Patch Flash: Corruption in IL-- 4 of Last 7 Governors Imprisoned

Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan will be leaving prison and heading to a halfway house after serving more than five years for corruption. His departure from prison follows a rich, if ignominious, history in Illinois of ex-governors arriving in and departing from prison.

Of Illinois' last seven governors, four have ended up going to prison. They are:

Rod Blagojevich, 2002-2009, convicted on corruption charges;

George Ryan, 1999-2003, convicted of racketeering

Dan Walker, 1973-1977, plead guilty to bank fraud;

Otto Kerner. 1961-1968, convicted of bribery. 

As Illinois becomes the fourth and most populous state to give undocumented immigrants permission to drive, nagging concerns remain about whether there are enough safeguards to avoid the identity fraud and other pitfalls other states faced.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed Illinois' measure into law Sunday in Chicago. 

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed Illinois' measure into law Sunday in Chicago. Backers, including Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and some of the state's top Republicans, tout it as a public-safety measure. They argue that required facial recognition technology is reliable enough to prevent fraud.

They hailed it as an important step for immigrant rights in Illinois, which approved its own Dream Act in 2010 to create a privately-funded scholarship program for immigrant students. 

Cary-Grove Principal Jay Sargeant explained in a letter to parents the drill is part of a districtwide effort to increase student safety. Sargeant asked parents to discuss the drill ahead of time to ease any possible emotional reactions from hearing the sounds. Some parents are not in favor of officers shooting guns at the school, according to the Huffington Post. 

A Starbucks concept store in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood will be made entirely of reused shipping containers. The store will be drive-through only, but will have a walk-up window and outdoor seating.   

The bus traveled more than a mile westbound from about Milwaukee Avenue to Greenwood Avenue through Niles and Park Ridge, according to Park Ridge Police Commander Lou Jogmen. It traveled in the oncoming traffic lanes. 

The driver may have been suffering from a medical condition, he said. Minor injuries were reported.

Alex Sheridan wasn’t sure what to do when her mother’s car started speeding out of control, but the 9-year-old girl knew she had to act fast to save their lives.

When her mother, Jennifer Sheridan, went into diabetic shock and nearly crashed their car on a road in Frankfort, Ill., Alex was terrified, but had the wherewithal to take control. After the vehicle went off the road and was headed toward trees and a utility pole, Alex reached over, turned off the car and held onto the key until help arrived.