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Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner delivers his State of the Budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly in the House chambers, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, in Springfield Ill.
(AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

News Local/State

Reaction To Rauner Budget Sets Stage For Negotations

Rauner began his first budget negotiations with a call for deep spending cuts to Medicaid, pensions and other programs to fix the state’s budget mess without raising taxes. In a preview of what's likely to come, Democrats and Republicans sparred over many details and the need for tax hikes to fill the budget hole.

(AP Photo/Nick Ut)

News Local/State

Kids Behind Bars

A WBEZ investigation found that over a three year span, there were 344 instances when kids spent a week or more in the Cook County juvenile jail waiting for the Department of Children and Family Services to find them a place to live.

Bruce Rauner rolls into Republican Day at the 2014 Illinois State Fair on his Harley. Rauner says he loves the outdoors: ridin' his motorcycle, huntin' and fishin'...but others wonder if the governor is fakin' his 'common man
Hannah Meisel/WILL

News Local/State

Investigatin’ Gov. Rauner’s Missing G’s

Gov. Bruce Rauner's prescription for Illinois’ finances will finally be made known on Wednesday, when he gives his budget address. Legislators, state employees and social service agencies will no doubt pay close attention to what Rauner has to say. But after another big speech earlier this month made many go "gee," observers will also be listening for how he says it.

Wikimedia Commons

News Local/State

Some Democrats Worry Governor Rauner Will Cut Spending To Social Services

 Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner is scheduled to present his budget for the financially struggling state this week. Many Democrats are concerned he will propose big cuts to social service agencies. Chicago Democrat Greg Harris says he doesn’t think Rauner’s plan to cut taxes is sustainable - if he wants to fund mental health services and child welfare programs.

Governor Bruce Rauner as part of the launch of Uber in Champaign-Urbana at EnterpriseWorks in Champaign Sunday.
(Jeff Bossert/WILL)

News Local/State

Rauner Visits C-U For Uber Launch

Uber was launched in Champaign-Urbana Sunday, along with four other cities outside Chicago.  Gov. Rauner says he'll do all he can to bring high-tech companies like Uber to Champaign-Urbana.