Illinois House committee endorses ban on drivers' use of hand-held cellphones

SPRINGFIELD | A proposal to ban the use of hand-held cellphones while driving a car was endorsed in a House committee Wednesday.

Cook County landfill ban bill heads to governor

The Illinois House on Wednesday gave final legislative approval to a measure that would ban the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency from issuing permits for new or expanded landfills within Cook County. The legislation would halt the proposed expansion of a landfill that straddles the b…

Heat rises for Ill. legislators as deadline nears

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | End-of-session disputes Wednesday slowed the Illinois Legislature's momentum toward a deal to control rising pension costs and pass a painful state budget.

Officials: Video gambling in Illinois could be ready by fall

SPRINGFIELD | The wait for video gambling in Illinois could be over in a matter of months. But some state officials are tamping down expectations of a big payday for the state.

Lawmakers want more information on Quinn closures

SPRINGFIELD | The Quinn administration may have to scuttle its plan to shut down two state facilities without having to explain details of the closures to lawmakers.

Public records bill would bring restrictions

SPRINGFIELD | The Illinois Legislature might make the state's Freedom of Information Act less open.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Let me vent about pensions for police officers

Recently the subject of Public Safety Employee pensions have been the topic of much discussion in the media and especially in Springfield. Several sweeping reforms were enacted for new police and fire employees hired after Jan. 1, 2011.

Death row serial killer's life could be spared again

A convicted serial killer sitting on death row in Illinois for the 1996 murder of a Hammond woman had his life spared once and possibly could again, at least in Illinois.

Multistate fight keeps going after Illinois tax hike is OK'd

MADISON, Wis. | The interstate bickering over tax policy continues between Wisconsin and Illinois politicians.

Sheriff calls for foreclosure investigations

CHICAGO | A monthlong moratorium on mortgage foreclosure evictions and an internal inquiry into court filings has revealed a pattern of irregularities that may rise to criminal conduct, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced Friday.