State police prepping for concealed carry law

SPRINGFIELD | Even though lawmakers have been unable to agree on a plan allowing Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons, the Quinn administration has launched the process of building a computer system designed to handle future gun permits.

Internet sales tax change could bring millions to Illinois

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois’ beleaguered budget could see an infusion of $212 million in new money if the U.S. Congress approves legislation that would force Internet retailers to collect sales tax.

Senate makes little progress on big issues

It was supposed to be the Illinois Senate’s time to bask in the spotlight.

No Schock: Decision doesn't faze fellow Republicans

SPRINGFIELD | U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s decision to forgo a run for Illinois governor cut to four the number of Republicans publicly mulling a bid for the state’s top office in 2014.

Illinois prison officials want more money

SPRINGFIELD | State prison officials are predicting more problems at the embattled Illinois Department of Corrections if lawmakers don’t give them more money to operate in coming weeks.

Treasurer defends Illinois against Perry job grab

SPRINGFIELD | A potential Republican candidate for governor says Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s visit to Illinois on Monday should sound an alarm to state leaders.

Concealed carry legislation fails again

SPRINGFIELD | The latest bid to bring Illinois in line with gun laws in the rest of the nation fell short Thursday.

Chicago gun violence proposal could cost state nearly $1 billion

SPRINGFIELD | A push by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to boost minimum sentences for gun crimes could add nearly 4,000 inmates to an already overcrowded prison system, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

House rejects plan to limit property tax hikes

SPRINGFIELD | The Illinois House rejected a proposal Friday that would have blocked local governments from raising property taxes in years when property values go down.

Illinois seeking to hire more tax fraud investigators

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois could become a tougher place to be sneaky about your taxes under Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget proposal.

Another suspicious inmate death at Menard prison

SPRINGFIELD | Another inmate death is under investigation at the Menard Correctional Center.

First inmates freed in revamped early release program

SPRINGFIELD | A 34-year-old southern Illinois man last week became the first Illinois prison inmate sent home on parole under a revamped early release program.

Budget: Illinois to spend more on Amtrak

SPRINGFIELD | While other parts of government may be facing potentially drastic cuts, Gov. Pat Quinn is calling for an increase in spending on Amtrak train service.

House signals support for capping pensions

SPRINGFIELD | The Illinois House approved legislation Thursday to limit the salary upon which retired state workers can base their pensions in the future.

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.

House again tries to ban talking on phone while driving

SPRINGFIELD | For the second year in a row, the Illinois House approved legislation that would ban the use of hand-held cellphones while driving a car.

Hearing focuses on concealed weapons law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | A permit to carry a concealed weapon in Illinois could cost about $242, according to an Illinois State Police estimate.

Backlog of Illinois tax appeals keeps growing

SPRINGFIELD | It’s been two years and counting since Richard Kramer asked a state board to weigh in on what he feels is an unfair property tax assessment.

Chicago Democrats lay out gun law plans

SPRINGFIELD | The two Chicago Democrats who control the Illinois General Assembly have laid out their strategies for dealing with a court order requiring the state to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.

State spending measure sprinkled with extras

SPRINGFIELD | An emergency spending proposal being debated in the Capitol this week isn’t just about building new roads and protecting vulnerable children.

Football without the tackling?

SPRINGFIELD | A suburban Chicago lawmaker wants to tackle sports concussions by limiting tackling at youth football practices.

Sneaker tax: Illinois Lawmaker wants new fee on gym shoes

SPRINGFIELD | The cost of a new pair of basketball shoes could jump by 25-cents under a proposal floated this week by an Illinois lawmaker.

Many Illinois issues being decided by judges; critic says lawsuits are symbolic of chaos in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD | While the major political skirmishes in the Capitol are often cast as a battle of wills between Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly, the judicial branch of government has been playing a significant role in guiding state policy in recent years.

GOP chief looks to 2014 as committee could help lay foundation for gubernatorial win

SPRINGFIELD | The embattled chief of the Illinois Republican Party has formed a panel aimed at analyzing the GOP failures in November in hopes of charting a course for improvement in 2014.

Panel calls for massive boost in Illinois school funding

SPRINGFIELD | A panel dedicated to figuring out how much Illinois should spend on education is calling for more than $4.7 billion in additional school funding in the coming year.

Group calls for tighter reins on Super PACs

SPRINGFIELD | Hoping to lift the shroud of secrecy on where millions of dollars in campaign funds are coming from, a campaign watchdog group Thursday outlined a series of potential remedies to the law that allows so-called Super PACs to operate in Illinois.

State readies for revamped early prisoner release program

SPRINGFIELD | The Quinn administration began taking the first steps Wednesday to restart an early inmate release program that could reduce the population of the state’s overcrowded prison system.

Push for gun limits in Illinois will wait until spring

SPRINGFIELD | A push to ban semiautomatic weapons in Illinois fizzled again Sunday.

Clock ticking down on Illinois pension deal

SPRINGFIELD | Despite high hopes from Gov. Pat Quinn, a push to overhaul the state’s massively underfunded employee retirement systems by a Wednesday deadline remains a tough sell.

License plate fee hike on hold until March

SPRINGFIELD | Millions of Illinois motorists will avoid paying a higher license plate renewal fee in the coming months.

Early prisoner release program still on hold

SPRINGFIELD | More than six months have passed since Gov. Pat Quinn approved legislation designed to ease overcrowding within the state’s bursting-at-the-seams prison system.

State unemployment workers could face unemployment

SPRINGFIELD | The agency that hands out unemployment benefits in Illinois may soon be doling out relief checks to some of its own workers.

End of Murphysboro youth prison set for Jan. 4, youth lockup in Joliet also slated to close

SPRINGFIELD | Although there have been no inmates at the Murphysboro youth prison since July 9, the formal end of its 15-year run doesn’t come until Jan. 4.

Illinois gun manufacturers could be affected by weapons ban

SPRINGFIELD | Gov. Pat Quinn’s push to ban semiautomatic weapons is again raising questions about the loss of manufacturing jobs in western Illinois.

Prison closures begin

SPRINGFIELD | A mass migration of some of Illinois’ most dangerous criminals is under way as state officials began shutting down the Tamms Correctional Center and other prison facilities.

State scrambling to fix gun owner ID problems

SPRINGFIELD | If there is any point of agreement in the polarizing issue of gun control it is that people with mental problems shouldn’t be anywhere near a loaded weapon.

School shooting could shape Illinois gun debate

SPRINGFIELD | State lawmakers say the murder of students and staff at a Connecticut grade school Friday may shape the looming debate on a new law allowing Illinoisans to walk the streets with loaded, concealed weapons.

Quinn says he respects state workers

SPRINGFIELD | After portraying state workers as overpaid and then terminating their union contract, Gov. Pat Quinn now wants them to know he still respects them.

Tens of thousands of Illinoisans face loss of unemployment benefits

SPRINGFIELD | Tens of thousands of Illinoisans receiving unemployment benefits could see their checks stop on Dec. 29.

Rutherford making gubernatorial noise

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford appears poised to jump into what could be another crowded race for Illinois governor.

Measure aims to help students compare colleges

SPRINGFIELD | High school seniors and their parents could get a new tool to help them determine which Illinois college or university best fits their needs.

License plate fee hike goes to Quinn's desk

SPRINGFIELD | The Illinois Senate resurrected a plan Wednesday to raise the cost of license plates to help fund Illinois state parks.

Senate panel could endorse ban on casino contributions

SPRINGFIELD | Gov. Pat Quinn’s effort to stop casino owners from giving money to politicians could get a boost from a legislative panel on Wednesday.

Quinn cancels contract with state's largest employee union

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois prison guards, public health workers and thousands of other members of the state’s largest employee union are now working without a labor agreement after Gov. Pat Quinn announced late Tuesday that he was refusing to extend the already-expired contract.

Video gambling money starts to flow to local governments

SPRINGFIELD | The city of Pontiac is $386 richer this month, thanks to the state’s new video gambling law.

Despite push to close prisons, Illinois still hiring guards

SPRINGFIELD | Gov. Pat Quinn’s push to close two Illinois prisons doesn’t mean the state isn’t still hiring workers to guard inmates.

State hopes Lincoln movie will boost tourism

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois tourism officials are hoping to cash in on the new movie about the nation’s 16th president.

State happy with latest milestone for high-speed rail

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois crossed an important threshold Thursday in its effort to bring faster passenger rail service to the Amtrak route linking Chicago and St. Louis.

Senate president says compromise with GOP still his goal, says Democratic caucus is a diverse group

SPRINGFIELD | Tuesday’s election left Democrats holding a whopping 40 of 59 seats in the Illinois Senate, giving Senate President John Cullerton a veto-proof majority and leaving minority Republicans with an even smaller voice in the legislative process.

State employee union plans protests over contract impasse

SPRINGFIELD | Members of the state’s largest employee union are planning a number of protests next week, trying to draw attention to the ongoing contract negotiation between them and Gov. Pat Quinn.