fran...
Aug 15, 2024•22 min•Ep. 342
Greg Bishop reviews some of the comments from Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates about the finances of the Chicago Public Schools and ongoing negotiations for a new teachers union contract. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 14, 2024•33 min•Ep. 341
Greg Bishop reviews the comments former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk made on X about Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Monday night. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 340
Greg Bishop reviews a statement from Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announcing he will retire following pressure from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others after last month's police involved shooting death of Sonya Massey in Springfield. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Aug 12, 2024•40 min•Ep. 339
A challenge against Maryland’s gun ban is likely to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court before gun ban challenges from other states. Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld Maryland’s ban on semi-automatic firearms. “The assault weapons at issue fall outside the ambit of protection offered by the Second Amendment because, in essence, they are military-style weapons designed for sustained combat operations that are ill-suited and disproportionate to the need for self-defense,” the ...
Aug 10, 2024•24 min•Ep. 337
There is agreement from all sides about the need for reforms for how police are hired in Illinois, but what reforms there need to be is still unclear. Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued taking questions Thursday about the aftermath of the police-involved shooting death of Sonya Massey last month in Springfield by then-Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, and what policies could change to prevent such events in the future. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundati...
Aug 09, 2024•39 min•Ep. 338
Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell says he will continue leading the office he was elected to despite calls from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to resign. In the early morning hours in Springfield on July 6, Sonya Massey was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputy Sean Grasyon. Massey had called for help with a suspected prowler, but body camera footage shows Grayson shooting Massey in her home. He was fired and faces murder charges. For having hired Grayson, calls for Campbell to resign are growing...
Aug 08, 2024•41 min•Ep. 336
Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over a handful of other prominent Democrats that included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. President Joe Biden announced last month he was not seeking reelection and endorsed Harris to be the party’s nominee. Speculation on who would be her running mate surrounded several prominent Democrats including Pritzker. Tuesday morning, Harris chose Walz. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce0...
Aug 07, 2024•29 min•Ep. 335
There’s a lot more to the newly enacted law eliminating Illinois’ grocery tax in 2026. Local governments can now impose their own 1% tax, along with other sales tax increases. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he signed House Bill 3144, touting relief he said the measure will bring. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Aug 06, 2024•41 min•Ep. 334
Dozens of measures impacting employers, education, health care, criminal justice and more are now law after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted 59 bills Friday. The Illinois General Assembly approved more than 450 measures during spring session that ended in May. Pritzker has been holding bill signing ceremonies for some measures, but others are announced enacted in news releases. Late Friday, Pritzker’s office announced the signing of 23 House bills and 36 Senate bills. Support this podcast: ht...
Aug 05, 2024•41 min•Ep. 333
Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that illegal immigration and inflation are devastating the Black community. The former president engaged in conversation with political journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Trump said he wants to stop people from invading the country illegally.
Aug 03, 2024•24 min•Ep. 331
Greg Bishop reviews the latest headlines around Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and who could be the Democratic party's pick for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Aug 02, 2024•38 min•Ep. 332
