After Yearlong Budget Impasse, Optimism Growing In Springfield
State lawmakers were holding their breath Wednesday night over a tentative deal to end the epic budget stalemate.
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State lawmakers were holding their breath Wednesday night over a tentative deal to end the epic budget stalemate.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and leaders in the Illinois Legislature continued meetings Wednesday to negotiate a short-term budget deal during the state's epic one-year stalemate.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and majority Democrats were pushing competing plans to ensure schools stay open and government operations continue, though there were signs late Tuesday that the two sides could reach a deal on stopgap spending as Illinois approaches a second year without a full state budget.
A day before state lawmakers were set to return to Springfield for another try at a stopgap budget plan, the governor and legislative leaders seemed to be sending mixed signals about the chances for a deal.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said Monday he's close to a compromise with Democratic lawmakers on a partial-year budget plan with just three days left in the fiscal year, but said that's not the case on legislation he favors to open public schools on time.
Illinois's entire social services landscape is sinking, pulled under by the weight of the state's budget quarrel. Thousands are suffering.
A top Republican lawmaker said it's likely the Illinois General Assembly will reach an agreement on a stopgap budget deal soon, but long-term solutions might take a while.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool told CBS 2 that CPS and many other districts in Illinois would be unable to open in fall if Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly cannot agree on some type of budget deal and approve funding for public schools across the state.
Illinois lawmakers signaled Monday they won't have a budget deal before a key deadline, leaving the state hurtling toward another fiscal year without a spending plan and bringing further uncertainty to public schools, colleges, and social services providers.
The emails started arriving as heads were still spinning in the state Capitol over Democrats ramming through a state budget proposal. The missives from Republicans on Wednesday accused the majority party of approving a plan that's out of balance by $7 billion.
Illinois legislative leaders are meeting again with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Sunday to try to settle a dispute that has left the state without a budget for 11 months, but the chances that they'll find agreement before the Legislature adjourns in two days are slim.
The rally comes just hours after the Illinois House approved Speaker Michael Madigan's budget plan, which would add $700 million for public schools statewide, including $287 million in additional funding for CPS.
Amid howls of protest from Republicans, the Democratic-led Illinois House passed a spending plan for next year Wednesday without considering any of the pro-business legislation GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner wants as part of a deal to end an historic budget stalemate.
The study for the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, found the average salary for state workers here, when adjusted for cost of living, is just over $59,000 – about $10,000 more than the national average.
Illinois House Democrats advanced a $3.9 billion measure to fund colleges and human services programs while the state operates without a budget.
Governor Bruce Rauner said he's ready to sit down at talk with House Speaker Michael Madigan about budget issues, though he's not publicly suggesting he is backing off any of his previous positions, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley takes a look at the sky-high money that's being spent on two races for low-level offices.
In a rare move, President Barack Obama is joining the fray in an Illinois House race, backing a first-time candidate against a Democratic incumbent in a race that has become a proxy war in the battle between Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Governor Bruce Rauner said he's supporting legislation to make money available for higher education and scholarships for students, but he insists his nemesis, House Speaker Michael Madigan, is standing in the way, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
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.
There is a push to unseat arguably the most powerful politician in Illinois: Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.
The Chicago Democrat says the political establishment -- led by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan -- is behind a smear campaign. CBS 2's Mike Parker reports.
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.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has postponed the Nov. 18 budget summit because a family matter will prevent House Speaker Michael Madigan from attending.
The Democratic state lawmaker who thwarted House Speaker Michael Madigan's plan to overrule Gov. Bruce Rauner on two crucial votes this week said he hopes his action helps bring more compromises in Springfield.
Treating rare neurological diseases in children is a difficult, sometimes gut-wrenching process with no guarantees, but a Chicago doctor is determined to extend and save lives.
Former Robbins Police Chief Carl Scott, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to beating a man in an interview room, apologized on Friday and took accountability for what happened.
Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and the Indiana Pacers beat the struggling Chicago Bulls 120-105 on Friday night.
It was supposed to be a memorable day at the Bears game for a Chicago family, but they said not only did they not get into Soldier Field, they believe they were scammed out of about $15,000.
A plumbing worker's windshield was damaged Friday afternoon when a chunk of snow or ice fell from a semi-truck in front of him as he was driving in Chicago's far northwestern suburbs.
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide the legality of President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship.
President Trump has led the charge to create more GOP-friendly congressional districts in the 2026 midterm elections.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is set to retire in 2026, but before he leaves Congress he is making one last attempt to pass the DREAM Act.
Former Chicago Tribune publisher and editor-in-chief R. Bruce Dold passed away this week.
Authorities say the FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
The Food and Drug Administration is warning about additional cookware brands that could be leaching lead into your food.
Walgreens said it will close its office space in Chicago's Old Post Office building.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
Two pregnant Black women recently faced alarming neglect at hospitals in Indiana and Texas, highlighting racial disparities in maternal care.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill aimed at protecting vaccine access in Illinois.
Roseland Community Hospital on Monday celebrated the opening of a new sickle cell treatment clinic.
Consumers with the imported pans should throw them away due to the severe health risks posed by lead, the agency warns.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
Small Business Saturday was disrupted by the winter storm for many business owners in Chicago, but in the Rogers Park neighborhood, a group of business owners came together to draw customers.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
A federal judge has called out an immigration enforcement agent for using artificial intelligence to write the narrative of a use-of-force report as just a small part of a scathing opinion that rebutted federal officials' narratives about appropriate force used against protesters and others during an ongoing immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Frank Gehry was known for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Netflix on Friday said it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
Starting Wednesday, riders on the Chicago Transit Authority system will hear a recognizable Chicago voice during their commutes.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
Joe Colborn, better known as Joe "JoBo" Bohannon on Chicago radio, died this week.
Meteorologist David Yeomans has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
A look into the pain and the hope of treating rare neurological diseases in children; it's a difficult, sometimes gut-wrenching process with no guarantees, but a Chicago doctor is determined to extend and save lives.
Former Robbins Police Chief Carl Scott, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to beating a man in an interview room, apologized on Friday and took accountability for what happened.
It was supposed to be a memorable day at the Bears game for a Chicago family, but they said not only did they not get into Soldier Field, they believe they were scammed out of about $15,000.
A plumbing worker's windshield was damaged Friday afternoon when a chunk of snow or ice fell from a semi-truck in front of him as he was driving in Chicago's far northwestern suburbs.
Carl Scott, who pleaded guilty to beating a man in an interview room, apologized and took accountability for what happened.
Chicago firefighters were called to a two-alarm building fire near a school on the city's Northwest Side Friday afternoon.
It was supposed to be a memorable day at the Bears game for a Chicago family, but they said not only did they not get into Soldier Field, they believe they were scammed out of about $15,000.
A chunk of falling concrete broke through the windshield of an SUV on Friday afternoon, injuring a driver on the Stevenson Expressway near the Archer Heights neighborhood on the Southwest Side of Chicago.
Treating rare neurological diseases in children is a difficult, sometimes gut-wrenching process with no guarantees, but a Chicago doctor is determined to extend and save lives.
A Chicago woman battling ALS said she's been struggling just to get a disabled parking space in front of her Bridgeport home.
Days after new Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach ordered an urgent review of the county's electronic monitoring program, Sheriff Tom Dart said this crisis isn't new, and that he's been warning lawmakers of problems for years.
Charles Beach was sworn in on Monday as Cook County's first new chief judge in 24 years, and takes over amid a political firestorm over what appears to be systemic issues with how accused criminals are being monitored before trial.
Some Chicagoans found out the hard way on Monday that the overnight winter parking ban is in effect.
The electronic monitoring system in Cook County has come under increased scrutiny, after a woman was set on fire in a horrific arson attack on the Blue Line, with critics demanding answers as to why the suspect wasn't already behind bars.
Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and the Indiana Pacers beat the struggling Chicago Bulls 120-105 on Friday night.
Sitting in 1st-place in the NFC standings isn't the only feel-good story for the Bears, as cornerback Nahshon Wright was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Month.
The Bulls dropped to 9-12 with their fifth loss in a row.
Braeden Bowman forced overtime for the Golden Knights when he put in his own rebound with 2:28 left in the third period.
Caleb Williams plans on picking up right where he left off the last time he faced the Packers.
The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy," which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg.
Authorities say the FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
A woman from Chicago's northwest suburbs appeared in court Thursday for a shooting that killed another woman in the South Loop in September.
The man charged with pushing a CTA passenger onto the tracks at a Blue Line station in Chicago's western suburbs on Monday was ordered held in jail, after repeatedly interrupting the judge and prosecutors during his first court appearance on Wednesday.
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group.
