State Senator Thomas Cullerton has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging he took more than $250,000 in salary and benefits over three years from the Teamsters while doing little or no work.

Federal prosecutors in New York have indicted four NCAA men’s basketball assistant coaches on charges of fraud and corruption. One of them worked under University of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood at Oklahoma State University.

Imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is seeking a presidential commutation of the 14-year sentence he's serving for his corruption conviction. U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman Dena W. Iverson said Friday the department has received a petition for commutation from Blagojevich.

After video of a white Chicago police officer shooting a black teenager 16 times was released to the public, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel became the focus of intense backlash. He responded by firing Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. In many ways this was history repeating in a city that has had twice as many police chiefs than it’s had mayors in the past six decades — and more than its share of police scandals.  

The Illinois Constitution turns 45 next week. As the document nears its birthday, Charlie Wheeler looks at the ways it modernized government.