Check back often for the latest news.

• No sports complex chorus grows
  Mar 13, 2010 — Effingham Daily News
  The property tax portion of TIF No. 1 will expire in 2020. While in the TIF district, the property tax revenue from that business flows into a special fund that can be used only within the TIF district. Everything is in place with the budget and (Effingham County) Community Foundation.
• Raise taxes or cut education, Quinn says
  Mar 12, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  Ray Long, Monique Garcia and Bob Secter Mar. 11, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- -- Democratic Gov. I have made some difficult, painful choices in this budget. You must make some tough choices as well." Republican state Sen.
• Animal activists target big breeders and puppy mills
  Mar 11, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  He houses the dogs in four prefabricated buildings off a private rural road, surrounded by farm fields dotted by oil pumps. Nationally, there were laws that protected animals from abuse before children were granted the same protection. That changed in 1874, when the first child abuse case in the United States was prosecuted in New York with the help of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• Durflinger skeptical lawmakers will support tax increase
  Mar 11, 2010 — Journal Star
  I can't believe anyone is going to support a tax increase before the November election. Back then, the lottery was sold to help education when the state budget was in trouble. Once the lottery was approved the proceeds were placed in the general fund for education.
• Municipalities would lose funds under Quinn plan
  Mar 11, 2010 — Jacksonville Journal-Courier
  Pat Quinn said Wednesday during his State of the Budget speech that he wants to see the amount the state pays to municipal governments from state income taxes lowered.
• Protesters say no to 'Obamacare'
  Mar 11, 2010 — Belleville News-Democrat
  Anderson has been a nurse for 30 years. "I believe the administration feels that if it keeps hammering at the public long enough it will give up. I don't want them to be beholden to another nation because of debt.
• Leaders, legislators and candidates come together at reception
  Mar 10, 2010 — Journal Star
  Hosted by the area chambers of commerce, the event that included light appetizers is designed to help bridge the communication gap between local business leaders and state officials. State Sen. There's just no way of sugarcoating this thing," Koehler said. The state is facing a $13 billion to $14 billion deficit. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, and Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, and state Reps.
• Officials fear budget will lead to more Peoria layoffs
  Mar 10, 2010 — Journal Star
  Pat Quinn's proposed budget plan is heavy on borrowing and pushing off old debts. Two: Continue to add programs and expenses and not fund them. Three: Continue a spending pattern that structurally accelerates insolvency.
• SMGS Foundation names executive director
  Mar 10, 2010 — Mt. Vernon Register-News
  VERNON -- Bruce Flanigan has been named the executive director for the St. Mary's Good Samaritan Foundation. Flanigan will serve as the director for the campuses in Centralia and Mt. Vernon, and the newly remodeled intensive care unit at St.
• Women's Health Night offers wide variety of demonstrations
  Mar 10, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  Last fall, Nathan was named Healthcare Executive of the Year by the American Academy of Medical Administrators. The award honors the memory of Keeran, who died in 2001. She was a community leader known for her work with OSF St.
• D118 pink slips go out
  Mar 9, 2010 — Commercial-News
  If we can offer small classes and the budget is in the black, we will do it.
• Taxpayers' ideas to fix state budget are practical, peculiar
  Mar 9, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  Pat Quinn asked taxpayers across the state to weigh in on how they'd bring financial stability to Illinois. They had their own agendas," said John Blake, of St. Charles, who left his ideas on the state Web site. "But maybe things have reached a boiling point, maybe they will actually listen.
• Chicago Tribune Jon Hilkevitch column
  Mar 8, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  The top scale for CTA rail operators, $28.13 an hour, is slightly less than for bus drivers.
• CTA pay for bus drivers is No. 3 in nation
  Mar 8, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  The top scale for CTA rail operators, $28.13 an hour, is slightly less than for bus drivers.
• Durbin to insurance companies
  Mar 8, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  Can't do it." David Kogan owns DKP Image + Media in the West Loop. He said health insurance rates for three employees went up from $926 a month in 2005 to $2,516 in 2008. In 2009, the business downgraded to two employees: himself and his son.
• Final straw
  Mar 7, 2010 — Commercial-News
  Formulated scenarios, at worst, call for the most drastic step of dropping nine programs and 53 employees from the health department.
• Legislators discuss education funding cuts
  Mar 6, 2010 — Mt. Vernon Register-News
  Marie). "Last year schools saw this poorly designed budget after the RIF date. Quinn published a brief outline of his budget proposal last week on the state's Web site. Quinn's office launched a Web site invited the public to participate in the budgeting process and provide feedback for the 2011 budget.
• Budget crisis keeps inmates from needed mental help
  Mar 5, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  ...bed limitations at McFarland MHC," said Green. With 41 beds available -- 26 for adults and 15 for youths -- McFarland currently has a shortage of beds available for mentally unfit defendants, said Green. The delays point to the lack of funding available for mental health services at all levels, said Robb. "If people received community-based services they wouldn't be waiting to go to McFarland to be restored to fitness," said Robb. Public defender Brian McEldowney...
• Extension seeks public input as cuts force reorganization
  Mar 4, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  Contact McLean County unit office, 309-663-8306, about carpooling. Can't make it?
• Legislative gamesmanship on state budget
  Mar 4, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  Senate Democrats started a series of what-if hearings to show the pain and suffering that would result from 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts in state government. That just happens to be the central premise of probable Republican governor nominee Sen. The Senate sent the borrowing bill to the House on a 43-14 roll call, with one present, as Republicans argued the state is borrowing too much.
• State stops base funding of colleges
  Mar 4, 2010 — Mt. Vernon Register-News
  Tesa Culli Mar. 4, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- MT. That would put us down $4 million." Rend Lake College isn't the only Southern Illinois community college that is being affected by the state budget and lack of payments. Shawnee Community College in Ullin is facing a $2 million shortfall in its $14 million budget and recently increased tuition to $10 a credit hour beginning in the summer semester.
• Peoria County, Ill., officials discuss county's low health rankings
  Mar 3, 2010 — Journal Star
  We're not going to reduce the number of obese individuals in Peoria County in five years.
• Carle Foundation Hospital CPA presses for merger delay
  Mar 2, 2010 — The News-Gazette
  It doesn't matter to them that you approached us." At a Nov. 4 public hearing, Carle Foundation CEO Dr. James Leonard said the fair market value of Health Alliance reflects "a significant portion" of the purchase price. We are confident that this valuation is fair and reasonable and is consistent with federal and state requirements," Leonard said. Kallembach said he took his concerns to state Sen.
• Smaller primary care doctors receive help with fed grant
  Mar 1, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  Gail Amundson, chief executive officer of Quality Quest for Health in Illinois. More than $7.5 million is coming to Illinois.
• County schools feel funding pinch
  Feb 27, 2010 — Mt. Vernon Register-News
  With the county schools, we are pretty bare bones as it is. But people don't understand we have to spend that money on transportation, not on text books. ... Those funds are earmarked, or allocated. I use the example that if we get a grant for paper clips, we have to buy paper clips and only paper clips.
• Prospect of more cuts looms for struggling schools
  Feb 27, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  District 87, a $1.8 million deficit is projected this fiscal year in the $48 million education fund budget, said David Wood, the district's chief financial officer. The school board approved $1.3 million in budget cuts Wednesday. The district previously projected a $3.5 million deficit in the education fund for 2010-11. "It will probably get worse," Wood said. Randy Vincent, superintendent of Minonk-based Fieldcrest school district, said the district and its taxpayers have done...
• Chicago Public Schools chief warns of billion-dollar deficit
  Feb 26, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  He said the cuts are a measure to prepare for the looming 2011 deficit. The affected staff already have had six furlough days this school year. CPS plans for next year so far do not take into account Gov.
• Chicago Tribune John Kass column
  Feb 25, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  They were foolish to get trapped in his so-called summit on national health care. As an acolyte of the Chicago Democratic machine, he's seen muscle at work in Daleyland. After the Hopium smokers nod off to pleasant dreams, what counts is who has the muscle.
• HMO plan for Medicaid patients draws fire
  Feb 25, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  Esther Golar, D-Chicago, chairwoman of the House Disability Services Committee. Another key concern is whether there will be an adequate network of medical care providers.
• BRIEF
  Feb 24, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  The long-range goal is the creation of a regional collaborative structure. The funding allowed the EDC to hire Cheryl Harvey as its regional healthcare workforce associate. Her duties include promoting group facilitation and regional collaboration to address identified needs. Harvey previously served as program director and case manager for a mental health outreach coalition. She also has experience as an adjunct professor at Gavilan Community College, Gilroy, Calif.
• Illinois stuck in a 'historic, epic' budget crisis: Talk of major tax increases coupled with draconian spending cuts is building in Springfield
  Feb 24, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
  Delay only added billions of dollars more to the projected deficit. Illinois is hardly the only state reeling from the recession. But a long and bipartisan history of wishing financial problems away has rendered state government here particularly vulnerable. Budget pressures began to mount in Illinois long before the economic downturn. Next year, debt service on that loan will cost $800 million.
• Grant might help with local upgrade for electronic health records
  Feb 23, 2010 — The Pantagraph
  Gail Amundson, chief executive officer of Quality Quest for Health in Illinois. More than $7.5 million is coming to Illinois.