Illinois Public Media News

Democrats did pass several spending bills before the end of the regular session, but the state doesn’t have the money to fully back them up. Rauner says he won’t consider new revenue until the General Assembly approves at least some of his business-friendly agenda.

Rauner's plans include closing state musuems and juvenile justice centers, grounding all state plane passenger service, and suspending the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP.)

Rauner, a Republican, is in a battle of wills and political might with Democratic leadership: House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.  They're at odds over the budget, business practices, union rights and more, and it's been widely reported that Rauner is planning to once again win over the public using the strategy that helped him get elected, TV commercials.

The Illini finished off Wright State, rallying for an 8-4 victory at Illinois Field Monday, winning their first-ever regional.  They'll host 2014 College World Series champion Vanderbilt this weekend.

The city of Urbana plans to cut half a million dollars in spending and eliminate five full-time positions under a proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The spending plan will be presented Monday night to the full city council.

Gov. Bruce Rauner continued to blame the state's financial problems on Democratic "special interests" Sunday evening as the regularly scheduled legislative session drew to a close.

Illinois' contract with the state's largest employee union expires at the end of the month and negotiations with the governor are said to be going badly. Democrats are trying to prevent a potential strike but the governor might have other plans.

Opponents say while bobcats were taken off the threatened species list, it's too soon to allow hunters to kill them, especially since they are seen as a trophy animal and aren't hunted for food.

The tense political atmosphere in Springfield is set to get even more contentious. Gov. Bruce Rauner's upfront -- he says it's going to get rough, but he's not giving up.