The state's largest private provider of social services is closing 30 programs serving nearly 5,000 people.  Lutheran Social Services of Illinois announced Friday it is laying off 750 employees -  about 43 percent of its staff.   President and CEO Mark Stutrud says the state owes $6 million.

Illinois Labor Relations Board executive director Melissa Mlynski can't talk specifics, but she provides useful context for the board's upcoming ruling on the dispute between Gov. Bruce Rauner, and AFSCME, the state's largest public employees union.

llinois Governor Bruce Rauner says he’s made a big compromise with the top Senate Democrats on pensions.  But those same Democrats - say there is no compromise at all.  Rauner told reporters Thursday that he spoke to Senate President John Cullerton and they agreed to move forward.  But Cullerton says Rauner misrepresented their conversations.

University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen says he and other university leaders have to remain stoic over the next month or two as the state's budget stalemate continues.  Killeen says he's particularly concerned about operational and reputational damage to the university.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is asking a labor board to determine whether negotiations with the state's largest public employee union have reached an impasse.