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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Advocates call on tax reform to reduce national debt

Advocates call on tax reform to reduce national debt

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Advocates called on lawmakers to redesign the United States’ tax system on Thursday in order to address the rising national debt. The national debt surpassed...
Supreme Court allows mail-order abortion drugs

Supreme Court allows mail-order abortion drugs

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that women can continue to access abortion drugs through the mail without making an in-person doctor's visit, while...
McCuskey, coalition of AGs urge SEC to review OpenAI

McCuskey, coalition of AGs urge SEC to review OpenAI

By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey has joined a coalition of 10 states in a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange...
Springfield strains for balanced budget; Illinois revenue forecast shifts down

Springfield strains for balanced budget; Illinois revenue forecast shifts down

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois is projected to see less tax income than state agencies previously expected due to a variety...
DOJ targets healthcare fraud in California, Arizona, Nevada

DOJ targets healthcare fraud in California, Arizona, Nevada

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice has created a new task force to fight healthcare fraud in three Western states. The West Coast healthcare Fraud Strike...
Illinois Quick Hits: University of Chicago to offer free tuition

Illinois Quick Hits: University of Chicago to offer free tuition

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – University of Chicago, a private university, will begin to offer free tuition to families with an income...
Human capabilities focused in student, teacher artificial intelligence guide

Human capabilities focused in student, teacher artificial intelligence guide

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Teacher’s guide learning modules and self-assessment tools for students are part of the third annual Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence, a production of Elon University,...
U.S. House to vote on bills targeting fraudulent, foreign election donations

U.S. House to vote on bills targeting fraudulent, foreign election donations

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House committee that oversees election laws advanced multiple bills Thursday to stop fraudulent campaign donations and foreign influence in elections. Three of the...
Responses due in Virginia redistricting appeal

Responses due in Virginia redistricting appeal

By Shirleen GuerraThe Center Square Responses are due by 5 p.m. Thursday in Virginia’s emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over the commonwealth’s congressional redistricting dispute, as outside groups...
Illinois Republicans blame taxes, lawsuits after Morton Salt exits Chicago

Illinois Republicans blame taxes, lawsuits after Morton Salt exits Chicago

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Republican lawmakers are warning that the departure of iconic salt producer Morton Salt from Chicago is...
Data center regulations weighed; some worry over jobs, energy, taxes

Data center regulations weighed; some worry over jobs, energy, taxes

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Major bills in both the state Senate and House may heavily regulate data centers in the state....
Solutions differ for Chicago Public Schools' potential $1B deficit

Solutions differ for Chicago Public Schools’ potential $1B deficit

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union says the city’s public schools could face a $1 billion budget deficit if...
Illinois ranks 46th out of 50 states for financial transparency

Illinois ranks 46th out of 50 states for financial transparency

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new report ranks Illinois 46 out of 50 states for financial transparency, partly due to the...
U.S. Supreme Court rules against trucking industry

U.S. Supreme Court rules against trucking industry

By Andrew Rice | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision Thursday, agreed that states can protect individuals injured in...
Illinois Quick Hits: Dems look at Chicago for national conventions

Illinois Quick Hits: Dems look at Chicago for national conventions

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Democrat National Convention’s committee on site selection visited Chicago this week, again considered the city for...