IL HR0510

Congratulates Ray Long on his retirement after more than 40 years as an investigative journalist covering Illinois politics

Long began his career at the Peoria Journal Star in 1981, later working for the Chicago Sun-Times (1990), Associated Press (1995), and Chicago Tribune (1998) as Springfield correspondent

Covered major Illinois political events including Governor Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, Barack Obama's presidential campaign launch, and Speaker Michael Madigan's career and federal trial

Published "The House That Madigan Built" in 2022 chronicling the former House Speaker's rise and fall

Received numerous honors including Journalist of the Year, induction into the UIS Bill Miller Public Affairs Reporting Hall of Fame (2008), and Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017 and 2018