(The Center Square) – The Cook County Sheriff’s Office says it is unacceptable that Cook County Judge John Lyke threatened to jail two deputies who raised security concerns over the judge’s decision to allow contact between a defendant charged with murder and family members in court on Wednesday.
In a statement to The Center Square, the CCSO said the judge’s decision showed he has “little concern for the challenges court deputies face in their efforts to protect the safety of the Court, courtroom staff, defendants, and members of the public who attend these proceedings.”
Lyke previously drew criticism for releasing seven-time convicted felon Alphanso Talley, 26, on electronic monitoring before Talley was charged with killing Chicago police officer John Bartholomew and severely wounding Bartholomew’s partner on April 25.
The sheriff’s office said the incident on Wednesday was not the first time Lyke threatened to jail CCSO staff.
NEW PLAINTIFFS JOIN SUIT AGAINST AID-IN-DYING LAW
Five religious health care associations and two new individual plaintiffs have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois’ medical aid-in-dying law.
A statement from Thomas More Society said the new organizational plaintiffs represent over 95% of Catholic health institutions in Illinois who object to the law’s mandates on conscience grounds.
“The First Amendment protects the rights of Catholic and Christian doctors, hospitals, and health care ministries to reject assisted suicide,” said Peter Breen, executive vice President and head of litigation at Thomas More Society.
GRAIN TOUR RUNS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
The 2026 Illinois Grain Tour is set to kick off on Monday and continue through Thursday.
The tour includes stops at a family farm in Waverly, the Illinois Soybean Association and the Chicago Board of Trade.
The grain tour is intended to develop relationships that will lead to an increase in export sales of Illinois agricultural products.
STUDY RANKS ILLINOIS #3 FOR HYBRID WORKERS
A new study says Illinois is the third-best state in the country for hybrid workers. Wolfstone Digital analyzed the availability of jobs with hybrid options, internet speeds, cost of living, income tax rates and average commute times.
Researchers said 5.75% of positions in Illinois offer hybrid options. They also cited the state income tax rate of 4.95% and a top-ten ranking for internet speed.
New York finished first in the study, followed by Iowa. Wisconsin ranked last, due to a high cost of living index, slow internet speed and an income tax rate of 7.65%.
