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The Latest Breaking News from John Hooker

100 years ago, Edwin Hubble proved our Milky Way galaxy isn't alone

A century ago, humans didn't know other galaxies existed. Here's how Edwin Hubble changed that view.

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Once a political giant, Madigan now a convicted felon and likely prison inmate — but not a racketeer

The verdict capped an unpredictable four-month trial that gave jurors an up-front and uncensored look at the practice of behind-the-scenes politics in Chicago and Illinois in the previous decade.

Chicago Sun-Times

Judge’s health puts sentencing for ComEd bribery defendants in limbo

U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber has yet to decide whether those hearings should also be postponed until after the Supreme Court considers an Indiana corruption case.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Supreme Court review of Indiana case could affect guilty verdicts in ComEd bribery trial, lawyers say

The dispute is whether a federal bribery statute criminalizes only bribery, as opposed to also criminalizing so-called gratuities or rewards.

Chicago Sun-Times

‘Life’ at stake? Ominous prediction made as sentencing hearings loom in ComEd bribery case

It’s a sign of how serious all sides are taking the sentencing of Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty.

Chicago Sun-Times

Convicted ComEd CEO’s attorney warns ‘we may be trying this case again,’ but judge won’t allow contact with jurors

Defense attorney Scott Lassar told the Chicago Sun-Times he was referring to possible rulings by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, or even the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chicago Sun-Times

ComEd parent Exelon is paying legal bills for two executives convicted of bribery

The company will not say how much it has paid to attorneys representing ex-CEO Anne Pramaggiore and VP John Hooker, but a rep says ratepayer funds are not used.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Federal prosecutors urge judge to block defense efforts to contact ComEd jurors, call it a ‘fishing expedition’

Federal prosecutors argued the appropriate response is “not to authorize the defendants to hound this jury — a move that no doubt will send a public message that jury service is something to be avoided.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Lawyers for 2 convicted in ComEd bribery trial ask for permission to speak to jurors

Attorneys for former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker filed a motion in U.S District Court, asking for an order granting them permission to speak to the panel of seven women and five men who last week found them guilty on every count.

Chicago Sun-Times

Judge sets sentencing dates for ComEd conspirators

Hearings to hand down sentences for the former ComEd executives and contractors are scheduled to be held three months before the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago’s new interim top cop, ComEd 4 found guilty and more in your Chicago news roundup

Today’s update is about an eight-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Chicago Sun-Times

What ComEd trial guilty verdicts could mean for Michael Madigan and Illinois politics

The convictions could affect the bribery trial next year of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and could spark ethics reforms and questions about how politicians are lobbied.

Chicago Sun-Times

ComEd jurors say they didn’t believe the jobs and money that went to Madigan allies were just legal lobbying

‘We felt this went beyond goodwill to “intent to influence,”’ said the jury foreperson, Sarah Goldenberg, a 34-year-old data analyst.

Chicago Sun-Times

Guilty verdicts in ComEd bribery trial are a bad omen for Mike Madigan, but a good sign for Illinois

After weeks of testimony in the federal trial of four Mike Madigan allies, the jury wasn’t willing to give a pass to the old, corrupt ways of doing business. The rest of us shouldn’t be either.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Jury convicts all four defendants in ComEd bribery trial — and fires a warning shot at Michael Madigan

Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty were all accused in the trial of a bribery conspiracy aimed at illegally swaying the powerful Democrat to benefit ComEd.

Chicago Sun-Times

ComEd trial puts spotlight on lobbying practices of state politicians

Mike Madigan “perfected” his political and statehouse operation to the point where companies and other special interests believed they had to hire his people to advance their bills, Rich Miller writes.

Chicago Sun-Times

Federal jury begins deliberating ComEd bribery case after prosecutors call four defendants ‘grand masters of corruption’

After six weeks of trial, 12 jurors are considering the merits of the case that ended former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s record-breaking grip on power.

Chicago Sun-Times

ComEd bribery trial’s closing arguments, CPD officer faces dismissal and more in your Chicago news roundup

Today’s update is about an eight-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

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news in one place.

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Chicago Sun-Times

In closing arguments, feds hammer at ‘stunning’ stream of benefits to Madigan while defense calls bribery charges ‘collateral damage’

Four former political power players are accused of arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigan allies in an illegal bid to sway Madigan on legislation crucial to ComEd. Their trial is in its seventh week, and jurors could begin deliberating Tuesday.

Chicago Sun-Times

ComEd bribery case — which shook Illinois politics to the core — goes into the hands of jurors next week

The jury will have a mountain of evidence to sort through. Jurors heard from about 50 witnesses over five weeks, saw piles of emails and heard a cache of secret FBI recordings that form the backbone of the feds’ case.

Chicago Sun-Times

Former ComEd CEO testifies that secretly recorded call central to bribery case against her actually ‘proves my innocence’

Anne Pramaggiore went toe-to-toe with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, who questioned Pramaggiore for around two and a half hours and challenged the assertions Pramaggiore made Monday on the witness stand.

Chicago Sun-Times

On witness stand, former ComEd CEO denies knowing contractors were tied to Madigan: ‘I didn’t know who they were’

Anne Pramaggiore testifies in her defense that she was unaware that the contractors hired by the utility through Jay Doherty’s company had connections to the ex- speaker.

Chicago Sun-Times

Longtime precinct captain says he was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by ComEd to do political work for Michael Madigan

‘Understand this, that I control that contract,’ Edward Moody says he was told by Madigan. ‘If you stop doing your political work, you’ll lose that contract.’

Chicago Sun-Times

What’s next for CPS after Johnson’s win, flowers for George Freeman and more in your Chicago news roundup

Today’s update is about an eight-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ex-ComEd lobbyist suspected new CEO Dominguez would be ‘wired’

Prosecutors present recordings showing Madigan confidant Michael McClain didn’t trust incoming utility boss Joseph Dominguez, a former federal prosecutor.

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