A jury will decide if four former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists conspired as part of an eight-year pay-for-play scheme to influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Jury deliberations started about 3 p.m. Tuesday after 24 days of testimony in one of the highest-profile corruption cases in Illinois since former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s trial.

After more than six years, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said she won’t run for reelection next year. Her first term included a decision to raise the bar for prosecuting retail thefts as a felony from the statutory threshold of $500 in value for the stolen goods to more than $1,000, unless the defendant has a significant criminal history.

The order requires employees to be at their “regularly assigned workspace” for 70% of their pay period beginning May 14, three days after the national public health emergency is set to end.

The presidents of Lewis University and St. Augustine College in Aurora Tuesday announced a plan to merge both institutions, with both boards of trustees unanimously approving the decision.The schools will now submit an application to the Higher Learning Commission to make St. Augustine College a part of Lewis University. The merger is subject to the approval of the commission, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education.

Senate Bill 2243 and its companion bill in the House – House Bill 2872 – both passed through their respective chambers unanimously. The bills call for the Illinois State Board of Education to have its statewide literacy plan completed by Jan. 31, 2024. So far, 36 other states have literacy plans.

It wouldn’t be for all services. People would need one to renew a license and an ID card, to get a REAL ID and for driving exams. Some facilities across Central Illinois are already appointment only. That includes ones in Springfield, Champaign, Bloomington and Peoria.