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On March 19th, Cook County will be voting in a new State's Attorney as incumbent Kim Foxx will not be running again. On this week's episode of At Issue, WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore speaks with one of the two democrats who are running for the position: Clayton Harris III.
The Cook County State's Attorney is the county's top prosecutor, and the office has become one of the most scrutinized over the last decade. That's why when Kim Foxx announced last spring she wouldn't seek a third term, host Jacoby Cochran and Tribune reporter A.D. Quig expected more fanfare heading into the March 19 primary. But only two Democrats have emerged to replace Foxx, and they haven't come out swinging as hard as you might expect. Quig breaks down who the candidates are and why the race is still important to watch. Some good news: The Chicago Independent Venue League's CIVL Fest Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dems are tired. Ben riffs. Kim Foxx takes the deep dive on MAGA's counter attack against Fani Willis, the Fulton County Georgia prosecutor. Willis indicted Trump for essentially attempting a coup. Trump's allies countered by examining her sex life. It would be funny if the stakes weren't so high. Kim Foxx is, of course, the Cook County State's Attorney. Like Wlllis, she knows a thing or two about how MAGA loves to demonize high-profile Black women.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Clayton Harris III, a former prosecutor who is now running for Cook County State’s Attorney, joins Lisa Dent to explain why he should be the one to replace Kim Foxx as the county’s top prosecutor. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka
Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Eileen O’Neill Burke joins John Williams to talk about her credentials, how she would run the office, if she would change the previous administration’s retail theft policy, her thoughts on the elimination of cash bail, the scrutiny she’s facing over prosecuting an 11-year-old boy when she worked in the state's […]
Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Eileen O’Neill Burke joins John Williams to talk about her credentials, how she would run the office, if she would change the previous administration’s retail theft policy, her thoughts on the elimination of cash bail, the scrutiny she’s facing over prosecuting an 11-year-old boy when she worked in the state's […]
Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Eileen O’Neill Burke joins John Williams to talk about her credentials, how she would run the office, if she would change the previous administration’s retail theft policy, her thoughts on the elimination of cash bail, the scrutiny she’s facing over prosecuting an 11-year-old boy when she worked in the state's […]
Clayton Harris III is running for Cook County State's Attorney on a platform of safety and justice. In other words, making sure that prosecutors keep people safe from dangerous people who need to be locked up without locking everyone up. He explains how it can be done. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ret. Justice Eileen O'Neill Burke, candidate for Cook Co. State's Attorney, joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss why she left the Appellate Court to run for Cook County State's Attorney, her vision to redefine the role of the State's Attorney by solely focusing on defending victim, and she shares her plan to bring juvenal crime down. For more information, visit: https://www.justiceforcookcounty.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clayton Harris III, candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, joins John Williams to talk about why he wants to be the next Cook County State’s Attorney. Clayton explains his philosophy about crime in Chicago, how he assesses Kim Foxx’s performance, the importance of dealing with the root causes of crime, what he thinks of the […]
Clayton Harris III, candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, joins John Williams to talk about why he wants to be the next Cook County State’s Attorney. Clayton explains his philosophy about crime in Chicago, how he assesses Kim Foxx’s performance, the importance of dealing with the root causes of crime, what he thinks of the […]
Clayton Harris III, candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, joins John Williams to talk about why he wants to be the next Cook County State’s Attorney. Clayton explains his philosophy about crime in Chicago, how he assesses Kim Foxx’s performance, the importance of dealing with the root causes of crime, what he thinks of the […]
Candidate for Cook County State's Attorney Clayton Harris joins the Steve Cochran Show to delve into his experience raising his family on the Southside of Chicago, his plans for improving the morale of the Chicago Police Department, and his proposed alterations to the policies implemented by Kim Foxx's office. For more information about Clayton Harris's candidacy for Cook County State's Attorney, visit: www.claytonharrisforcook.com/aboutSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
0:00 - John Anthony filling in for Dan Proft 12:49 - Texas's Governor is ditching the buses to Chicago for AIRPLANES! 27:04 - Kick Biden off the ballot too 41:02 - Bob Fioretti, two-term Chicago 2nd ward Alderman 2007-2015 and 2nd ward Democratic Committeeman 2008-2016, is running to be Cook Co's next State's Attorney. For more on Bob Fioretti's run for Cook County State's Attorney fiortettiforcook.com 55:05 - LaShawn Ford, Illinois State Rep 8th District, blames the process and not the people for Illinois' shrinking population numbers. For more on LaShawn's work for IL District 8 lashawnkford.com 01:13:17 - John H. Cox, former candidate for California Governor, discusses his book The Newsom Nightmare: The California Catastrophe and How to Reform Our Broken System 01:28:17 - Paul Jacobs, Radio Manager/On Air Fundraiser for Food for the Poor, urges everyone to add a meal for a child to your last minute Christmas shopping list. YOUR ONE-TIME GIFT OF JUST $80, CAN PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING FOOD FOR TWO CHILDREN FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR ...OR CONSIDER GIVING A GIFT OF $160, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING FOOD FOR FOUR CHILDREN FOR A YEAR! TO MAKE THAT GIFT, JUST CALL 844-862-4673 OR VISIT 560THEANSWER.COM AND CLICK ON THE “GIVE LIFE” BANNER! THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY 01:43:08 - Author of The Coming Collapse of China and The Great U.S.-China Tech War, Gordon Chang: Terrifying hacks on critical infrastructure have arrived. America isn't ready. Follow Gordon on X @GordonGChangSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 2023
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) Documentary - Ashton Kutcher GirlfriendSerial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) DocumentaryMichael Thomas Gargiulo (born February 15, 1976)[1] is a convicted American serial killer[3] and rapist. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and gained the nickname The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021Description of crimesGargiulo is a native of Glenview, Illinois, where he may have stabbed his neighbor, 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, to death on her backdoor step. Her body was found by her father the next morning on August 14, 1993.[5][6] Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of police in Illinois,[7] and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.On February 21, 2001, he stabbed 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin 47 times to death in her home in Hollywood. Ellerin's injuries included a neck wound that nearly severed her head, and deep punctures to the chest, stomach, and back. Some of her wounds were up to six inches deep.[8] According to detective Tom Small, one stab wound "actually penetrated the skull and took out a chunk of skull like a puzzle piece."[8] On the night she was murdered, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor Ashton Kutcher.[9]On December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed 32-year-old Maria Bruno, his neighbor, to death at her home in El Monte, California.[10] She was stabbed 17 times.[8]Gargiulo attempted to murder another neighbor, 26-year-old Michelle Murphy, in her home in Santa Monica on April 28, 2008.[11] She fought off the attack, and blood matching Gargiulo's DNA was found at the scene.[12]Arrest and prosecutionGargiulo was arrested by the Santa Monica Police Department on June 6, 2008. On July 7, 2011, the Cook County State's Attorney charged Gargiulo with the first-degree murder of Tricia Pacaccio.[13] Although Gargiulo was charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police did not link him to any other murders.[5] Gargiulo allegedly told authorities in the Los Angeles County Jail that just because 10 women were killed — and his DNA was present — does not mean he murdered anyone, leading investigators to believe that there are more victims.[5]Media in Los Angeles dubbed Gargiulo the "Hollywood Ripper" as well as the "Chiller Killer."[13][14] Gargiulo was held at Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting a capital murder trial.[15] A pre-trial hearing was held on June 9, 2017, in Los Angeles Superior Court with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2017.[16] After delays, his trial began on May 2, 2019.[9][17] In May 2019, actor Ashton Kutcher testified about the crimesSerial Killer Michael Gargiulo Hollywood Ripper Documentary Ashton Kutcher GirlfriendTrue Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls True Police Stories Podcast
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the end of cash bail in Illinois.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the end of cash bail in Illinois.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the end of cash bail in Illinois.
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 2023
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) DocumentaryMichael Thomas Gargiulo (born February 15, 1976)[1] is a convicted American serial killer[3] and rapist. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and gained the nickname The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021Description of crimesGargiulo is a native of Glenview, Illinois, where he may have stabbed his neighbor, 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, to death on her backdoor step. Her body was found by her father the next morning on August 14, 1993.[5][6] Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of police in Illinois,[7] and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.On February 21, 2001, he stabbed 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin 47 times to death in her home in Hollywood. Ellerin's injuries included a neck wound that nearly severed her head, and deep punctures to the chest, stomach, and back. Some of her wounds were up to six inches deep.[8] According to detective Tom Small, one stab wound "actually penetrated the skull and took out a chunk of skull like a puzzle piece."[8] On the night she was murdered, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor Ashton Kutcher.[9]On December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed 32-year-old Maria Bruno, his neighbor, to death at her home in El Monte, California.[10] She was stabbed 17 times.[8]Gargiulo attempted to murder another neighbor, 26-year-old Michelle Murphy, in her home in Santa Monica on April 28, 2008.[11] She fought off the attack, and blood matching Gargiulo's DNA was found at the scene.[12]Arrest and prosecutionGargiulo was arrested by the Santa Monica Police Department on June 6, 2008. On July 7, 2011, the Cook County State's Attorney charged Gargiulo with the first-degree murder of Tricia Pacaccio.[13] Although Gargiulo was charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police did not link him to any other murders.[5] Gargiulo allegedly told authorities in the Los Angeles County Jail that just because 10 women were killed — and his DNA was present — does not mean he murdered anyone, leading investigators to believe that there are more victims.[5]Media in Los Angeles dubbed Gargiulo the "Hollywood Ripper" as well as the "Chiller Killer."[13][14] Gargiulo was held at Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting a capital murder trial.[15] A pre-trial hearing was held on June 9, 2017, in Los Angeles Superior Court with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2017.[16] After delays, his trial began on May 2, 2019.[9][17] In May 2019, actor Ashton Kutcher testified about the crimesSerial Killer Michael Gargiulo Hollywood Ripper DocumentaryTrue Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls True Police Stories Podcast
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx has decided not to run for a third term, leaving the seat up for grabs next fall. Kim Foxx made history in 2016 when she became the first Black woman to be elected Cook County State's Attorney. The progressive prosecutor announced Tuesday she won't seek another term. Reset discusses what's next for Foxx and the country's second-largest prosecutor's office with WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith.
April 25, 2023 State's Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx – Cook County City Club event description: State’s Attorney Kim Foxx Kimberly M. Foxx is the first African American woman to lead the Cook County State's Attorney's Office – the second largest prosecutor's office in the country. Kim took office on December 1, 2016, with a vision […]
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 2023
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) DocumentaryMichael Thomas Gargiulo (born February 15, 1976)[1] is a convicted American serial killer[3] and rapist. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and gained the nickname The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021Description of crimesGargiulo is a native of Glenview, Illinois, where he may have stabbed his neighbor, 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, to death on her backdoor step. Her body was found by her father the next morning on August 14, 1993.[5][6] Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of police in Illinois,[7] and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.On February 21, 2001, he stabbed 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin 47 times to death in her home in Hollywood. Ellerin's injuries included a neck wound that nearly severed her head, and deep punctures to the chest, stomach, and back. Some of her wounds were up to six inches deep.[8] According to detective Tom Small, one stab wound "actually penetrated the skull and took out a chunk of skull like a puzzle piece."[8] On the night she was murdered, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor Ashton Kutcher.[9]On December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed 32-year-old Maria Bruno, his neighbor, to death at her home in El Monte, California.[10] She was stabbed 17 times.[8]Gargiulo attempted to murder another neighbor, 26-year-old Michelle Murphy, in her home in Santa Monica on April 28, 2008.[11] She fought off the attack, and blood matching Gargiulo's DNA was found at the scene.[12]Arrest and prosecutionGargiulo was arrested by the Santa Monica Police Department on June 6, 2008. On July 7, 2011, the Cook County State's Attorney charged Gargiulo with the first-degree murder of Tricia Pacaccio.[13] Although Gargiulo was charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police did not link him to any other murders.[5] Gargiulo allegedly told authorities in the Los Angeles County Jail that just because 10 women were killed — and his DNA was present — does not mean he murdered anyone, leading investigators to believe that there are more victims.[5]Media in Los Angeles dubbed Gargiulo the "Hollywood Ripper" as well as the "Chiller Killer."[13][14] Gargiulo was held at Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting a capital murder trial.[15] A pre-trial hearing was held on June 9, 2017, in Los Angeles Superior Court with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2017.[16] After delays, his trial began on May 2, 2019.[9][17] In May 2019, actor Ashton Kutcher testified about the crimesSerial Killer Michael Gargiulo Hollywood Ripper Documentary Ashton Kutcher
#pruebeidler #kimfoxx #lakeforestillinois #lakeforestpodcast #Lakecountygazette In backing Foxx, Lightfoot, Lake Forest Mayoral hopeful Beidler was also boosting daughter-in-law's career By LGIS News Service Mar 4, 2023 Lake Forest Mayoral candidate Prudence Beidler made campaign donations to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as her daughter-in-law worked in high level positions for both offices. That's according to an analysis of public employment and Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) records. Deborah E. Witzburg-Beidler, 39, worked as an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County from 2008 to 2016 before leaving to join the Chicago Mayor Inspector General's office. In Fall 2015, Beidler made a maximum, $5,400 donation to Foxx's first campaign for Cook County State's Attorney 2015, while her daughter-in-law worked for the office, ISBE records show. Her husband, Frank, also donated $1,000 to Foxx that fall. A former assistant state's attorney herself who rose to the role of supervisor, Foxx and Witzburg-Beidler worked together for five years, from 2008 - 2013, county records show. ISBE records show Beidler has been a longtime backer of Foxx-sponsor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, donating to her campaign 14 times for a total of $9,500. Preckwinkle hired Foxx as her “Chief of Staff” before positioning her to challenge then-incumbent Anita Alvarez for Cook County State's Attorney in 2016. Six promotions Witzburg-Beidler joined then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in May 2016 as an assistant inspector general and stayed on when Lightfoot won election three years later. Her mother-in-law has been a campaign supporter of both Chicago mayors. Beidler made campaign donations to Emanuel in 2011 and 2013, totaling $2,500. She backed Lightfoot in Feb. 2019 with $1,000, and then, after she assumed office, gave her $1,000 again in June 2019. According to her LinkedIn page, two months later, Lightfoot promoted Witzburg-Beidler to “acting deputy general counsel for public safety.” Lightfoot promoted her three more times, naming her as the city's Inspector General in March 2022. Last month in an email to supporters, Beidler explained that she made donations to Foxx and Lightfoot because she thought they could "reduce the rate of crime in Chicago." She didn't mention her daughter-in-law's work with either office. "My son, his wife, and their two daughters are Chicago residents. In recent years, my husband and I have become increasingly concerned about their safety and I had hoped that candidates I supported might be able to help reduce the rate of crime in Chicago," Beidler wrote. Beidler is the only Lake Forest resident who has donated for Foxx; she is one of 12 who have backed Lightfoot. Deborah and Jay married in Boston in 2007. They met while attending Brown University in Providence, R.I. Witzburg-Beidler attended Northwestern University Law School in Chicago. Beidler, 77, is challenging Lake Forest Caucus-endorsed Dr. Stanford R. "Randy Tack," 64, in the race for mayor. Election Day is Tues. April 4. Full Article here: https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/640007726-in-backing-foxx-lightfoot-lake-forest-mayoral-hopeful-beidler-was-also-boosting-daughter-in-law-s-career --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lakeforestpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lakeforestpodcast/support
Today's show takes us to the Windy City, The City of Big Shoulders. Yes, of course, I'm talking about the place of my birth and where I spent my youth, Chicago. Today we will be speaking with Pulitzer Prize nominee John Gorman.John Gorman started his journalism career at the storied City News Bureau of Chicago before joining the Chicago Tribune. He spent half of his 26 years at the Tribune as a reporter covering courts, cops, and catastrophes, and was twice a runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize. As an Assistant City Editor for 13 years, he oversaw the city desk, herding, helping, and harassing reporters. Later, he spent nearly a decade as the Communications Director for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Prior to starting his journalism career, he was in the Peace Corps in India and later worked in Australia and South Africa, and traveled through Europe before returning to the U.S. in 1971.John is also an author and we discuss his debut novel, Death Before Life. In today's episode we discuss:· His time in the Peace Corps and traveling around the world as a young man. · His interest in journalism and his time as a reporter, then editor for the Chicago Tribune.· What it was like being on the ‘front lines' reporting some of the most dangerous stories.· Close calls and putting himself in harm's way when getting a story. · Being one of the first reporters on the scene of serial killer John Wayne Gacy's home. · His debut novel, “Death Before Life.”All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Check out John's Amazon Author Page!Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupConsider buying me a coffee :-)Do you enjoy gritty, action-packed real-life police dramas to get your fill of blood, heartache, and cop humor, and maybe even a little romance? You've come to the right series! If you're a fan of Hill Street Blues, Southland, or Bosch you're going to love Brew City Blues! Book one, Field Training, and two, Probation, are now live, and book three, Choir Practice, is now on pre-order and will be available for purchase February 10, 2023. Exclusively on Amazon!Support the show
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg (https://www.chicagomedicalmalpracticefirm.com/). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Chicago trial lawyers Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg share how they successfully represented 25-year-old model Irma Sabanovic's grieving family after Irma drove her car over an unmarked curb and drowned in the Chicago River. In May 2011, Irma drove her Ford Focus to Goose Island to pick up her boyfriend from a late-night performance at a nightclub and got lost on a dead-end street bisected by the Chicago River. Due to the City of Chicago's failure to maintain barriers or provide warnings to motorists --despite knowledge of a similar incident that occurred more than a decade earlier -- Irma unknowingly drove her car over the curb and into the water. After an extensive search, her body was discovered nine days later in her vehicle. At trial, the defense attempted to blame Irma for her own wrongful death, insinuating she was drunk, driving impaired, and not paying attention. In May 2016, a Cook County, Illinois jury awarded Irma's family $13,890,000 in damages, delivering the #6 verdict in Illinois in 2016. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Katrina M. Taraska Originally from the East Coast, Katrina M. Taraska grew up in a family of seven in Peoria, Illinois. Her mother was a language teacher proficient in French, Italian and Spanish who devoted her time to the enrichment of the lives of her students while teaching at area schools. Her father, a dedicated pathologist, was one of the four original founders of the Midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children's Hospital, which provides care to children with childhood diseases. Unique to Ms. Taraska's chosen career in personal injury law, she was the victim of a propane gas explosion, in which a commercial building collapsed on her, her mother, her brother, and a close family friend. The explosion left Taraska with extensive second and third-degree burns early in her life. She was hospitalized for 3 months, during which she underwent skin grafting of her arms, legs, hands, and chest. Incredibly, a year prior to the explosion, Ms. Taraska's father and a reconstructive surgeon opened the only downstate burn unit in Peoria where she was successfully treated despite the severity of her burns. It is this life-changing event that has played a significant role in Ms. Taraska's career of representing the injured. After graduating from law school Ms. Taraska has successfully represented clients and their families in complex litigation. In 1995, Katrina Taraska began practicing law in downstate Illinois where she grew up. In 2000 she became a partner with a Peoria law firm where she enjoyed the privilege of advocating for her clients in their respective claims for personal injuries, medical negligence, worker's compensation, and employment discrimination. She frequently appeared before the Circuit Court of Peoria County, Illinois, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Employment Security, and in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. In 2009, Ms. Taraska joined the Chicago law firm of Goldberg & Goldberg, where she continued her professional experience as a Plaintiff's lawyer in tort litigation. As a focus of her practice, she concentrates on representing individuals and their families in catastrophic medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. Her cases have involved spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, complications from surgical procedures, cardiovascular injuries, birth injuries, interventional radiology, infections, negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries involving alleged abuse and neglect, gynecological and obstetric injuries, and products liability cases. Ms. Taraska also represents individuals involved in transportation accidents (railroad grade crossings, motor vehicle accidents, and semi-truck collisions), as well as premises liability claims, and injuries from assault, battery, and false imprisonment. Throughout her career, Ms. Taraska has been active in professional organizations including the Peoria County Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the American Inns of Court (Abraham Lincoln Chapter), the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. She has been a guest writer for the Peoria Woman Magazine and enjoys mentoring younger lawyers in their professional endeavors. Ms. Taraska is a member of the Catholic Church and is active in the service of those individuals in need in the local community. Read Full Bio Ian R. Alexander Mr. Alexander concentrates his practice on representing the victims of catastrophic injuries in the areas of medical malpractice and complex personal injury litigation. Mr. Alexander first joined Goldberg & Goldberg in 1999 and became a partner in 2004. Mr. Alexander has tried to verdict and/ or settled numerous medical malpractice, product liability, aviation, railroad, construction negligence, and other complex personal injury cases. Mr. Alexander has been appointed to the plaintiff's steering committee in the litigation arising out of the Amtrak-Bourbonnais Train Disaster, the Hinkley Air Disaster, and the Oshkosh Mid-Air Disaster, among other litigation. Mr. Alexander has published articles regularly on issues pertaining to medical malpractice litigation. Mr. Alexander was raised in north suburban Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his legal education at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Alexander is admitted to practice before the Illinois Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Mr. Alexander is married and has two children. He resides with his family in Highland Park, IL. Read Full Bio Joseph Preiser Born in Chicago, Illinois, Joseph M. Preiser grew up in the suburbs of Oak Park and River Forest. Joseph's father, a personal injury attorney, unintentionally set Joseph on a path toward a career in law. From an early age, often unbeknownst to his father, Joseph read his father's books authored by prominent trial attorneys including, Gerry Spence, Robert Shapiro, Irving Younger, and Vincent Bugliosi, sparking Joseph's interest in law and justice. After graduating from Oak Park-River Forest High School, Joseph attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Joseph began to hone his skills as a trial lawyer by participating on the University of Illinois' Mock Trial team. During his senior year, Joseph's team won the Regional Mock Trial Championship and competed in the Mock Trial National Championship in Des Moines, Iowa. In 2006, after working for a year at a large Chicago law firm, Joseph received an Honors Scholarship and enrolled at Loyola University in the Juris Doctorate and MBA programs. While attending law and business school, Joseph worked as a judicial extern for Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas L. Hogan and as a traffic prosecutor for the City of Chicago, where he prosecuted over 185 bench trials to verdict. In 2009, Joseph graduated with a joint J.D./M.B.A. degree. While earning his degrees, Joseph obtained recognition on the Dean's List, was a participant on the Health Law Moot Court team, assisted at Loyola's Business Law Clinic, obtained his M.B.A. with honors, and became a Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society member. After graduation, Joseph immediately went to work for the Cook County State's Attorney's office as an Assistant State's Attorney. In his first year, Joseph authored and filed more than 30 appellate briefs in the Illinois Appellate Court, First District. Notably, Joseph authored the State's brief in People v. Tripp, a matter of first impression in Illinois, in which the Appellate Court agreed with Joseph's position and published an opinion in his favor. Joseph also argued on behalf of the State before the Illinois Appellate Court in People v. Primbas, an animal cruelty case that resulted in the death of a Rottweiler, where the Appellate Court again agreed with Joseph and published an opinion in his favor. For the following four years, Joseph worked in the Traffic Division where he prosecuted DUIs and represented the victims of automobile crashes. During his time in the Traffic Division Joseph refined his skills in the courtroom, prosecuting over 600 trials to verdict including 14 jury trials. In recognition of his performance and dedication, the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists awarded Joseph with a Certificate of Recognition and Achievement. In late 2014, Joseph was assigned to the State's Attorney's Office's Felony Review Unit. During his time, he spoke to victims of crimes, Mirandized and obtained statements from violent offenders, reviewed evidence, and provided consultation on charging decisions to law enforcement agencies throughout Cook County. In 2015, Joseph joined Goldberg & Goldberg where he continued his practice as a civil trial lawyer with a concentration on representing the victims of medical malpractice. Joseph is involved in all matters related to the trial of these complex civil litigation matters, including taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing contested motions, attending court, and assisting on all of the firm's catastrophic medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. Joseph has specialized knowledge in Illinois Traffic Law and crash investigations, particularly as they affect victims in car crashes, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian injuries. Dedicated to the needs of all of his friends and clients, Joseph is willing to lend his assistance on any law-related matter. Joseph relishes the opportunity to work with and learn from the other talented lawyers at Goldberg & Goldberg. Joseph appreciates the firm's devotion to their clients, their comprehensive commitment to preparation, and their unrelenting fearlessness in the courtroom. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Eight people were killed and 34 others were wounded in weekend shootings across Chicago last week. ChcagoPoice declared a homicide case closed without the Cook County State's Attorney filing charges more than 100 times in 2021, a data investigation found
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to talk about a man being charged for a deadly shooting on Chicago’ West Side last October that caused a rift between her and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to talk about a man being charged for a deadly shooting on Chicago’ West Side last October that caused a rift between her and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
CHICAGO (CBS) — Two more men have been charged with the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old boy and his uncle that also left a pregnant woman wounded on Valentine's Day in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Bond was denied Friday for Doniel Harris, 19, who faces one count of murder, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/oss2389/support
Also in the news tonight: a war of words continues in south suburban Calumet City where the mayor and city clerk have been at odds; families are making plans to come together for Christmas in the middle of a new surge in COVID-19 cases and that's triggered a run on coronavirus tests; the testing of wastewater has been a tool used by the Chicago health officials to monitor the virus that causes COVID-19; the special prosecutor looking into the Cook County State's Attorney's handling of the Jussie Smollett case is detailing on what he's already called substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures; and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Also in the news tonight: a war of words continues in south suburban Calumet City where the mayor and city clerk have been at odds; families are making plans to come together for Christmas in the middle of a new surge in COVID-19 cases and that's triggered a run on coronavirus tests; the testing of wastewater has been a tool used by the Chicago health officials to monitor the virus that causes COVID-19; the special prosecutor looking into the Cook County State's Attorney's handling of the Jussie Smollett case is detailing on what he's already called substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures; and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Also in the news tonight: a war of words continues in south suburban Calumet City where the mayor and city clerk have been at odds; families are making plans to come together for Christmas in the middle of a new surge in COVID-19 cases and that's triggered a run on coronavirus tests; the testing of wastewater has been a tool used by the Chicago health officials to monitor the virus that causes COVID-19; the special prosecutor looking into the Cook County State's Attorney's handling of the Jussie Smollett case is detailing on what he's already called substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures; and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you are interested in ensuring election integrity and eliminating voter fraud, you will certainly want to listen to this edition of Spotlight. Joining Monte Larrick on the podcast is David J. Shestokas, a former Cook County State's Attorney and current Republican candidate for Illinois Attorney General. In his position as counsel for Illinois Conservative Union (ICU), Shestokas is uniquely qualified to address the federal lawsuit ICU has filed against the Illinois State Board of Elections, as well as discuss various violations of the National Voter Registration Act and problems with mail-in balloting. If elected to the office of Illinois Attorney General, Mr. Shestokas promises to follow up on election irregularities and properly enforce voter laws. After the break, the conversation turns to Democrat efforts to federalize elections, ban voter ID requirements, limit political speech, and restore voting rights to felons and incarcerated criminals. Mr. Shestokas also emphasizes the need for election monitors and explains what concerned citizens can do to facilitate fair and clean elections. To learn more about David Shestokas and his campaign for IL Attorney General, click here. You can contact him and access additional information through the various social media links that are located on the right sidebar of his webpage. For more information about election integrity efforts in Illinois, click here. David Shestokas is also the author of Constitutional Soundbites and Creating the Declaration of Independence. Both books are available in print and Kindle through Amazon.
If you are interested in ensuring election integrity and eliminating voter fraud, you will certainly want to listen to this edition of Spotlight. Joining Monte Larrick on the podcast is David J. Shestokas, a former Cook County State's Attorney and current Republican candidate for Illinois Attorney General. In his position as counsel for Illinois Conservative Union (ICU), Shestokas is uniquely qualified to address the federal lawsuit ICU has filed against the Illinois State Board of Elections, as well as discuss various violations of the National Voter Registration Act and problems with mail-in balloting. If elected to the office of Illinois Attorney General, Mr. Shestokas promises to follow up on election irregularities and properly enforce voter laws. After the break, the conversation turns to Democrat efforts to federalize elections, ban voter ID requirements, limit political speech, and restore voting rights to felons and incarcerated criminals. Mr. Shestokas also emphasizes the need for election monitors and explains what concerned citizens can do to facilitate fair and clean elections. To learn more about David Shestokas and his campaign for IL Attorney General, click here. You can contact him and access additional information through the various social media links that are located on the right sidebar of his webpage. For more information about election integrity efforts in Illinois, click here. David Shestokas is also the author of Constitutional Soundbites and Creating the Declaration of Independence. Both books are available in print and Kindle through Amazon.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to respond to CPD Superintendent David Brown’s statement in his press conference today, that there aren’t consequences for firearm offenses.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to respond to CPD Superintendent David Brown’s statement in his press conference today, that there aren’t consequences for firearm offenses.
Resignations of top leadership at the Cook County State's Attorney and Civilian Office of Police Accountability offices. Governor Pritzker is ready to loosen COVID restrictions. Ravinia and Grant Park Orchestras announce their musical lineups and the Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place. Reset breaks down the week’s top stories in our Weekly News Recap with guest host Susie An.
Resignations of top leadership at the Cook County State's Attorney and Civilian Office of Police Accountability offices. Governor Pritzker is ready to loosen COVID restrictions and wants the state fully reopened by June 11. Chicago prepares for a pre-pandemic summer as Ravinia and Grant Park Orchestras announce their musical lineups and the Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place. Reset breaks down the week’s top stories in our Weekly News Recap with guest host Susie An. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast. And please give us a rating, it helps other listeners find us. For more about Reset, go to wbez.org and follow us on Twitter @WBEZReset
Former Congressman Luis Gutierrez joins Erik Runge (filling-in for Steve Bertrand) on Chicago’s Afternoon News to discuss how he’s now looking forward to working with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on cracking down on police misconduct, and reform. Follow Your Favorite Chicago’s Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:Follow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to discuss the veteran prosecutor she put on administrative leave after he had “failed to fully present the facts" during a bond hearing regarding the Adam Toledo case and the internal investigation she has ordered to make certain there are “mechanisms and protocols in place so that people are properly notified in cases like this.”
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg (https://www.chicagomedicalmalpracticefirm.com/). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Chicago trial lawyers Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg share how they successfully represented 25-year-old model Irma Sabanovic's grieving family after Irma drove her car over an unmarked curb and drowned in the Chicago River. In May 2011, Irma drove her Ford Focus to Goose Island to pick up her boyfriend from a late-night performance at a nightclub and got lost on a dead end street bisected by the Chicago River. Due to the City of Chicago's failure to maintain barriers or provide warnings to motorists --despite knowledge of a similar incident that occurred more than a decade earlier -- Irma unknowingly drove her car over the curb and into the water. After an extensive search, her body was discovered nine days later in her vehicle. At trial, the defense attempted to blame Irma for her own wrongful death, insinuating she was drunk, driving impaired and not paying attention. In May 2016, a Cook County, Illinois jury awarded Irma's family $13,890,000 in damages, delivering the #6 verdict in Illinois in 2016. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Katrina M. Taraska Born Staten Island, New York, 1968; Admitted to bar, 1995, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois, Bradley University (B.S., 1991), Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, DE (J.D., 1995). Originally from the East Coast, Katrina M. Taraska grew up in a family of seven in Peoria, Illinois. Her mother was a language teacher proficient in French, Italian and Spanish who devoted her time to the enrichment of the lives of her students while teaching at area schools. Her father, a dedicated pathologist, was one of the four original founders of the Midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children's Hospital, which provides care to children with childhood diseases. Unique to Ms. Taraska's chosen career in personal injury law, she was the victim of a propane gas explosion, in which a commercial building collapsed on her, her mother, brother and a close family friend. The explosion left Taraska with extensive second and third degree burns early in her life. She was hospitalized for 3 months, during which she underwent skin grafting of her arms, legs, hands, and chest. Incredibly, a year prior to the explosion, Ms. Taraska's father and a reconstructive surgeon opened the only downstate burn unit in Peoria where she was successfully treated despite the severity of her burns. It is this life changing event that has played a significant role in Ms. Taraska's career of representing the injured. After graduating from law school Ms. Taraska has successfully represented clients and their families in complex litigation. In 1995, Katrina Taraska began practicing law in downstate Illinois where she grew up. In 2000 she became a partner with a Peoria law firm where she enjoyed the privilege of advocating for her clients in their respective claims for personal injuries, medical negligence, workers compensation, and employment discrimination. She frequently appeared before the Circuit Court of Peoria County, Illinois, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Employment Security, and in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. In 2009, Ms. Taraska joined the Chicago law firm of Goldberg & Goldberg, where she continued her professional experience as a Plaintiff's lawyer in tort litigation. As a focus of her practice, she concentrates on representing individuals and their families in catastrophic medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. Her cases have involved spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, complications from surgical procedures, cardiovascular injuries, birth injuries, interventional radiology, infections, negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries involving alleged abuse and neglect, gynecological and obstetric injuries, and products liability cases. Ms. Taraska also represents individuals involved in transportation accidents (railroad grade crossings, motor vehicle accidents, and semi-truck collisions), as well as premises liability claims, and injuries from assault, battery and false imprisonment. Throughout her career Ms. Taraska has been active in professional organizations including the Peoria County Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the American Inns of Court (Abraham Lincoln Chapter), the National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. She has been guest writer for the Peoria Woman Magazine and enjoys mentoring younger lawyers in their professional endeavors. Ms. Taraska is a member of the Catholic Church and is active in the service of those individuals in need in the local community. Read Full Bio Ian R. Alexander Mr. Alexander concentrates his practice on representing the victims of catastrophic injuries in the areas of medical malpractice and complex personal injury litigation.Mr. Alexander first joined Goldberg & Goldberg in 1999 and became a partner in 2004. Mr. Alexander has tried to verdict and/ or settled numerous medical malpractice, product liability, aviation, railroad, construction negligence and other complex personal injury cases. Mr. Alexander has been appointed to the plaintiff's steering committee in the litigation arising out of the Amtrak-Bourbonnais Train Disaster, the Hinkley Air Disaster and the Oshkosh Mid-Air Disaster, among other litigation. Mr. Alexander has published articles regularly on issues pertaining to medical malpractice litigation. Mr. Alexander was raised in north suburban Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his legal education at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Alexander is admitted to practice before the Illinois Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar.Mr. Alexander is married and has two children. He resides with his family in Highland Park, IL. Read Full Bio Joseph Preiser Born in Chicago, Illinois, Joseph M. Preiser grew up in the suburbs of Oak Park and River Forest. Joseph's father, a personal injury attorney, unintentionally set Joseph on a path toward a career in law. From an early age, often unbeknownst to his father, Joseph read his father's books authored by prominent trial attorneys including, Gerry Spence, Robert Shapiro, Irving Younger, and Vincent Bugliosi, sparking Joseph's interest in law and justice. After graduating from Oak Park-River Forest High School, Joseph attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Joseph began to hone his skills as a trial lawyer by participating on the University of Illinois' Mock Trial team. During his senior year, Joseph's team won the Regional Mock Trial Championship and competed in the Mock Trial National Championship in Des Moines, Iowa. In 2006, after working for a year at a large Chicago law firm, Joseph received an Honors Scholarship and enrolled at Loyola University in the Juris Doctorate and MBA programs. While attending law and business school, Joseph worked as a judicial extern for Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas L. Hogan and as a traffic prosecutor for the City of Chicago, where he prosecuted over 185 bench trials to verdict. In 2009, Joseph graduated with a joint J.D./M.B.A. degree. While earning his degrees, Joseph obtained recognition on the Dean's List, was a participant on the Health Law Moot Court team, assisted at Loyola's Business Law Clinic, obtained his M.B.A. with honors, and became a Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society member. After graduation, Joseph immediately went to work for the Cook County State's Attorney's office as an Assistant State's Attorney. In his first year, Joseph authored and filed more than 30 appellate briefs in the Illinois Appellate Court, First District. Notably, Joseph authored the State's brief in People v. Tripp, a matter of first impression in Illinois, in which the Appellate Court agreed with Joseph's position and published an opinion in his favor. Joseph also argued on behalf of the State before the Illinois Appellate Court in People v. Primbas, an animal cruelty case that resulted in the death of a Rottweiler, where the Appellate Court again agreed with Joseph and published an opinion in his favor. For the following four years, Joseph worked in the Traffic Division where he prosecuted DUIs and represented the victims of automobile crashes. During his time in the Traffic Division Joseph refined his skills in the courtroom, prosecuting over 600 trials to verdict including 14 jury trials.. In recognition of his performance and dedication the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists awarded Joseph with a Certificate of Recognition and Achievement. In late 2014, Joseph was assigned to the State's Attorney's Office's Felony Review Unit. During his time, he spoke to victims of crimes, Mirandized and obtained statements from violent offenders, reviewed evidence, and provided consultation on charging decisions to law enforcement agencies throughout Cook County. In 2015, Joseph joined Goldberg & Goldberg where he has continued his practice as a civil trial lawyer with a concentration in representing the victims of medical malpractice. Joseph is involved in all matters related to the trial of these complex civil litigation matters, including taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing contested motions, attending court, and assisting on all of the firm's catastrophic medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. Joseph has specialized knowledge in Illinois Traffic Law and crash investigations, particularly as they affect victims in car crashes, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian injuries. Dedicated to the needs of all of his friends and clients, Joseph is willing to lend his assistance on any law related matter. Joseph relishes the opportunity to work with and learn from the other talented lawyers at Goldberg & Goldberg. Joseph appreciates the firm's devotion to their clients, their comprehensive commitment to preparation, and their unrelenting fearlessness in the courtroom. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by incumbent Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to discuss her campaign against challenger Pat O'Brien and what's next for her administration should she be re-elected.
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Republican candidate for Cook County State's Attorney Pat O'Brien in our first remote show.
Before a new week of Chicago and/or Illinois news begins, catch up and find out "Oh What a Week it Was" The latest Cook County State's Attorney election polls. Who is Margaret Croke? Which Presidential candidate is mayor Lightfoot endorsing?
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Democratic candidate for Cook County State's Attorney, Bob Fioretti.
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Democratic candidate for Cook County State's Attorney, Donna More.
Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Bill Conway, a Democratic candidate for Cook County State's Attorney.
On an earlier show, we heard from experts about the problems for legal weed in Illinois. Fast forward to just one month later, and it's become a reality, thanks, in large part, to Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who will be joining us this month along with one of her partners in badass legislative action, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth. Kelly, by all accounts, was a force of nature this year in Springfield, leading the way in groundbreaking legislative progress on legalization, the Reproductive Health Act, sexual harassment, a fair income tax that actually makes rich people pay their fair share, and more. Representatives Cassidy and Gordon-Booth will join us for the real story behind how they and their fellow legislators made it all happen after so many years of zero good things happening in the Capitol.ABOUT OUR GUESTS: REP. KELLY CASSIDYKelly Cassidy is currently serving her fourth term as the State Representative for Illinois' 14th House district. She currently serves as Chair of the Appropriations Public Safety Committee. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Criminal Committee, Vice Chair of the Restorative Justice Committee and is a member of the Labor & Commerce, Economic Opportunity, Human Services and Tourism & Craft Industries committees as well as serving on the House Sexual Discrimination & Harassment Task Force.Prior to her appointment in 2011 Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy was a community activist and organizer. She served as district office director to Senator John Cullerton and worked in the office of the Cook County State's Attorney working towards a smarter criminal justice system. Over the past 20 years Representative Cassidy has worked on behalf of the community in the non-profit and government sectors. As one of three openly gay members of the General Assembly, she has helped passed progressive legislation involving criminal justice reform, the rights of women and the LGBTQ community and more. This includes the Youth Mental Health Protection Act which bans conversion therapy to change youth sexual orientation and HB 1464 which ensures pregnant women being detained pre-trial, are not forced to give birth in detention centers. Cassidy's work on criminal justice reform has resulted in significant changes to our criminal justice system, including the Uniform Civil Enforcement of Cannabis law that eliminates arrest for possession of small amounts of cannabis and significant reentry reforms including removal of permanent barriers to employment for those with felony records. Representative Cassidy has devoted the last two decades to making government more accessible, efficient and effective. Her combination of non-profit sector, state, and local government experience provides her with a unique perspective, expertise and understanding that empowers her to serve as an outstanding representative for the 14th district.Representative Cassidy lives in Rogers Park with her spouse, Candace Gingrich and three sons.REP. JEHAN GORDON-BOOTH Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth is a community activist, mother and full-time legislator serving the people of Illinois' 92nd district. She is a proud daughter of Peoria and the first African-American woman ever to be elected to represent the central region of the state in the Illinois General Assembly.. Rep. Gordon-Booth is still a proud resident of Peoria where she lives today with her best friend and husband Coach Derrick Booth and their two year old daughter, Jianna. Among her colleagues Rep. Gordon Booth is regarded as kind, level-headed, and they even dare say “bipartisan.”Before she ever served in the House, Rep. Gordon-Booth lived out her platform of making quality education real and accessible through her work. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she served as one of District 69's youngest school board members. It's because she truly understands that communities are willing to work for them. So, she has. In the General Assembly, she's been working to pass legislation aimed at advancing educational opportunity for kids across the entire state of Illinois with a host of bills that have been signed into law.Fully understanding the work needed to effectively deal with the issue of safety and mass incarceration Rep. Gordon-Booth passed the largest and most comprehensive criminal justice reform bill, SB 2872--The Neighborhood Safety Act in 2017. While she always had the goal of making communities stronger and safer, her work extends far beyond education and criminal justice reform. Understanding the importance of industry, production and public-private partnerships, Rep. Gordon-Booth negotiated the first Historic Tax Credit in the state of Illinois' history. The credit has already created hundreds of jobs and spurred development projects to revitalize parts of Peoria's community.Currently, pushing for a state budget and reforming and revitalizing our state's outdated criminal justice system is Rep. Gordon-Booth's primary focus. It is her commitment, as a legislator, to people's dignity and their ability to contribute to their communities which have kept her motivated and pushing for reform in areas of: education, tax code, sentencing regulation, re-entry programming, and economic opportunity. In the past, Rep. Gordon-Booth has crafted state legislation that served as a nationwide model for public policy. With the folks of Illinois in mind, this time, she hopes to do it again.Let us know what you think! Contact us on Twitter @GirlTalkChi or on Facebook @girltalkchicago. Special thanks to the amazing Bleach Party for our theme music. Check them out at http://letshaveableachparty.bandcamp.com/