Illinois lost its bid today for more than $500 million in federal school grants, as U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the state was not one of the winners in Race to the Top.
A measure to end traffic ticket quotas that stalled and then was revived is back in limbo in the Illinois House. The House on Friday voted 48-56 on House Bill 6035, backed by Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion. It needed 60 "yes" votes to be approved, but Bradley says he’ll keep pushing the idea.
The average productivity of the American worker has risen 30 percent in the last decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means the amount of work done in 1999 during a 40-hour workweek can now be accomplished in 31 hours, said Chris Kuehl, economist for the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association.
Doug Oberhelman spoke in English on Thursday when he said Caterpillar Inc. will come out of the recession stronger than it’s ever been. But the company’s recovery, he told Rotarians in Morton, will get its start overseas in countries where recovery is happening at a faster clip than in the United States.
Faced with about $5 million in spending cuts for the fiscal year that begins July 1, University of Illinois Extension, which provides instruction ranging from livestock judging to farm safety to cooking and gardening classes, is facing a major reorganization that could include county office closings or consolidations and layoffs.
Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have to wait a while -- or even pay for it himself -- to get his official portrait up in the state Capitol if some lawmakers get their way.
A deadly crash in rural Logan County and a number of cases in Chicago are prompting lawmakers to strengthen penalties for extreme speeders.
State senators today approved measures on two controversies: which schools parents can send their children to, and how closely drivers will be watched at red lights.
Gov. Pat Quinn said he intends to be conservative when using expected savings from the massive pension overhaul to help balance next year's state budget.
As they ramp up a crackdown, Illinois sheriff's deputies see their jobs getting harder in dealing with methamphetamine and other problems if massive State Police layoffs become reality.
The Senate voted 57-0 today for Senate Bill 1578, which offers a tax credit to small businesses that create jobs. The measure cleared the House without any debate a day earlier, so now it goes to Quinn.
Caterpillar Inc. will feel an immediate impact - to the tune of $100 million - from the health care reform legislation, the company said Wednesday in a regulatory filing.
After years of debate and stalemate, major pension changes for new state workers have flown through the Legislature in a few short hours. The Senate voted Wednesday night 48-6 for Senate Bill 1946, which creates a new system of slimmer benefits for new hires.
The House voted 92-17 for Senate Bill 1946, sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan with the support of Gov. Pat Quinn's administration as an important part of the budget plan for next year.
The House voted 117-0 today for Senate Bill 1578, which offers a tax credit for businesses that create new jobs.
More than 10 percent of Illinois residents received emergency food from the eight regional food banks across the state, a new study finds.
Major revisions to state pension benefits for future public employees sailed out of a House committee this morning and could be voted on by the full House this afternoon.
The state House Republican leader is pushing for a comprehensive forensic audit of the state's finances that he says could save the state at least $1.25 billion.
Lawmakers have stalled a measure to possibly change the state Constitution to make judges have more experience amid concerns about political gamesmanship.
This week's State Capitol Q&A covers the latest efforts to reform the office and who may be in line to be the state's next second in command.
