Paralyzed man can ride motorcycle again

SULLIVAN, Ill. | Travis Mundy hops aboard a Gold Wing to talk to God or shout at him, depending on Mundy's mood.

Lower drunk-driving limit gets mixed reviews in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD | A proposal to toughen drunk-driving laws is getting mixed reviews among Illinois legislators, top state officials and local police.

Lawmakers predict gloomy budget plans from Quinn

SPRINGFIELD | Gov. Pat Quinn won't have a very cheery message when he unveils his latest budget plan Wednesday, say members of the General Assembly.

Forgotten eastern Indiana cemetery gets new life

RICHMOND, Ind. | Wayne County's pioneer past has inspired Wayne Township Trustee Susan Isaacs in her development of King Cemetery, one of the city's oldest, yet newest cemeteries.

Pence: 'I am not legislator-in-chief'

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence declared Wednesday he is not, and will not become, the state's "legislator-in-chief," shrugging off critics who claim he should be more directly engaged in House and Senate action.

Indiana colleges look to revise campus smoking policies

Many of Indiana’s largest universities are preparing stricter smoking rules, putting teeth behind smoke-free policies that -- to now -- have been at least partly hot air.

Ill. lawmakers fail to act on pension crisis

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois lawmakers failed to address the state's massive pension problem Friday but did expel a legislator over bribery charges during a day of frustration for officials in a state government already burdened by a reputation for paralysis and corruption.

More tax breaks for businesses on horizon?

SPRINGFIELD | Some Illinois lawmakers say they are not finished trying to ease the state's tax burden on business owners.

Public financing of Illinois campaigns debated

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois could combat the dominance of money in elections by launching some sort of public financing program for candidates, advocates told a special panel investigating election reform issues Monday.

Cellphones don't belong in these cells

Sarah Pender orchestrated her escape from Rockville Correctional Facility in 2008 using contraband cellphones and a network of accomplices.

Statewide elections favor incumbent mayors

Incumbent mayors thrived in Indiana's big cities on Election Day.

Economist not concerned about drop in index that measures Ill. economy

SPRINGFIELD | A key measure of Illinois' economy dipped slightly last month, but not enough to set off financial alarm bells.

7 killed in Toll Road crash in Elkhart County

Seven people were killed on the Indiana Toll Road in Elkhart County when a semitrailer struck a minivan, officials said.

Senator thinks he has votes to override 'smart grid' veto

SPRINGFIELD | An electric rate hike proposal that triggered a shoving match between two state senators last spring could bring more legislative fisticuffs to the Capitol next week.

Madigan looks at using local dollars to pay regional superintendents

SPRINGFIELD | The speaker of the Illinois House has introduced legislation designed to restore paychecks to the state's 44 regional school superintendents.

Illinois top earners rake in overtime

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois' top-paid employee isn't Gov. Pat Quinn, nor is it Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride.

Fewer state employees, but higher paychecks

SPRINGFIELD | A fractured economy is swelling unemployment figures in Illinois, and a growing number of those out-of-work residents are state employees.

Few want Illinois to run health care exchange

SPRINGFIELD | Almost no one wants the state running Illinois' new health care exchanges.

FOIA tweak could make getting info tougher

SPRINGFIELD | Ed Fleck said he believes the numbers on his water bill now.

$5 million just the beginning of Illinois' health care exchange costs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | The state is touting a $5 million federal grant to set up health-care exchanges as part of the national health care law, but residents may not have access to an exchange for a couple of years.