A number of university presidents testified for an Illinois Senate committee Thursday on what Illinois' budget impasse has done to their institutions.  They say nearly a year without state support has led to layoffs, students struggling to pay tuition without grants and high school students considering going elsewhere for a degree.

State senators are meeting in Springfield this week.  But the Illinois House is not scheduled to return to the Capitol until April.  On Tuesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner criticized House Speaker Michael Madigan, saying the Democratic leader would rather 'go on vacation.'

The Democratic-led Illinois House passed legislation Thursday that would allocate nearly $3.7 billion for colleges and various human service programs. Republicans, though, say it a pre-primary sham because the state has no money. GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget office sent a letter to House lawmakers before the vote saying he opposes the proposal.
 

The Flash Index to the Illinois economy moved up slightly in February, reaching 105.6 after two months of declines.

Parkland College President Tom Ramage says nine positions will be cut next week, once the community college completes a voluntary separation program that's yielded $1 million in savings. He sent a mass e-mail to staff Thursday.  The annoucement comes days after Parkland Trustees approved an 11-percent tuition hike.