Capitol Cast: Illinois

The Capitol News Illinois team discusses a new surge in COVID-19 cases, record level advance voting ahead of the 2020 elections, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda and other major news of the week.

An interview with former Gov. George Ryan about his new book, "Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped the Death Penalty in Illinois."

The U.S. Attorney's office has given the Special Investigating Committee a green light to pursue its probe into Speaker Michael Madigan's role in the ComEd bribery case. Rep. Tom Demmer, the ranking Republican on the panel, discusses what's next. Plus, a roundtable discussion of the 2020 Census and the state of the coronavirus pandemic.

A special Investigative Committee got underway this week to examine House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal. And Black and Latino lawmakers became upset when finalists were announced for the first 75 "social equity" marijuana business licenses was announced.

A special committee is about to meet to investigate House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in an alleged bribery scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Peter Hancock talks with two members of that committee, Democratic Chairman Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Republican Rep. Grant Wehrli.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues its resurgence in Illinois; Exelon says it plans to close two nuclear power plants next year; a program to expand broadband access statewide gets started as students prepare for another semester of online learning; and tobacco use is up among Illinois teenagers. Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki, Ray Troncoso and Rebecca Anzel analyze the week's news.

Jerry Nowicki and Peter Hancock discuss Gov. JB Pritzker's roadmap for a new clean energy policy as well asrecap the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its grip on the state's economy.

Reporter Raymon Troncoso talks with Jordan Powell, president and CEO of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association about how and why COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities. Theme music, "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A rebellion within House Democrats is threatening House Speaker Michael Madigan’s grip on power. Schools are preparing to reopen amid a pandemic that seemingly won’t go away. And Capitol News Illinois is taking on a new project with a new reporter.

As part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the power of conversation to highlight misunderstandings and bring Illinoisans together, and Jones’s hope this era’s civil rights movement is not fleeting. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/