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Senate President John Cullerton and Republican Leader Christine Radogno speak to reporters earlier this month.
Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois

Senate Leaders: Not Backing Off ‘Grand Bargain’

The Illinois Senate left Springfield Thursday without voting on a bipartisan effort to end Illinois' budget stalemate. But hope springs eternal. The so-called grand bargain - devised earlier this month by the Senate's top leadership - was like a chili recipe where the cooks keep swapping ingredients. The latest version would increase the income tax by one-and-a-quarter percentage points, and further decrease government pensions.

103rd District State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana)
Jeff Bossert/Illinois Public Media

Ammons’ New Legislation Takes On Temp Staffing Agencies

New legislation from State Representative Carol Ammons takes on Illinois’ temporary staffing agencies over poor working conditions and wages. The Urbana Democrat says many temp workers are subject to low wages, unsafe working conditions, and sometimes, racial and gender discrimination. She's the lead sponsor of the Responsible Job Creation Act, which will offer protections to these workers and increase transparency in hiring practices. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Jim Meadows / Illinois Public Media

Gov. Rauner To Take Optimistic Tone In State Of The State Address

Gov. Bruce Rauner will strike an optimistic tone in his State of the State address, while acknowledging Illinois faces ``significant challenges.''

The Republican's Wednesday speech comes as he gears up for a 2018 re-election bid. 

WILL AM 580 and WILL-TV will carry live coverage of the governor’s speech, beginning at 12 PM Central Time. WILL AM 580 streams at www.will.illinois.edu.

President Donald Trump talks with reporters n the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, before signing an executive order on the Keystone XL pipeline
Evan Vucci/Assocated Press

Trump Vows To ‘Send In The Feds’ To Help Chicago

President Donald Trump is vowing to "send in the Feds'' if Chicago can't reduce its homicide figures. In a tweet Tuesday night, Trump says the city is experiencing "horrible carnage,'' with surge in shootings since New Year's Day. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel acknowledged his own frustration with Chicago's crime rate Monday, but also criticized Trump for worrying about the size of the crowd at his inauguration.