Progress Illinois

Jury selection in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial will begin Thursday, 18 months after federal agents arrested the former governor at his Ravenswood Manor home. Last Friday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens denied a final request by the defense to delay the proceedings. Blagojevich faces a 24-count criminal indictment that includes charges of racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion, and extortion conspiracy.  Click here to read the document detailing the Feds' full case against him.

After media began questioning the matter, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk retracted his claim that he once received the Navy's "Intelligence Officer of the Year" award.

The announcement follows Rep. Mark Kirk's vote against an amendment repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a policy Alexi Giannoulias wants to see banned.

GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady is calling on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to investigate a large campaign contribution that Gov. Pat Quinn received from Chicago-area Teamsters unions.  Brady is highlighting the fact that the donations came shortly before Quinn issued an amendatory veto of legislation reforming the governance of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (known as "McPier") -- a bill that the union opposed.  Quinn responded that it is hypocritical for Brady -- who voted in favor of legislation that benefited his personal business -- to be calling for an investigation.