James R. Thompson made headlines for prosecuting public officials in Illinois
                                
                                
                                    (Newser) -
                                    Former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson, whose prosecutions of public officials—including a predecessor—helped catapult him to become the state's longest-serving chief executive, has died,  the AP  reports. He was 84. Thompson, known as "Big Jim," died shortly after 8 p.m. Friday at the Shirley...