The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is joining forces with the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and various community organizations to improve vigilance during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

The grant program, called Reducing Barriers to Meaningful Access in Court Grant, asks organizations such as administrative agencies, universities, foundations, legal aid organizations, community-based organizations, or social service organizations to think about what programs they can implement to increase a court user’s ability to meaningfully participate in the court system. 

The defense theme is likely to resume Tuesday, when Michael Madigan’s lawyers are expected to call his law partner Bud Getzendanner to the witness stand.

The Illinois House and Senate unanimously approved a bill Monday night to address discrepancies between the state's police officer body camera and Illinois State Police dash camera laws.

Funeral arrangements have been made for Bruce N. Cook, a prominent Belleville attorney and former power broker in Democratic Party politics, who died Thursday at a St. Louis hospital.

The Illinois House has passed a bill encouraging families to stay involved in the lives of kids who’ve been part of the state’s foster care system. The KIND Act, or Kinship in Demand, won State Senate approval in November, and only needs the governor’s signature to become law.