Rezko cut a deal to serve the sentence concurrent with the separate 10 1/2-year fraud sentence he was sentenced to last month. more ›

Rod Blagojevich showed a little less polish on the witness stand yesterday in describing the now infamous "f-ing golden comment." Or maybe it was practiced to be that way. more ›

Somewhat lost amongst all the tax day Tea Parties yesterday was something that could actually have a direct action on how government works around here. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced the launch of a new state website, whistleblower.ilinois.gov, which gives the scoop on how citizens -- even government employees -- can spill the goods on known corruption in state and local government. The seed of this program started in 1991, when Quinn was a part of a team that helped enact a "state whistleblower protection act" to shield people from retaliation for coming forward. The Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act, introduced by Rep. John Fritchey, and which went into affect January 1, 2008, expanded those protections further and sweetened the pot -- the "whistleblower" now can get a reward of "up to 30% of the amount recovered as a reward upon completion of a successful whistleblower suit.." more ›

Quinn described Blagojevich as "isolated" in his decision-making and surrounded by a "tight palace guard" that "tells him what he wants to hear and not what he needs to know." more ›

But instead of taking this opportunity to come clean, Ryan has doubled down on denial: "His conscience is as clear as his mind," his wife, Lura Lynn, told the Sun-Times Tuesday. "If he had it to do over—and I've heard him say this—he would govern the same way as he did before." more ›