State Rep. Carol Ammons, a freshman Democratic lawmaker in the Illinois House, discusses what it might take in order for the state to reach an end to its eight-month budget impasse.

State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) a 20-year veteran of the Illinois General Assembly, talks about what it might take to reach a budget agreement in Springfield.

Layoff notices are going out to 200 non-instructional employees at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, while members of the union representing faculty and academic employees consider an administration request to take unpaid furlough days.

Gov. Bruce Rauner says he wants to get the state out of legal agreements called consent decrees. The deals are a big part of the reason the government is still operating without a budget; they also impact the lives of thousands of Illinois residents. But unless you are affected by one, you've probably never heard of them.

University of Illinois Ecomomist Fred Giertz says the monthly Flash Index fell to 105.3 in January from 105.5 a month earlier, which he says is consistent with a national slowdown.  But he says the economy is growing, just at a slower rate.  Giertz also says it's unclear if Illinois' now 8-month budget impasse is having much of an impact.