Both the Illinois House and Senate have passed the final pieces of a partial state budget deal that funds elementary and high school education for a year and other areas for six months.

Illinois lawmakers are on the verge of passing a state budget, though only a partial one, on Thursday, June 30th, the final day of the 2016 fiscal year.

Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield Wednesday for another try at a budget compromise --- and there are signs that provide reason to be optimistic.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says it's shocking and unacceptable that the state is in its eighth month without a budget. Wednesday, he laid out his vision for finally ending the political stalemate that has paralyzed state government. The Republican's language was more conciliatory, but the ideas remain the same.

Illinois' unemployment insurance program will see some changes next year, the result of something that's rare in Springfield these days as a budget stalemate persists: hard-fought negotiations giving way to a compromise.