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Weather Alert

Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in
Illinois...

Big Muddy River near Plumfield and Murphysboro.

.Levels on the Big Muddy River will continue to drop, falling below
flood stage at Plumfield Sunday, and at Murphysboro Monday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

&&

...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MONDAY, APRIL 21...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Big Muddy River near Plumfield.

* WHEN...Until Monday, April 21.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 9:00 PM CDT Monday the stage was 25.6 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage
late Sunday evening and continue falling to 19.1 feet Monday,
April 21.
- Flood stage is 20.0 feet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

Investigative committee to hear from Exelon executive as Madigan stays silent

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By adwpadmin

SPRINGFIELD (ILLINOIS CAPITOL BUREAU) � The legislative committee investigating House Speaker Mike Madigan returns to Springfield Tuesday. Still, Madigan and several close allies won’t be in attendance.

The committee expects to hear from David Glockner, Exelon’s Executive Vice President of Compliance and Audit. Glockner has confirmed he will appear with the company’s legal counsel to discuss information surrounding the alleged bribery scheme.

While ComEd’s deferred prosecution agreement never named Madigan, it described “Public Official A� as the Speaker of the House. The Special Investigating Committee has the authority to issue subpoenas for witnesses. However, a Democratic member would have to join Republicans in voting for that move.

“In most investigations, there’s a combination of some folks who are willing to talk and others who are more hesitant to talk,� Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) said. “So, I think it’s an appropriate discussion for our committee to have. We’ll make some determinations about what information we do need in order to make informed decisions as members of the committee.�

U.S. Attorney John Lausch told Committee Chair Emanuel “Chris� Welch and Demmer that his office does not object to witnesses providing “non-public� information. He also noted the U.S. Attorney’s office isn’t taking any position on how the committee calls witnesses.

“So, we could take the deferred prosecution agreement and ask, ‘What was your involvement in this,'� Demmer (R-Dixon) said Monday. “‘What kind of conversations did you have with other people who were involved in getting these jobs or arranging these favors to be done?� We can ask those kinds of things.�

Durkin wants to speak again

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) filed the petition to start the legislative investigation process. Durkin read an opening statement during the last committee hearing, but Welch said that shouldn’t happen again.

“As a signatory to the petition creating this Committee, he is not eligible to participate in the investigation process, as signatories to the petition are

prohibited from serving on the Special Investing Committee under House rules,� Welch stated. “Granting his requests to make statements and question witnesses would therefore be inappropriate and in violation of the process he invoked.�

Still, Welch explained the committee could call Durkin to testify as a witness. The Democrat emphasized Durkin also had significant involvement in energy legislation referenced in the investigation.

However, Durkin released a statement Monday night confirming he still plans on making an opening statement and questioning witnesses.

“It is clear that Chairman Welch is not well-versed on the proceedings of an investigatory committee, as he needed a phone call and two letters from U.S. Attorney Lausch after repeatedly misinterpreting his guidance. Furthermore, Rep. Manley was already allowed to question me on the veracity of the petition and the charges in the previous committee hearing,� Durkin stated.

The hearing will also take place an hour after former ComEd Vice President Fidel Marquez appears in federal court. Marquez could plead guilty for a corruption charge surrounding the bribery scheme with Madigan.

Madigan mentioned the legal document found ComEd officials hired individuals he purportedly recommended in order to influence him. The Speaker disputes that idea, stating he would have turned down any such attempt.