Pat Quinn

The National 9/11 Flag is unveiled at the Kennedy Space Center in February. Survivors of the Joplin tornado put the final stitches in the flag over the weekend.

Morning Headlines: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011

Rachel Lippmann

Tornado survivors finish National 9/11 flagSurvivors of the massive tornado that devastated Joplin in May put the final stitches yesterday in the National…

Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn, shown here taking the oath of office, has announced plans to lay off 1,900 workers and close seven state facilities as part of an ongoing budget battle with lawmakers.

Quinn to close seven state institutions, lay off 1,900 workers

Reporting from Illinois Public Radio's Sean Crawford and WBEZ's Sam Hudzik was used in this story.Gov. Pat Quinn says he will need to lay off 1,900 state…

Judge rules against Ill. union on canceled raises for state workers

A federal judge has ruled against state employees in a dispute over whether Gov. Pat Quinn can cancel raises promised in union contracts.The American…

A Mo. Senate committee has endorsed a measure to repeal a new law restricting teachers' interaction with students over website, such as Facebook.

Morning headlines: Thursday, September 8, 2011

Marshall Griffin

Mo. Senate to consider new measure repealing teacher social media restrictionsA Mo. Senate committee has endorsed a measure to repeal a contentious new…

Ill. gov. Pat Quinn says job reductions are possible to help the state close a record budget gap. Sources tell the Chicago Tribune that state facilities may also be closed.

State job cuts, facility closures possible in Ill.

Updated with comments from Quinn, unions and lawmakers.Reporting from WBEZ's Sam Hudzik and Illinois Public Radio's Sean Crawford was used in this…

Illinois governor grants 74 clemencies, denies 99

Gov. Pat Quinn has granted 74 clemencies and denied 99 petitions, chipping away at a backlog of more than 2,500 cases in Illinois.Quinn's office says that…

A dispute over salaries for Ill. regional superintendents is headed back to court.

Morning headlines: Thursday, August 25, 2011

Dispute over Ill. regional superintendent salaries heads to courtThe superintendents have sued the state in an effort to restore salaries that were cut by…

At Illinois State Fair, Illinois GOP says budget, economy key issues for next year

Illinois Republicans say the state budget and national economy are key to their political fortunes next year.They hope to chip away at the Democratic…

Horses race to the finish line at Fairmount Park Racetrack. The Jumbotron shows the action, and its age in the background. About $14 million will go to the racetrack in a recent account release. Some of the money will be used for upgrades and repairs.

Ill. gambling bill still up in the air while horse racing industry gets influx of cash

A decision by lawmakers to approve a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois has been followed by two months of delay as Gov. Pat Quinn studies the…

Quinn uses veto pen on legislative scholarships

Gov. Pat Quinn is trying to use his veto power to end the long practice of Illinois lawmakers handing out college scholarships.Quinn vetoed legislation…