Matt Masterson

Tuesday marked the second day of opening statements in the landmark trial as Michael McClain’s defense team had its opportunity to present its opening statements to jurors inside the Dirksen Federal Building.

A Chicago man is facing federal charges after he allegedly assaulted and robbed a pair of suburban letter carriers late last year.

Chicago’s Board of Education met Thursday for the first time since the full board membership abruptly resigned amid ongoing tensions between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.

Testimony resumed Monday in the fourth week of the former Illinois House speaker’s corruption trial inside Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Building. Michael Madigan, 82, and his longtime confidant Michael McClain, 77, are charged with racketeering, bribery and wire fraud.

A courtroom sketch depicting ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, left, alongside his attorneys inside the Dirksen Federal Building during jury selection in his corruption case. (Cheryl Cook)

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, 82, and his longtime confidant Michael McClain, 77, are charged with racketeering, bribery and wire fraud. They have each pleaded not guilty.

Chicago Board of Education President Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson resigned under pressure Thursday after a series of antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial social media posts generated a wave of outrage that stretched from the Chicago City Council to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, who already faced attempted murder charges will now face additional terrorism and hate crime charges, Chicago and Cook County officials announced on Thursday afternoon.

Amid ongoing turmoil, Chicago’s Board of Education on Friday pushed ahead with its first meeting in more than five weeks — one day after president Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson became the eighth person to resign from the seven-member board in the last calendar month.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in federal court on Oct. 21, 2024. (Illustration by Cheryl Cook)