Illinois Public Media News

Democratic candidate for the Illinois House 110th District seat Dennis Malak of Charleston says resolving the state budget crisis will require both new revenue,and cuts in spending.

On the 21st: We talked about a new study that shows Illinois voters are thinking about leaving the state. Plus, we discussed the state's uncollected unemployment benefits and talked with the Highland Park natives behind the PBS animated series "Nature Cat."

On the 21st: State Treasurer Mike Frerichs talked about the money Illinois is losing because of the state budget crisis. Plus, we talked about the Chicago Cubs, did some political fact-checking, and talked with Senator Dick Durbin about  his proposal to curb rising drug costs and more.

In the Glenbard South High School library, candidates running for state representative took questions for about half an hour on Sunday. They answered questions in front of about 60 of the most civically engaged voters, who had sat through more than three hours of watching local political debates in the DuPage County town of Glen Ellyn, west of Chicago. There was one theme that was consistent throughout the afternoon: Republican candidates don’t want to talk about Donald Trump.

Mental health centers were decimated during Illinois’ extended budget stalemate. Illinois is moving forward with plan to extend and expand behavioral health services to people who couldn't otherwise afford it, in a way that officials say will be cost-neutral to taxpayers.