Court Rules AFSCME Not Owed Pay Raises Without Appropriation
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that former Gov. Pat Quinn was correct in 2011 when he denied state workers promised pay raises because lawmakers had not appropriated the money.
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The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that former Gov. Pat Quinn was correct in 2011 when he denied state workers promised pay raises because lawmakers had not appropriated the money.
Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) said tampons and other feminine hygiene products are not a luxury but a necessity.
The Democrat-led Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto last month of a bill to add funding for community colleges and tuition grants for low-income students.
When state Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) met Thursday night for a 90-minute debate with 5th District Democratic primary challenger Juliana Stratton, virtually every topic circled back eventually to Dunkin's estrangement from Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
While Democrats and Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly haven't been able to find much common ground lately, those who represent people around O'Hare International Airport have banded together to try to bring some relief from increased jet noise.
A day after the Illinois State Board of Education launched a financial probe of the Chicago Public Schools, Gov. Bruce Rauner said he believes state lawmakers eventually will give him power to take control of the Chicago school system.
In an attempt to end Illinois' historic budget stalemate, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that lawmakers have only two options: Implement his cost-saving proposals in exchange for a $36 billion budget, or give him authority to make $4 billion in cuts.
The panel will meet with Illinois educators at the Capitol on Tuesday to address the state's decades-old education formula that some lawmakers say unfairly penalizes students in poor districts.
Wily inmates and their associates on the outside are deploying drones to deliver drugs, cellphones, and other contraband to prison yards, leaving prison guards and correctional authorities trying to decide how to deal with the new technology.
A research group has offered a laundry list of suggestions to help pull Illinois government out of its financial mess.
President Barack Obama was talking up the values of compromise and cordiality in a speech to Illinois lawmakers in Springfield, nine years to the day after he announced his campaign for president, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
The leader of the Guardian Angels has applauded an effort in Springfield to make it a crime to film violent incidents and post the video online.
The White House has said the president will address the Illinois General Assembly to make a plea for unity, to discuss "what we can do, together, to build a better politics - one that reflects our better selves."
President Barack Obama is about to take a trip down memory lane.
Republican Rep. Terri Bryant of Murphysboro in southern Illinois was so disturbed by the behavior of spectators who posted a Facebook video of a fight between two boys in Murphysboro that she's proposed a bill making it a crime to record fights to share online.
Two weeks after they shut down part of the Dan Ryan Expressway to protest the possible closing of their school amid the state budget impasse, students from Chicago State University took their protest to the governor's office downtown.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said he's looking forward to hearing from President Barack Obama, who will visit the Illinois State Capitol next week, to speak to the General Assembly.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner used his State of the State address Wednesday to make another case for changes he says would make Illinois more competitive, even as he acknowledged that huge opposition from Democrats has prompted a record budget stalemate and crippled social services and other programs.
Gov. Bruce Rauner's speech at the Illinois State Capitol was expected to be much different from his first State of the State address to the Illinois General Assembly.
When education majors return to Illinois colleges and universities in the new year, they'll have to submit to sweeping criminal background checks before student teaching.
In a symbolic gesture to urge the governor and state lawmakers to come up with a budget, a group of community activists on Monday purchased Illinois Lottery tickets, and pledged to donate any winnings to the state.
African-American state lawmakers are pleading with the governor and legislative leaders not to forget those who are still suffering under the prolonged budget impasse, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill Monday freeing up funds to resume prize payouts of over $600, which had been on hold since July 1.
At a City Council committee hearing Monday, prosecutors and domestic violence experts plan to campaign for hair stylists, cosmetologists, and nail technicians to go through mandatory training to spot signs of abuse, and help victims.
The Liberty erased a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes.
The Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission on Thursday will decide whether to release a report that led to the resignation of state Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) over reported allegations of sexual harassment.
Crown Point police said officers responded to a report of the teen being unresponsive in the hot tub on Wednesday morning.
The man was hit by the falling tree while cutting it down, fire officials said.
Three men have been convicted of a string of violent robberies targeting liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago in 2023 and 2024.
The Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission on Thursday will decide whether to release a report that led to the resignation of state Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) over reported allegations of sexual harassment.
The state Democratic Party is asking Wisconsin's elections commission to allow voters who already returned absentee ballots to cast new ones, after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the governor's race and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley rejoined it.
Speaking live on CBS News Chicago's morning news on Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson touted an improving economy and falling crime in the city and credited his administration with the success.
Republican candidate for Illinois governor Darren Bailey is calling for greater transparency over nongovernmental organizations that receive at least $10,000 in state grants by making them subject to public records and open meetings requests.
Two independent Latino candidates seeking to run for retiring U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's seat in Congress won't appear on the ballot in November.
Chicago remained the most bed bug-treated city in the country, according to Orkin's latest annual rankings covering a full year of residential and commercial treatment data.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul this week warned residents cleaning up from last month's storms to be on the lookout for scams.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed several new consumer protections into law, including a ban on junk fees.
CBS News Chicago has learned that Illinois home insurance premiums are not only higher than the nation's average, but going up faster too.
As an alternative to legalizing video gambling terminals citywide, Bally's offered to open slot machine lounges at O'Hare and Midway, saying the move would replace the $6.8 million the city budgeted from VGTs.
A new Northwestern Medicine study on long COVID shows women show more neurological symptoms than men.
A lettuce supplier to fast-food giant Taco Bell has been linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people, the CDC said.
Chicago just barely made the top 20 in the American College of Sports Medicine's 2026 ranking of the country's fittest cities.
In a major turnaround in the opioid crisis, overdose deaths are falling across Chicago and Cook County.
The north Chicago suburb of Glenview became the latest Illinois municipality this week to confirm mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus this year.
The food deserts on Chicago's South and West sides could spread even wider if seven Save A Lot grocery stores close.
Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois are both seeking rate increases that would raise monthly bills by as much as $28, while their parent companies seek regulatory approval to merge — a deal a consumer watchdog says would give one company control of nearly all regulated water customers in the state.
The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from several states secured a right-to-repair settlement Wednesday with agriculture equipment giant Deere & Co. — commonly known as John Deere — that requires the company to let farmers and independent shops fix their own equipment.
Chicago Soul Café opened Monday at 6248 S. St. Lawrence Ave.
The Chicago Bears this weekend said they are assessing land at Wolf Lake Terminals in Hammond, Indiana, for a possible new stadium.
Iowa announced a fall exhibition game against Kansas at the Field of Dreams ballpark, where major and minor league games have been played since 2021.
Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is the first film shot entirely on 70mm IMAX cameras, and Cinemark Seven Bridges in Woodridge is 1 of roughly 30 theaters nationwide equipped to show it that way.
Brenda Fricker won an Academy Award for 1989's "My Left Foot," played the Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2" and appeared in "A Time to Kill" and "So I Married an Axe Murderer."
The actor's agent said he was providing more information following news reports "which contain inaccuracies and outright falsehoods."
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died Monday at 78, his family says.
The bakery, located on State Street in the Block 37 mall, saw the return of customers after being closed for about a week.
Warning signs have been posted at the entrances of the preserve after the bloom was discovered during the week of July 20, 2026.
A new study from LendingTree found that the percentage is up from 24% in 2024. Food and non-alcoholic beverages were the most popular items to shoplift, followed by clothing and personal hygiene items.
Concord Capital said they bought the building at Ontario and Franklin and plan to renovate the building and create 70 apartments.
A helicopter took a 40-year-old man to a hospital after a tree he was cutting down fell on him.
Prosecutors said the accused shot through the door at his mother-in-law and officers as he held his partner and daughter hostage.
IDPH reported more than 400 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasite-borne illness that can cause diarrhea and nausea.
The Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission on Thursday will decide whether to release a report that led to the resignation of state Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) over reported allegations of sexual harassment.
Crown Point police said officers responded to a report of the teen being unresponsive in the hot tub on Wednesday morning.
A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed in West Garfield Park early Wednesday morning.
Record heat and major air quality issues created by wildfire smoke were key topics as some of the top climate leaders from around the world gathered in Chicago this week for the Aspen Institute's annual climate summit.
Police say a man and a woman were last seen speaking with the victim before the shooting.
Neighbors in the Avalon Park neighborhood said their community has been plagued by squatters, weeds, rats, and water leaks – all thanks to an abandoned home that's been sitting vacant for years.
Chicago has been feeling the heat this week, with highs in the 90s the past five days, but officials are making moves to cool off some of the hottest parts of the city, specifically Chicago Park District fieldhouses where many turn to keep cool.
Gene Rush survived throat cancer, but he didn't survive a trip to the Porter County Jail over 4th of July weekend. His family said jail staff failed to provide lifesaving medical care.
The Liberty erased a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes.
The Chicago White Sox on Wednesday were set to honor Black baseball pioneers with the Double Duty Classic at Rate Field.
Iowa announced a fall exhibition game against Kansas at the Field of Dreams ballpark, where major and minor league games have been played since 2021.
A night after losing the series opener 10-3, the Rangers (51-50) finished with a season-high 18 hits and avoided falling below .500 for the first time since June 27.
Chicago collected 11 hits while improving to 23-10 in its last 33 games, bouncing back nicely after losing 8-6 in 10 innings in the series opener on Monday night.
Three men have been convicted of a string of violent robberies targeting liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago in 2023 and 2024.
Chicago police this week warned of a pattern of robberies in which the thieves approach the victims in public and rip away their gold necklaces.
The Cook County State's Attorney will not be filing charges in a fatal shooting outside a bar in Lincoln Park that resulted in the bar being shut down Tuesday.
A bar on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Park community was shut down by Chicago police Tuesday morning, days after a fight broke out at a party in the bar and led to a fatal shooting.
A man was shot and wounded early Tuesday in the Wentworth Gardens public housing development just south of Rate Field.
