News January 2004

Court upholds RyanĂs Death Row commutations
Former Gov. George Ryan had the power to empty Death Row, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in response to the state attorney generalĂs challenge of 32 commutations he issued near the end of his term.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Stukel to retire from U of I presidency
University of Illinois President James Stukel announced he will retire in February of 2005. Stukel has been president of the three-campus system for the past nine years.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Poshard picked for SIU board
Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed the former congressman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate to the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees. That appointment requires state Senate approval.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Edgar to head Lincoln library foundation
Former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar was named chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Foundation. Edgar initiated plans for the library during his second term as governor.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2004

Fitzgerald leads CIA leak probe
Chicago-based U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is heading the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative’s name. Once U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft recused himself from the investigation, Deputy U.S. Attorney James Comey tapped Fitzgerald as a special prosecutor.

Illinois Issues, January 7, 2004

Grand jury indicts Ryan
A federal grand jury indicted former Illinois Gov. George Ryan December 17 on charges of racketeering conspiracy, mail and tax fraud. The corruption charges stem from Ryan’s terms of secretary of state and governor. He is the 66th person indicted in the U.S. attorney’s Operation Safe Road investigation. The indictment’s major allegations: Ryan and members of his family got illegal cash, gifts, trips and services. The U.S. attorney’s office also alleges that Ryan directed another illegal $300,000 to a friend and repeatedly lied during the federal investigation.
The Ryan indictment.pdf

Case summary of Operation Saferoad (updated December 17, 2003)
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osr/osrcasesummary.pdf

Press release, the Ryan indictment
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/2003/pr121703_01.pdf

Read our analysis: George Ryan's political career

llinois Issues, December 17, 2003

Paul Simon dies
Former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Makanda died December 9 in Springfield following heart surgery. Simon, known for integrity and high ethical standards, was 75. A Democratic presidential candidate in 1988, Simon was director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale at the time of his death. The former newspaperman was a founder of Illinois Issues. He also was the first director of the Public Affairs Reporting Program at what is now the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Illinois Issues tribute to Paul Simon

Illinois Issues, December 10, 2003