Parents of JDC residents worry about their children's futures

JACKSONVILLE -- Like many of the parents of Jacksonville Developmental Center residents, Earnest Jones saw the tough transition his son, Carl, 48, had to make when he was moved to Jacksonville from the Lincoln Developmental Center when that facility closed 10 years ago.

Bernard Schoenburg: No ‘formal’ vote in tea party McCann nod

To some in the tea party movement, endorsing state Sen. SAM McCANN, R-Carlinville, in his primary run in the new 50th Senate District was a no-brainer.

Pension switch could lead to teacher layoffs, superintendent says

SPRINGFIELD -- One local school superintendent predicts that massive teacher layoffs will be the result if legislators decide to shift the cost of paying for teacher pensions from the state to local districts.

Union members rally in front of Quinn's office to demand raises

SPRINGFIELD -- Demanding raises that Gov. Pat Quinn has canceled, dozens of members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees rallied Thursday in front of the governor's office, causing a brief confrontation with Secretary of State police officers.

Quinn's State of the State: Illinois 'moving forward'

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn called Wednesday for additional tax cuts and education spending, but avoided any details about how the state would pay for the initiatives or otherwise resolve its ongoing financial problems.

Report targets state workers, retirees

SPRINGFIELD -- State government employees and retirees would get hit in the pocketbook if the General Assembly adopts recommendations from the Chicago-based Civic Federation designed to avoid a financial meltdown.

State officials hope Illinoisans get taste for Asian carp

SPRINGFIELD -- To save the environment, would you eat a piece of it?

'Jobs, jobs, jobs' to be focus of State of State

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn will deliver his State of the State speech Wednesday, an address expected to focus on past accomplishments and lay out an agenda for job growth and economic development in Illinois.

Bernard Schoenburg: Scherer gets poll help from high places

SUE SCHERER, the first-grade teacher from Decatur who is backed by the organization of House Speaker MICHAEL MADIGAN, D-Chicago, for the Democratic nomination to the Illinois House from the new 96th House District, got an infusion of help recently from Madigan’s political committee.

Kirk office continues routine during stroke treatment

SPRINGFIELD -- Doctors said Thursday that U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk remains in serious but stable condition after doctors removed two destroyed pieces of brain tissue Wednesday.

Bernard Schoenburg: Friends and foes alike rooting for Kirk

It’s great to hear that U.S. Sen. MARK KIRK, R-Ill., is making good progress as he recovers from a stroke suffered over the weekend. Doctors say he is expected to make a full mental recovery, but could lose some movement ability — his left arm, for instance, was affected by the stroke.

Supreme Court to allow cameras in trial courts

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Supreme Court will announce Tuesday a policy allowing cameras and audio recording devices in trial courts on a "limited, experimental" basis, according to court spokesman Joseph Tybor.

Brauer calls for independent actuary to review pension systems

SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Springfield, is calling for the creation of a new constitutional office to get “partisan politics” out of Illinois’ five pension systems.

Racetrack slots continue to stall new gambling bill

SPRINGFIELD -- Lawmakers, industry groups and Gov. Pat Quinn’s office are exploring ways to expand gambling in Illinois without putting slot machines at horseracing tracks, possibly including a casino subsidy of the racing industry.

Legal wrinkle creates debate over 'debtors' prisons' in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -- Robin Ebersohl left her job at a Wal-Mart in Montgomery County to drive back to her home in Livingston.

Bernard Schoenburg: No cahoots involved in perennial run

When a perennial candidate filed last week as a write-in seeking the Democratic nomination for Sangamon County circuit clerk, it fed into fears that this was a setup to prevent Democrats from naming a viable candidate later to take on incumbent Republican Circuit Clerk TONY LIBRI.

Researchers to check health of Illinois bats

SPRINGFIELD -- Researchers will survey Illinois caves that hold hibernating bats next month to check for evidence of white-nose syndrome, a disease that has decimated bat populations in 16 states and four Canadian provinces.

Poe: State police targeted for budget cuts

SPRINGFIELD -- The administration of Gov. Pat Quinn could be looking to trim the Illinois State Police budget as the state continues to grapple with a bad economy and more than $8 billion in unpaid bills.

New laws expand insurance coverage for oral chemo, drug trials

SPRINGFIELD -- Hundreds of patients across Illinois will benefit from new state laws requiring health-insurance plans to cover oral chemotherapy drugs and routine medical costs associated with clinical trials of new cancer treatments, supporters of the laws say.

Bernard Schoenburg: Cut Congress’ pay 50%, says Johnson

U.S. Rep. TIM JOHNSON, R-Urbana, whose time in elective office went from the Urbana City Council to more than 20 years in the Illinois House to getting elected to the Congress in 2000, is cutting his own path as he seeks another term in a new district.


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