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One of the largest companies in Illinois is calling the state's business climate "rudderless" and "dysfunctional" after lawmakers failed to approve a package of tax perks to help several businesses threatening to leave the financially strapped state.
Don't look for quick action to reduce Illinois' huge backlog of unpaid bills, despite universal agreement among state leaders that the debt is unfair to businesses, charities and local governments that provide valuable services.
Drowning in deficits, Illinois has turned to a deliberate policy of not paying billions of dollars in bills for months at a time, creating a cycle of hardship and sacrifice for residents and businesses helping the state carry out some of the most important government tasks.
Democratic Congressman Danny Davis says he hasn't yet decided if he'll help defend Illinois' new congressional map, which Republicans are challenging in court.
The Illinois Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a law that created a $31 billion statewide construction program, averting a threat to the thousands of jobs the projects created.
Gov. Pat Quinn wants to cancel raises for thousands of state employees to help cope with the Illinois budget crisis, a move denounced Friday as "illegal and irresponsible" by a key union.
As state after state voted to let residents carry concealed guns, Illinois has held out, for a long list of reasons: A strong gun control movement. A dynasty of powerful Chicago mayors. A line-up of state leaders who oppose expanding access to guns.
Bad decisions and a sour economy combined to leave 31 states below the safety line set for investing money to meet future pension costs, according to a study released Monday.
For a mother who lost her son to violence, Illinois' decision to abolish the death penalty is a betrayal. But to a father who lost two daughters and a grandson, it's simply the Christian thing to do.
New Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has all but declared war on government employees and their unions — or as he calls them, the "haves" in an economy full of "have nots."
Cash-strapped Illinois is considering a massive casino expansion in Chicago and elsewhere that could leave nearby competitors playing for smaller stakes.
Illinois lawmakers are taking a new look at expanded gambling as a way to reduce the state's massive budget deficit.
When stumping on the campaign trail, the nation's new slate of governors could afford to make sweeping but vague promises about how they'd solve their states' massive looming budget deficits.
The next governor of Illinois will walk into office and find himself staring at a budget deficit that could top $15 billion. In California, the hole will be $12 billion. In larger-than-life Texas, the two-year total is $18 billion or more.
If chosen to lead the state of Illinois, Bill Brady isn't sure whether he would cut health services expanded by previous governors. He can't specify any sacrifices residents will have to make if the state is going to solve its budget crisis. And he doesn't know who would work in his administration.
With only weeks left in the campaign, some staggering Democrats have jumped back into contention in congressional and gubernatorial races around the country, giving the party glimmers of hope that Election Day won't also be doomsday.
Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias qualified for a huge tax deduction by telling the IRS he worked 500 hours at his family's bank in early 2006. But he's told voters he was largely gone from the bank by then.
Gov. Pat Quinn has reached a deal with a major union that could save the Illinois government between $50 million and $100 million while barring layoffs of most state employees, both sides said Monday.
Mike Riggen is out of work. Most of his friends are out of work, too. He's raising two children on his own and they have expensive health problems.
Two Illinois governors from two different parties, two generations, two regions of the state. Both convicted of felonies.
Schools, social services and health programs face deeper cuts under the latest version of Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to trim spending during the worst budget crisis in Illinois history.
Who says Illinois politics is a tough business? The trial of Rod Blagojevich shows that even a foul-mouthed clotheshorse can be elected to the state's highest office. Twice.
When the U.S. led an air campaign over Kosovo more than a decade ago, the Pentagon summoned a squadron of radar-jamming Prowler jets to help keep the skies safe for American bombers.
Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk's military record was once such a political asset that he'd mention it at every turn.
Stuck with the job of managing the worst deficit in Illinois history, Gov. Pat Quinn delivered a budget plan Thursday that includes $1.4 billion in cuts to schools, hospitals and prisons.
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