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Legislation proposed by Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan and backed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner passed the House early Tuesday afternoon with bipartisan support, including 46 of the chamber's 47 Republicans.
The Legislature faces a fast-approaching deadline to act as money runs out for subsidized childcare programs, prisons, and court reporters.
For weeks, Beth Purvis' role in the administration had been somewhat of a mystery. Not until after several inquiries from The Associated Press did the Rauner administration disclose that Purvis — a key member of the governor's transition team — is now earning $250,000 a year to advise him on education policy.
Illinois Supreme Court justices asked the state's lawyer to explain Wednesday how the government can seek extraordinary power to reduce public pension benefits in the face of a fiscal crisis when the government itself is culpable for the financial mess.
Proposed legislation to close a loophole in the state's sex offender laws serves as testament to the persistence of a Plainfield woman who would not take no for an answer.
Delivering his first budget address since winning office last fall, Gov. Bruce Rauner said his plan would end "the irresponsible and reckless practices of the past." He said lawmakers must be willing to make politically unpopular decisions to close a more than $6 billion budget hole next year.
Saying he wants the state to do more to keep people out of prison, Gov. Bruce Rauner has formed a commission to study possible changes to the state's criminal justice system.
A day after outlining an ambitious agenda for his first year in office, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner Thursday was confronted with a state budget that is millions of dollars short for programs such as subsidized day care that are rapidly running out of money.
Gov. Bruce Rauner laid out a first-year agenda Wednesday he said will help Illinois better compete with its neighbors, largely by stripping power from labor unions, shrinking the size of government and making the state more attractive to companies looking to create jobs.
The Republican's first State of the State address, scheduled for noon Wednesday before the General Assembly in Springfield, comes as some state agencies and programs already are running out of money this year and with Illinois facing an even greater budget gap next year.
House and Senate Democrats will seek to protect their own interests and constituencies in eventual negotiations with Rauner. While he speaks of the need for steep budget cuts, they'll likely seek to protect social services, state workers and Medicaid recipients.
A conservative Republican lawmaker from Wheaton has teamed up with a liberal Democrat from Chicago in an effort to make Illinois a "right to try" state.
Recent police-caused deaths in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City and an ongoing concern about racial sensitivity is behind a set of police reform bills sponsored by Illinois Democrats, who say measured steps are needed to address the underlying issues.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said he will propose a number of reforms to turn the state around, and indicated they would involve making Illinois more attractive to businesses while slashing spending on everything from health insurance for the poor to public-worker pensions and the state's payroll.
Rauner's inauguration ceremony was scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. He was set to take the oath of office along with Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White, Treasurer Mike Frerichs, and Comptroller Leslie Munger.
The head of the agency that oversees children who are wards of the state told state lawmakers Wednesday that a revolving door at the top is partly to blame for abuses that have plagued the department for decades.
Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday giving Illinois' attorney general more power to stop pension payments to convicted felons.
Gov. Pat Quinn was moving to call a special session of the Illinois General Assembly next month to vote on legislation to set up a special election in 2016 for the Illinois State Comptroller's office.
The case involves the pension fix lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn adopted last year. The law cut retirement benefits and made other changes to help fill a $111 billion deficit in five state pensions systems caused by years of state underfunding.
Fast food and home healthcare workers were rallying in the River North neighborhood early Thursday, hoping to keep the pressure on state lawmakers to raise the minimum wage.
Illinois lawmakers face a number of issues as they wind down their fall veto session but won't consider increasing the state's minimum wage. Votes could come Wednesday on an expanded election law and a state health-insurance exchange.
Aldermen have set the stage to hike the city's minimum wage to $13 an hour over the next four-and-a-half years, under a measure the City Council is expected to approve Tuesday.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said she expects the state's highest court could take up the state's landmark pension overhaul plan by the end of January, now that a lower court judge has ruled it unconstitutional.
With state lawmakers set to return to Springfield for three days of veto session later this week, and then again in early December, advocates for a higher minimum wage were urging the legislature to act on a measure to increase the minimum wage in Illinois to $10 an hour.
Democrats and Republicans on a state panel looking into the governor's scandal-plagued 2010 anti-violence program were accusing each other of playing politics on Thursday as former Quinn administration aides testified in Chicago.
The Supreme Court rejected a bid by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to overturn its landmark decision on same-sex marriage.
President Trump has pardoned dozens of people who allegedly took part in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, including "false electors."
A woman was hospitalized for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.
O'Hare International Airport was closed to many flights overnight Sunday into Monday as a serious early-season winter storm pounded the area.
Chicago police said Lamont Hill allegedly stole an ambulance from Loretto Hospital. While in the ambulance, he was involved in a traffic accident, hitting two Chicago police vehicles.
The Supreme Court rejected a bid by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to overturn its landmark decision on same-sex marriage.
President Trump has pardoned dozens of people who allegedly took part in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, including "false electors."
On Day 40 of the shutdown, eight Democrats joined Republicans in advancing a government funding measure, after 14 previous votes fell short.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday froze, for now, a lower court order that required the Trump administration to swiftly provide full SNAP benefits to roughly 42 million Americans.
Senator Tammy Duckworth sent another letter to the DHS Inspector General Friday, saying there is not enough urgency in honoring her request for an investigation into use of force by immigration agents in Chicago.
The Food and Drug Administration is warning about additional cookware brands that could be leaching lead into your food.
Walgreens said it will close its office space in Chicago's Old Post Office building.
Insurance companies are increasingly using drones and aerial surveillance to snap photos of home, then reviewed by AI, to inform underwriting. That can cause mistakes, like the one that affected a homeowner in Kane County, Illinois.
Beginning Monday, homeowners in Cook County can apply for a chunk of $15 million as part of a property tax relief program.
Marilyn Hagerty, the North Dakota newspaper columnist whose earnest review of her local Olive Garden became a social media sensation, has died.
SHFT Behavioral Health is the first urgent care clinic in Chicago for young people in mental health crises — specializing in children as young as 10 and adults up to the age of 30.
Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital this week launched a new advanced leukemia program.
The Pink and Pearl Campaign held at Rush University Medical Center is designed to push a powerful message: that early detection for breast and lung cancer saves lives.
Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital are the first in Illinois to offer a new treatment for atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that often strikes firefighters.
Three prominent Chicago hospitals are joining forces in the fight against breast cancer, through new clinical trials involving two drugs.
A new owner said Tuesday that he plans to reopen the venerable Gale Street Inn restaurant in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood.
The popular Unabridged Bookstore in Chicago's East Lakeview community celebrated 45 years in business this weekend.
Chicago's Latino-owned breweries combine their culture with craft beer for a unique take. This Hispanic Heritage Month, CBS News Chicago visited a couple of them.
The Central Area Plan 2045 seeks to transform and invest in the downtown area.
The grocery store chain came to an agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to make the payout.
Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny are among the artists with the most Grammy nominations this year.
The Fighting Illini marching band recently took up the challenge of performing the music of Metallica.
Hop Butcher For The World and Madame ZuZu's Emporium have developed a celebratory beer, "Twilight To Starlight," for the anniversary of the seminal Smashing Pumpkins album.
"Wicked" star Jonathan Bailey has been named People magazine's 2025 Sexiest Man Alive.
Diane Ladd, the actor known for her Oscar-nominated roles in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Wild at Heart," and "Rambling Rose" has died.
DuSable Lake Shore Drive was packed with commuters despite the winter storm early Monday, while some side streets were still treacherous with snow and ice in Hammond, Indiana. Darius Johnson and Lauren Victory have team coverage.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield has an update on road conditions amid the winter storm Monday morning.
It’s day 41 of the government shutdown, but the U.S. Senate has approved an initial step that could end the impasse later this week. Bradley Blackburn reports.
While skies were blue in much of the area by 7:30 a.m., a new band of lake-effect snow was clobbering the Vernon Hills and Mundelein areas. Jackie Kostek followed the snow band.
The sun was up in downtown Chicago after a snowstorm clobbered the area, while roads were slushy, but passable, in Northwest Indiana. Darius Johnson and Lauren Victory have team coverage.
A second round of Monday morning snow could add inches to what's already on the ground.
As expected, the Chicago area and parts of Indiana got socked with a massive and unseasonable snowfall Sunday night into Monday morning, and it was far from over at 3:45 a.m.
There are school closings and delays in the Chicago area Monday morning after an early season snow storm blew in overnight.
O'Hare International Airport was closed to some flights overnight Sunday into Monday as a serious early-season winter storm pounded the area.
The Supreme Court rejected a bid by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to overturn its landmark decision on same-sex marriage.
A Chicago area couple logged into their retirement account only to find out it had been hacked, and a large chunk of their retirement savings was gone. The response from the online brokerage firm is only adding insult to injury.
The teacher detained by ICE agents at the Rayito del Sol daycare in North Center is believed to now be at the Broadview processing facility, and parents in the community now have serious safety concerns.
Lawyer Patrick Jaicomo said he expects a tidal wave of lawsuits nationwide against federal agents by U.S. citizens and non-citizens in communities impacted the most by federal agents over the last several months.
More than a decade after first raising alarms that the Chicago Fire Department wasn't properly tracking its response times, the city's top watchdog has issued a new report showing nothing has changed.
Charlene Echoles said she and her husband work but now have to make up the difference by visiting pantries after their SNAP benefits were paused.
Connor Bedard had a goal and two assists to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
Chicago scored the last 17 points after Younghoe Koo's 19-yard field goal gave New York a 20-10 lead with 10:19 left.
Giddey's slam pushed the Bulls' advantage to 72-53 late in the second quarter after they trailed by nine in the opening period.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists and the Milwaukee Bucks opened their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Despite coming off his first NFL game without a catch, Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze isn't letting some helicopter parenting become a giant distraction.
At least four people were killed and nine others were hurt in weekend shootings across Chicago as of midday Sunday. The ages of the victims ranged from 1 to 63.
Chicago police on Sunday were asking for help in finding a man they said robbed someone at gunpoint on the Blue Line on Chicago's West Side.
A Cook County jury on Friday convicted a Chicago man of killing two men during an armed robbery in Chinatown in 2020.
A chiropractor in Chicago's western suburbs stood charged Thursday with secretly videotaping his patients — some of them children — while they were unclothed.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability on Wednesday issued bodycam video from a shooting that killed a burglary suspect on Chicago's West Side in September.
