A man who says Dennis Hastert sexually abused him decades ago told Illinois lawmakers the former U.S. House speaker was protected by the statute of limitations and wasn't appropriately punished. Scott Cross called Hastert "a monster" when making the comments during a hearing in Chicago Tuesday.

The Illinois Senate Wednesday voted 37-17 to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a measure funding the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants. But the Illinois House failed to override by two votes.  The legislation involved $397 million for the income-based Monetary Award Program and $324 million for community colleges.

With the state entering its seventh month without a budget, all eyes were on Springfield Wednesday for Gov. Bruce Rauner's State of the State address. 

Due to the state budget impasse, WILL's broadcasts of newspapers and magazines on special radios for the visually impaired ended on January 1, going to a network-only service.  Funding has been secured to resume those broadcasts through the rest of the fiscal year, starting Monday.

Illinois will be among the first states to implement a savings program for the lifelong care of people with disabilities. The financial planning tool is being promoted at a time when many state-funded services for those with disabilities are not being paid.