Illinois
ComEd was pressured to hire politically connected law firm as it fought for key Illinois bill: testimony
Jurors in ComEd bribery trial will hear greater than 100 recordings, federal prosecutors say
Federal prosecutors instructed jurors Wednesday they’d hear greater than 100 recordings over the following a number of weeks, because the wide-ranging case in opposition to 4 allies of former Illinois Home Speaker Michael Madigan kicked off in earnest with opening statements.
SPRINGFIELD, Sick. – ComEd’s monetary future may need been on the road with a hard-fought invoice pending earlier than the Illinois legislature late in 2011, however the utility’s prime lawyer on the time all of a sudden discovered himself below stress to cope with one other precedence, he testified Tuesday.
Signing the legislation agency of political operative Victor Reyes to an uncommon three-year contract with ComEd, which assured Reyes’ agency 850 hours of authorized work a 12 months.
Thomas O’Neill, ComEd’s former common counsel, defined to jurors the stress he felt in 2011, and once more in 2016, to signal and renew the contract for the Reyes Kurson legislation agency. He stated it largely got here from lobbyist Michael McClain, who usually gave the impression to be doing the bidding of then-Illinois Home Speaker Michael J. Madigan, a Reyes ally.
O’Neill stated he was in the end instructed to “simply get it accomplished” by Anne Pramaggiore, who rose to develop into ComEd’s CEO with a legislative technique that amounted to “what’s vital to the speaker is vital to ComEd.”
O’Neill defined this all through the trial of McClain, Pramaggiore and two different former political energy gamers on trial for an alleged conspiracy to bribe Madigan.
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He stated he first signed the cope with Reyes Kurson on Oct. 25, 2011 — however wasn’t conscious on the time that Reyes additionally performed a task in fundraising for Madigan. The deal was signed sooner or later earlier than the Illinois Normal Meeting handed a invoice that turned across the fortunes of ComEd.
“I simply felt there was numerous persistent stress to get it accomplished,” O’Neill stated. “I had stated I used to be going to do it. And so we went ahead. I went ahead.”
On trial together with McClain and Pramaggiore are former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime Metropolis Membership President Jay Doherty. O’Neill turned the trial’s first witness to drill down into the center of the allegations in opposition to the 4, who’re accused of arranging for jobs, contracts and cash for Madigan allies whereas key laws moved by Springfield.
Among the many schemes alleged within the indictment was the trouble to have ComEd rent and renew the weird contract for Reyes Kurson.
McClain lawyer Patrick Cotter promised jurors final week they’d “hear no phrases” linking job suggestions from Madigan with any piece of laws. The express connection has but to be made, however prosecutors have appeared to work methodically to hyperlink the hiring stress described by O’Neill to key payments.
The trial’s first few days featured testimony that painted McClain as a Madigan emissary, identified to cross alongside the speaker’s calls for. Now, jurors have heard how McClain bypassed O’Neill to maintain ComEd from limiting the hours promised to Reyes Kurson.
And it occurred whereas ComEd was within the midst of invoice negotiations in Springfield.
“Mike went over my head to Anne [Pramaggiore] instantly,” O’Neill instructed jurors.
A ComEd headquarters constructing, July 17, 2020, within the 3400 block of North California Avenue in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Pictures)
O’Neill stated the stress marketing campaign started as he was deep within the combat to cross the Vitality Infrastructure and Modernization Act, or EIMA, in 2011. The invoice had handed each chambers however had been vetoed by then-Gov. Pat Quinn.
One other ComEd govt has stated EIMA and 2016’s Future Vitality Jobs Act, or FEJA, took ComEd from the brink of chapter to file earnings in 2022.
O’Neill stated he started to listen to from McClain and Hooker in 2011 about hiring Reyes Kurson. O’Neill stated he’d met with Reyes in June of that 12 months. However McClain started to pester him about it, and Hooker instructed him “it’s worthwhile to transfer” on the deal and “it’s vital we get this accomplished.”
O’Neill stated he “needed to push it off after I had extra time” as a result of he was combating to get EIMA handed. He stated he acquiesced and employed the agency partially due to the stress, but additionally as a result of it was minority-owned and specialised in areas of curiosity to ComEd.
He stated Reyes Kurson didn’t work its 850 hours in 2012, however as time handed it exceeded the assure in its contract. O’Neill stated he made certain by his workers “that the work they have been doing was of worth to the corporate.”
The contract was up for renewal once more in 2016 — the 12 months ComEd returned to the legislature to cross FEJA. However O’Neill stated he’d heard from a ComEd lawyer that “850 hours is means, means too many. We simply would not have that a lot work for them.”
So O’Neill started pushing to scale back the hours for Reyes Kurson. That finally prompted McClain, a ComEd lobbyist, to ship an e-mail on to Pramaggiore, ComEd’s CEO. In it, McClain used his typical code for Madigan: “our Good friend.”
“Properly, I hate to convey this to your consideration however I have to,” McClain wrote. “Sorry. I’m certain you know the way invaluable Victor is to our Good friend.”
McClain added, “I do know the drill and so do you. If you don’t get contain [sic] and resolve this concern of 850 hours for his legislation agency per 12 months then he’ll go to our Good friend. Our Good friend will name me after which I’ll name you. Is that this a drill we should undergo?”
Pramaggiore wound up forwarding McClain’s e-mail to O’Neill with out remark. O’Neill stated he additionally wound up forwarding a separate e-mail to Pramaggiore, with out remark, that mentioned ComEd’s consulting contract with Roosevelt Group, Reyes’ separate lobbying agency.
“As a result of I felt he was double-dipping,” O’Neill stated.
O’Neill despatched his e-mail to Pramaggiore one minute after she despatched hers.
Protection attorneys are anticipated to cross-examine O’Neill on Wednesday.
Additionally Tuesday, state Rep. Robert “Bob” Rita returned to the stand after telling jurors that Madigan dominated the Illinois Home “by concern and intimidation.” Protection attorneys had their probability to press the Blue Island Democrat additional on that evaluation.
“While you say concern, you’re not speaking about bodily hurt?” Cotter requested. “You’re not saying that Mike Madigan was working round, waving a gun at you?”
Rita stated no.
“While you say concern, you’re saying folks feared the political penalties of their vote?” Cotter requested.
Rita responded, “Yeah. That and assignments on the state facet.”
A number of schools from Chicago and the suburbs were recognized as among the top elementary schools in Illinois, according to a new list.
The “2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools” list from U.S. News and World Report examined more than 79,000 public schools in all 50 states, a press release revealed. Editors used publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze mathematics and reading performance at the state and district levels — while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects.
For a school corporation to receive a district-level ranking, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75% of the overall elementary or middle school rankings, according to the website. In all, 47,573 elementary schools and 23,861 middle schools were assessed.
In Illinois, a total of 3,421 schools were ranked. Seven of the top 25 schools in the state were Chicago Public Schools, including the top school, Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center.
Almost all of the top 25 schools were in either the city or suburbs — except for No. 10 – Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Rockford and No. 22 – Congerville Elementary School in downstate Woodford County.
Following behind Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center was Hinsdale’s Oak Elementary School and Naperville’s Meadows Glen Elementary School at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center, a Chicago Public School, and Brook Forest Elementary School rounded out the top five.
Here’s a look into the top 25 elementary schools in Illinois, according to the report.
- Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
- Oak Elementary School – Hinsdale
- Meadows Glen Elementary School – Naperville
- Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
- Brook Forest Elementary School – Oak Brook
- Elm Elementary School – Burr Ridge
- Forest Hills Elementary School – Western Springs
- The Lane Elementary School – Hinsdale
- Eisenhower Academy – Joliet
- Thurgood Marshall Elementary School – Rockford
- Skinner North Elementary School – Chicago
- Greenbriar Elementary School – Northbrook
- Westmoor Elementary School – Northbrook
- Ellsworth Elementary School – Naperville
- Prospect Elementary School – Clarendon Hills
- Walker School – Clarendon Hills
- Lincoln Elementary School – River Forest
- Highlands Elementary School – Naperville
- Bronzeville Classical Elementary School – Chicago
- George B Carpenter Elementary School – Park Ridge
- Madison Elementary School – Hinsdale
- Congerville Elementary School – Congerville
- Decatur Classical Elementary School – Chicago
- Lincoln Elementary School – Chicago
- Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy – Chicago
Redshirt freshman 125-pounder Dedrick Navarro’s gutsy decision win over No. 27 Blake West set the tone for Northwestern’s statement 29-8 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday.
NU entered its dual season opener with a point to prove, having lost to Northern Illinois 18-17 to start last year.
“After dropping a match to them that stung for a whole year, it was nice to go out there and not just win, but to really put it on them and win in dominating fashion,” coach Matt Storniolo said.
The night got off to a flying start as Navarro pulled off a stunning upset over West. An escape and a takedown by West put Navarro in a 0-4 hole entering the third period, but he battled back, scoring a takedown of his own before a trip with seconds left vaulted him to a 7-6 decision win.
Navarro said he tried to push the pace in the moment, and it felt good to get his first win of the dual season.
“We’ve only got a few years of this, so I’m just soaking it in and being grateful, having fun and putting on a show,” Navarro said.
The Huskies notched their first team points of the night in the 133-pound bout as redshirt sophomore Markel Baker won by major decision over sophomore Massey Odiotti. Three Baker takedowns in the first period cemented his 14-3 victory.
Graduate student 141-pounder No. 10 Chris Cannon made his NU homecoming with a 9-3 decision win over NIU’s Charles Curtis.
A two-time All-American for the Wildcats, Cannon transferred to Michigan before the 2024 season but missed nearly all of it after suffering a head injury in his dual season opener exactly one year ago Sunday. Storniolo said Cannon was not back to full strength yet, but that didn’t stop him from competing and winning.
“It was good for him to know that he’s still got that fight inside him,” he said.
No. 20. redshirt freshman 149-pounder Sam Cartella’s 15-0 win by technical fall put the ’Cats in the driver’s seat, and they didn’t look back from there. Dominant decision wins by No. 12 graduate student 157-pounder Trevor Chumbley and No. 16 redshirt senior 165-pounder Maxx Mayfield ran up the team score. Then, redshirt sophomore 174-pounder Joseph Martin secured his first dual meet win of his career, lasting nearly a minute underneath NIU’s Jake Evans without conceding a takedown and holding onto a narrow 4-0 lead.
Graduate student 184-pounder Jon Halvorsen secured extra team points by scoring a late takedown in his match, upgrading his victory from a decision win to a major decision win. He said his feelings after the win were unexplainable.
“The guys around me believe in me, and the coaches I have believe in me,” he said. “It’s just a reflection of my team and how awesome these guys are.”
A professional 19-4 win by No. 25 redshirt junior 197-pounder Evan Bates put the finishing touch on the NU rout.
Redshirt freshman 285-pounder Dirk Morley lost his match with NIU’s Jacob Christensen to end the night. An initially strong defensive performance unraveled in the third period, ending the night with a 12-2 loss by major decision.
In its return to the mat nine months after posting a 1-9 record, NU matched last season’s win total in one night. Storniolo attributed the team’s improvement to Cannon’s return to Evanston, Cartella’s continuing dominance in the 149-pound weight class and new faces like Navarro entering the lineup.
“Guys are hungry this year,” Storniolo said. “They feel like they really have something to prove after last year. They want to let the rest of Division I wrestling know that we’re a strong program, and last year doesn’t represent who we are as a team.”
The ’Cats are back at Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday at 2 p.m. to take on Little Rock.
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