Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke swore in 77 new prosecutors in the largest-ever incoming class at the office, a diverse group representing 30 law schools with an 80 percent bar passage rate. The expansion is part of a broader effort to rebuild staffing and accelerate case processing across the county.
The Cook County Board of Review has opened the townships of Barrington, Bremen, Calumet, Hyde Park and Lemont for the 2026 property tax appeal season, with a filing deadline of Dec. 8. Property owners can file at no cost online, in person or through a representative.
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch will not seek another term after 26 Democratic lawmakers called for new leadership, following criticism of his handling of a sexual harassment case involving a former state lawmaker.
Republican officials and commentators clashed publicly over the party’s direction following Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others offering competing assessments of what the results mean for 2028.
President Trump said further military action against Iran remains possible, while Republican Rep. Thomas Massie announced plans to pursue impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the administration’s foreign policy decisions.
A federal judge issued a 14-day block on construction of President Trump’s proposed 250-foot memorial arch in Washington, D.C., just hours after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the project.
Former Republican state Rep. Jeannie Ives said Illinois Republicans dropped to 33 state House seats and 13 state Senate seats following Tuesday’s election, as Democrats swept most contested races in DuPage County and expanded their General Assembly majority.
Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled Friday, with the Alaska contest separated by fewer than 700 votes three days after polls closed.
Jay Rockefeller, a five-term U.S. senator and former governor of West Virginia, died Thursday night at age 89, according to a Fox News report.
Gov. JB Pritzker said Friday he has not seen a letter related to allegations against Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, adding that the choice of speaker belongs to members of the General Assembly.