Progress Illinois

Mississippian Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, was arrested yesterday in connection with sending ricin-positive letters to President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).

A bill that would legalize medical marijuana for select patients passed the Illinois House today by a 61-57 vote.

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote later this afternoon on a series of gun amendments to the gun control package the chamber has been considering, including expanding background checks as part of a compromise agreement reached last week by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) and Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pennsylvania).

Campaign finance reports filed with the state Elections Board show that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate for the state, raised more than $800,000 in political funds in the first three months of the year.