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The spring legislative session has been overshadowed by a 22-month stretch without a budget. Nevertheless, meaty legislation is being weighed. Those issues include abortion, wage theft, animal research and criminal justice.
Former governor Pat Quinn was back in the Illinois Statehouse Monday. The Democrat was there for a ceremony to unveil his official portrait in the Capitol’s Hall of Governors. The 68-year-old Democrat who stepped into the job when his predecessor was ousted donated the first "interactive" portrait. It depicts Quinn in his "lucky" purple-striped tie. He stands in front of a background of 44 instances of people, issues and events from more than four decades in public service.
Some Champaign-Urbana churches are installing solar panels with help from a new state law promoting carbon-free electricity. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday celebrated the installation of solar energy panels at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Urbana. The 81 panels are expected to provide nearly 70 percent of the church’s electricity needs.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is putting his heart into attacking the Republican health care bill — literally. Durbin is citing his own recent cardiac procedure to point out what he and other Democrats say are flaws in the legislation. Speaking Sunday outside his Springfield home, Durbin says he “feel(s) recovered” and is returning to Washington Monday. There he plans to urge his Senate colleagues to reject the health care bill passed last week in the House.
Champaign-Urbana’s daily newspaper, the News-Gazette, will make a big change later this year, when it closes down its printing press in downtown Champaign, and outsources its printing work to Peoria. The News-Gazette is just the latest daily newspaper to get out of the printing business, as it changes its identity from a newspaper company to a media company.
