JOHN O'CONNOR, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - This booking photo provided by the Macon County, Ill., Jail in January 2025, shows Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey on July 6, 2024, in Springfield, Ill. (Macon County Jail via AP, File)

The former Illinois deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey faces up to 20 years in prison

January 28, 2026

The former Illinois sheriff’s deputy who was convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her Springfield home could be facing up to 20 years behind bars. Sean Grayson was convicted in October of second-degree murder for killing Massey on July 6, 2024, after she called 911 for help. Grayson is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin could sentence the 31-year-old to as much as 20 years in prison but the former deputy is also eligible for probation. Grayson has been incarcerated since he was charged. Grayson testified that he shot the 36-year-old Massey because he feared she was about to scald him with a pan of hot water.

FILE - Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during a taping of FOX News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier at the Washington bureau of FOX News, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Illinois becomes 12th state to provide medical aid in dying for the terminally ill

December 12, 2025

Illinois residents with terminal illnesses may choose to end their lives on their own terms under a law Gov. JB Pritzker has signed. The Democrat took action Friday on the Medical Aid in Dying act. It will take effect in September 2026 to give medical regulators time to develop “stringent processes and protections” for implementation. It is also known as “Deb’s Law” for Deb Robertson, a retired social worker with a terminal illness who pushed for the law’s approval. Eleven other states and the District of Columbia offer medical aid in dying. Opponents say the idea encourages other suicides and ignores issues of access to quality health care.

Family of Chicago officer slain by partner on duty files lawsuit against city, shooter

December 11, 2025

The family of a Chicago police officer who was fatally shot by her partner while on duty has filed a lawsuit contending the Chicago Police Department did not heed warnings about the officer who fired the shot. The family of Krystal Rivera filed the lawsuit Thursday. It names as defendants the city and Carlos Baker, the police officer who shot Rivera on June 5 while they were pursuing a suspect. Rivera and Baker had an on-again, off-again romantic relationship but Rivera complained to supervisors she feared for her safety with Baker as her police partner. The Chicago Police Department, which was not named in the suit, declined comment.

Illinois law protects immigrants from arrest near courthouses, hospitals or colleges

December 9, 2025

Illinois has a new law shielding immigrants from federal enforcement near courthouses, hospitals, university campuses, and day cares. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signed the law on Tuesday, and it takes effect immediately. Critics argue the law may be overturned by courts. It provides legal steps for those whose rights were violated during the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. The law includes $10,000 in damages for unlawful arrests while attempting to attend a court proceeding. More than 4,000 people were arrested in the recent immigration crackdown. Data from early September through mid-October showed only 15% of those arrested had criminal records.

FILE - In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police on Monday, July 22, 2024, former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson, left, points his gun at Sonya Massey, who called 911 for help, before shooting and killing her inside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. (Illinois State Police via AP, file)

Illinois deputy found guilty of murder in the shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911

October 29, 2025

An Illinois jury has convicted a former sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 for help. The nine-woman, three-man jury announced the verdict against Sean Grayson on Wednesday. Grayson arrived at Massey’s home in Springfield after she reported seeing a prowler early on July 6, 2024. At the time of the shooting, Massey was holding a pan of hot water. Grayson’s attorneys argued that he was afraid she would throw it at him. Grayson faces a sentence of four to 20 years in prison or probation when he is sentenced Jan. 29.

Jury deliberations start in trial of Illinois deputy who killed Sonya Massey

October 28, 2025

An Illinois jury has begun deliberating over the first-degree murder charges against a sheriff’s deputy in the shooting death last year of Sonya Massey, a Black woman in her home who had called 911 for help. The jury received the case at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday following closing arguments in the trial of 31-year-old Sean Grayson. Grayson responded to Massey’s home in Springfield in July 2024 after her call about a prowler. Inside, he noticed a pot of water on the stove and ordered it removed. Massey approached with the pan and Grayson said he feared she would scald him with the contents.

Opening statements Wednesday in trial of ex-Illinois officer who killed Sonya Massey

October 21, 2025

Opening statements in the trial of a former sheriff’s deputy charged with murder in the shooting death of a Black woman, in her Springfield, Illinois, home are scheduled for Wednesday. Sean Grayson is charged with first-degree murder after responding to the 36-year-old Sonya Massey’s call about a suspected prowler early on July 6, 2024. After a confusing exchange between Grayson, who is white, and Massey over her removing a pan of hot water from her stove, Grayson shot her just below the eye. The trial was moved to Peoria because of publicity. Testimony likely will feature a competition of experts on police training and expected practices and justified use of force by police.

FILE - Illinois Governor JB Pritzker walks to River Point Park for a news conference, Aug. 25, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Billionaire Illinois Gov. Pritzker wins blackjack pot of $1.4M in Las Vegas

October 16, 2025

Billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker had some extra income in 2024 — from a lucky blackjack hand in a Las Vegas casino. The Illinois Democrat and his wife, first lady MK Pritzker, reported gambling winnings of $1.4 million on their 2024 federal tax return. Pritzker told reporters in Chicago Thursday that he “was incredibly lucky.” The windfall came on a vacation trip with his wife and friends. Pritzker is seeking a third term and has been mentioned as a candidate for president in 2028. His profile has risen this fall as he condemns President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement in Chicago. The Pritzkers reported income of $10.7 million. They paid $1.6 million in federal income taxes.

FILE - A Chicago Transit Authority train pulls into the Damen Ave. station on Aug. 12, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

US appeals court reverses lower court, approves Illinois ban on carrying firearms on public transit

September 3, 2025

A federal appeals court has approved Illinois’ ban on carrying firearms on public transit, reversing a lower court decision that found the prohibition violated the Second Amendment. The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals delivered its opinion on Tuesday. Judge Joshua Kolar wrote in the majority opinion that the Illinois restriction follows “a centuries-old practice of limiting firearms” in confined or crowded conditions. That ruling overturned one from a U.S. District Court in 2024 that relied on a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that restrictions on public weapons must be consistent with those imposed when the Second Amendment was written.

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2010 file photo, then-Illinois Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

License plate camera company halts cooperation with federal agencies among investigation concerns

August 25, 2025

A company that installs license plate-detecting cameras to aid law enforcement has halted operations with federal agencies because of ongoing concerns among officials in Illinois and elsewhere. Flock Safety said Monday it paused pilot programs with the Department of Homeland Security aimed at intercepting human traffickers and fentanyl distribution. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced an audit found U.S. Customs and Border Protection gained access to Illinois data. He says it violates a 2023 law that restricts sharing data with police investigating immigration or out-of-state abortions. After another incident in June, Flock Safety installed a process that flags words such as “immigration” and “abortion” on Illinois searches and rejects those requests.

Longest-serving legislative leader in US history given 7 1/2 years in federal corruption case

June 13, 2025

The longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history has been sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on federal corruption charges. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey in Chicago. Madigan was also fined $2.5 million, the statutory maximum. The 83-year-old Madigan was convicted in February of 10 of 23 counts, including bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud charges. Prosecutors charged that Madigan routinely traded legislation favorable to utility giant ComEd for contracts and no-work jobs for his associates and allies. The government sought a 12 1/2-year sentence for Madigan and a $1.5 million fine. Madigan’s lawyers asked for five years’ probation, community service and a “reasonable” fine.

Illinois officials investigate license-plate data shared with police seeking woman who had abortion

June 12, 2025

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has asked for an investigation into a suburban Chicago police department for allegedly sharing data from automatic license-plate readers with a Texas sheriff seeking a woman who had an abortion. The police department in Mount Prospect, northwest of Chicago, also provided immigration information to outside agencies. Giannoulias was behind a 2023 law that prohibited sharing data from roadside cameras to police for the purposes of tracking abortion patients or undocumented immigrants. Giannoulias has asked the attorney general to investigate and has set up an audit system to ensure future compliance.

JOHN O'CONNOR.