Illinois quick hits: Madigan disbarred; taxpayers subsidize medical debt relief

Illinois quick hits: Madigan disbarred; taxpayers subsidize medical debt relief

November 21, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Madigan disbarred

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is no longer licensed to practice law in the Land of Lincoln.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in favor of a motion to strike Madigan’s name from the state’s roll of licensed attorneys.

Last month, the longtime speaker and former Democratic Party of Illinois chairman began serving a 7.5 year prison term for public corruption.

Taxpayers subsidize medical debt relief

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has erased nearly $430 million in medical debt during its first year.

The fiscal year 2026 state budget includes a $15 million reappropriation to acquire and forgive outstanding medical debt for those who qualify.

To be eligible, individuals must be Illinois residents with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, or their medical debt must equal 5% or more of their annual household income.

Texas man convicted for crypto scam

A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a Houston, Texas man of orchestrating a cryptocurrency scheme that bilked nearly 1,000 investors out of at least $14 million.

Robert Dunlap, 54, was convicted of two counts of mail fraud and faces a maximum of 40 years in federal prison.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 17, 2026.

Events

No events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WATCH: Report says national student debt is over $1.6 trillion

WATCH: Report says national student debt is over $1.6 trillion

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The college student loan balance in the United States is $1.66 trillion, according to a WalletHub report. To determine the best and worst states with...
DOJ sues health plan that got almost $3.5 billion from Feds

DOJ sues health plan that got almost $3.5 billion from Feds

By Dave MasonThe Center Square The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is suing a health insurance plan for allegedly violating the public’s trust at taxpayers’ expense....
Bill blocks Federal Reserve members' dual appointments

Bill blocks Federal Reserve members’ dual appointments

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Federal Reserve board members would not be able to hold dual positions appointed by the president if U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego’s new bill becomes law....
Lawmakers call for changes to cashless bail as Illinois faces federal funding loss

Lawmakers call for changes to cashless bail as Illinois faces federal funding loss

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Statehouse Republicans are calling for reform of the Pretrial Fairness Act as Illinois faces the potential loss...
Illinois quick hits: Unemployment down; Rivian supplier gets tax incentives

Illinois quick hits: Unemployment down; Rivian supplier gets tax incentives

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Unemployment down The unemployment rate in Illinois has dropped to its lowest point since July 2023. The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced the...
Pritzker’s office ‘extremely troubled’ by photo with suspect ‘peacekeeper’

Pritzker’s office ‘extremely troubled’ by photo with suspect ‘peacekeeper’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Officials from the governor’s office say they were “extremely troubled” to learn that a man that Gov....
Pritzker touts quantum future, state senator urges caution for taxpayers

Pritzker touts quantum future, state senator urges caution for taxpayers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is touting Illinois as a destination for quantum computing companies, but a state senator...
WATCH: Pritzker on Kimmel suspension; SNAP error rate alarms; hemp regulations loom

WATCH: Pritzker on Kimmel suspension; SNAP error rate alarms; hemp regulations loom

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares Illinois Gov....
Temporary Rockford Courthouse fence sparks debate over security and costs

Temporary Rockford Courthouse fence sparks debate over security and costs

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A temporary fence surrounding the federal courthouse in downtown Rockford, Illinois is drawing sharp criticism and...
Illinois quick hits: Report: Suspect pictured with Pritzker; more immigration arrests

Illinois quick hits: Report: Suspect pictured with Pritzker; more immigration arrests

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Report: Suspect pictured with Pritzker Less than a week before a smash-and-grab burglary led to a fatal wreck on Chicago’s Magnificent...
Illinois quick hits: Suspect in custody after state senator's home struck with gunfire

Illinois quick hits: Suspect in custody after state senator’s home struck with gunfire

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Suspect in custody after state senator's home struck with gunfire A suspect is in custody after two homes were damaged by...

WATCH: Governor candidate: Low-cost districts shine while most IL schools spend, fail

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a Republican candidate for Illinois governor, schools in the state can succeed without spending big....

WATCH: Pritzker threatens executive action regulating hemp if legislature won’t act

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − After previous attempts were unsuccessful, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he may take executive action to address...

WATCH: Illinois congresswoman OK withholding federal tax funds to change state policy

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congresswoman says she’s OK with plans of withholding federal tax dollars from Illinois if it...
Chicago mayor: 'We do not have a spending problem' as spending, deficit grows

Chicago mayor: ‘We do not have a spending problem’ as spending, deficit grows

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson says Chicago does not have a spending problem, even as city government spending soars...