The story behind the score

On October 26, 2011, the Illinois legislature passed a bill that authorized construction of a multi-billion-dollar smart grid and reshaped how utility companies seek approval for raising electricity rates. Consumer groups opposed the measure, saying it was a handout to utilities.

But the final blow for opponents came three months later when former state Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who had pushed the bill through the legislature only to resign after winning its passage, registered his own lobbying firm and signed his first clients. Prominent among them: Commonwealth Edison, one of the state’s largest utilities.

State integrity news for Indiana, from the South Bend Tribune:

Government works best when public officials are clear on their responsibilities and citizens know their rights. It's to that end that Attorney General Greg Zoeller again this year is organizing a series of Public Access Seminars throughout the state.

The Tribune, along with the AG's office, the Indiana Public Access Counselor's Office and the Hoosier State Press Association, is sponsoring a session that will be held Tuesday at South Bend's Center for History.

Read the rest of the story at the South Bend Tribune.

State integrity news for Indiana, from Indiana Public Media:

U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett says his office identified public corruption late last year as an area it wanted to target. He says ensuring the integrity of office holders is critically important to Hoosiers.

“We don’t care what your politics are. We don’t care who you know. We don’t care who you are or who you’ve been,” he says. “If you violate the public trust, you will be identified, you will be investigated and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Read the rest of the story at Indiana Public Media.

State Integrity news for Ohio and Kentucky from SII partner WVXU:

When it comes to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms in state government, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana are getting weak grades on a report card being released today.

The State Integrity Investigation is a data-driven assessment that looks at 330 different corruption risk indicators across 14 categories of government-- from access to information to redistricting. Ohio's overall score was 66, good for a solid D. Kentucky scored 71 and Indiana 70, both getting a C minus.

Hear more from WVXU - Cincinnati.

Corruption news for Indiana, from the Evansville Courier Press:

Charlie White, the man who was booted from his job as Indiana’s top elections official after being convicted of voter fraud, now has no hope of returning to the Indiana secretary of state’s office. Weeks after a jury found him guilty of six felonies, he was sentenced Thursday to one year of home detention – set to start after White (pictured, right) appeals – as well as community service and a $1,000 fine.

Hamilton County Superior Court Judge Steven Nation said White “violated the trust of the people.”

Read the rest of the story at the Evansville Courier Press.