In a murder trial that has questioned Laquan McDonald’s actions as much as those of Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, the defense Thursday resumed its efforts to show the teen had embarked on a “wild rampage” in the hours before the patrolman fatally shot him.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

In a day like few others in Senate history, California psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford quietly recounted her “100 percent” certainty Thursday that President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers — and then Brett Kavanaugh defiantly testified he was “100 percent certain” he did no such thing

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

MURPHYSBORO — Gaege Bethune this summer was found guilty of murder in the 2014 death of Southern Illinois University student Pravin Varughese. But a judge earlier this month overturned the jury’s verdict. So, what’s next?

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

CHICAGO — A new poll from the University of Illinois at Springfield and NPR Illinois finds a potentially worrisome trend for Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in his bid for re-election.

Here’s a link to the story.

SPRINGFIELD — Three Democratic lawmakers Wednesday again criticized Gov. Bruce Rauner for vetoing a bill that would have set a minimum wage for teachers and vowed to try to override the veto in November.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.