Agencies Hold Off On Junk Status — For Now
Two bond rating agencies say Illinois is on the right path with the budget plan passed Sunday in the state House of Representatives.
A regional journalism collaboration focused on expanding access to trusted, timely and relevant information across three key statewide topics: Education, Political Impact and Health/Environment
Hays Says He Will Not Seek Reelection To House Seat In 2018
Republican State Representative Chad Hays of Catlin says he will not seek reelection for a fifth term in the Illinois House.
Suspect In Yingying Zhang Disappearance Faces Bond Hearing Wednesday
A hearing is scheduled Wednesday to determine whether the Champaign man charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of visiting University of Illinois scholar Yingying Zhang will be held without bond. Brendt Christensen made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Urbana on Monday.
Alleged Zhang Kidnapper Makes Court Appearance Monday
The man accused of kidnapping Yingying Zhang is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court Monday morning. Brendt Christensen, 27, of Champaign was arrested Friday, three weeks after 26-year-old Zhang went missing.
In Bipartisan Vote, House Approves Tax Increase
The Illinois House has approved a 1.2 percentage-point increase in the state income tax. Last night, more than a dozen Republicans joined the majority Democrats to pass the legislation, despite the objections of Governor Bruce Rauner.
Illinois House Passes Budget, Tax Increase, But Rauner Promises Tax-Hike Veto
The Illinois House of Representatives on Sunday passed both a budget and a tax increase to pay for it, but both still must clear the state Senate. And the tax increase was met with an immediate promise of a veto from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
IL House Prepares For Sunday Tax Vote; Lawmakers Override 911 Veto
The Illinois House will vote Sunday on a revenue plan after all. House Speaker Michael Madigan issued a statement saying he was "encouraged by the progress we continue to make."
FBI Believes Missing Scholar Is Dead, Arrests Champaign Man
The FBI has made an arrest in the Yingying Zhang case, and the agency believes that the 26-year-old University of Illinois visiting scholar from China is dead. The FBI said in a news release that agents arrested 27-year-old Brendt Christensen of Champaign, a former University of Illinois graduate student, on Friday.
Delay On State Budget Delays Road Projects In C-U
Work on two federally funded road construction projects in Champaign-Urbana will have to halt --- unless state lawmakers and the governor act quickly this weekend to pass a budget to authorize the state to spend the money on the projects in the new fiscal year.
Illinois Misses Deadline To Pass Budget, Consequences Hover
A $36.5 billion plan to rebuild Illinois' crumbling finances passed a critical test on Friday, but a powerful legislative leader said no deal would be reached before a midnight deadline — meaning Illinois will enter its third consecutive fiscal year without a budget.
And it means entering dangerous territory: The state comptroller will be unable to cover basic services ordered by courts, road construction and Powerball ticket sales could halt, and the state's credit rating could be downgraded to "junk."
