Illinois Public Media News

“Black Lives Matter has become something that’s very easy to identify, and I’m going to say it again, it’s more hashtag than reality," said Cha-Jua, "and if these kids think that they can tweet their damn way to freedom, then they are sorely misguided.”

What Democrats say they're organizing around — or more accurately against — is Rauner's "Turnaround Agenda." His wish list includes giving businesses a better shot at defending against lawsuits, making companies pay less to take care of injured workers, and limiting how many times people can run for election to the Illinois House and Senate.

Under a proposed consent decree, local governments would refrain from efforts to force the Clinton Landfill to remove manufactured gas plant waste, but the landfill to beef up its safety precautions.

University of Illinois police are searching for the person who knocked down a the giant decorative menorah outside of a Jewish cultural center on campus. As Hannah Meisel reports, it's the second time the menorah's been damaged this year

Rauner didn't miss the opportunity to make a grand entrance to his first Governor's Day at the fairgrounds, riding in on his black Harley -- decked in his state fair uniform of Wranglers, black cowboy boots, and a plaid shirt -- took off his helmet, and greeted some fans who'd been waiting for his arrival.

After his first three months as University of Illinois President, Timothy Killeen says work in proceeding well on a new "strategic vision" for the university, despite a series of controversies. But he says the university could face serious problems, if the state budget impasse continues into the fall.

Despite intense lobbying by Governor Bruce Rauner, the Illinois Senate voted Wednesday to override his veto of union-backed legislation. The legislation would send intractable contract disputes between the governor and labor unions to arbitration.

Illinois Republicans want to make sure Mark Kirk is re-elected to the U.S. Senate - in one of the most-watched races in the country.  But Kirk is absent from the traditional start of the campaign season--political days at the Illinois State Fair.

With no state budget in place, the Illinois Department of Human Services has implemented changes to the Child Care Assistance Program that drastically reduce eligibility for the program.

The imprisoned Democratic former governor had hoped the full court in Chicago might overturn more of his 18 convictions than the five counts a three-judge panel tossed in July.