SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has appointed a state lawmaker as director of the state’s Veterans Affairs department after his first choice stepped down.

The Democrat on Friday named state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia. The former Army officer was named in place of Army Lt. Col. ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration estimates Illinois faces a more-than $3 billion deficit in its next budget year.

A report Friday by the Democrat indicates the ...

CHICAGO (AP) — A new study by the American Lung Association says Illinois is not doing enough to reduce tobacco use.

The report titled “State of Tobacco Control” gives Illinois grades in funding for smoking cessation and prevention programs, tobacco taxation and access to existing ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has directed his administration to enhance efforts to eliminate HIV.

The Democrat signed an executive order in Rockford Friday to re-establish state funding for testing and treatment programs he says former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner ...

CHICAGO (AP) — A University of Illinois graduate who leads a Chicago-based private equity firm has been elected chairman of the university system’s Board of Trustees.

Donald Edwards was unanimously elected to a one-year term during the board’s meeting Thursday.

Edwards earned his ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has appointed five people to the nine-member University of Illinois board of trustees.

Pritzker announced the appointments Thursday morning ahead of a board meeting in Chicago. The appointments include former Democratic state ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says state employees will be placed on the correct step of the state pay plan on April 1.

The reinstatement of long-postponed, experience-based salary increases is expected to affect about 20,000 state workers represented by the American ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services says she’s stepping down next month.

Beverly “BJ” Walker told the

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking the Illinois Supreme Court for more time to consider legal options on his predecessor’s claim that negotiations with the state’s largest public employee union are at a stalemate.

The Democrat’s lawyers asked the court Thursday for a ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration reclassified thousands of state jobs so an applicant’s political loyalty and connections may no longer be considered during the hiring process, according to a former administration official.

Joe Hartzler, who was a ...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State University is to receive $9.6 million in state money to pay for emergency repairs to its fine arts buildings.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered a health and safety audit of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs after a case of Legionnaire’s Disease was discovered at the Manteno veteran’s home.

The Democrat toured the home Friday before signing an order for a report within ...

LINCOLN, Ill. (AP) — Former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has reduced the 75-year prison sentence for a central Illinois man convicted in 1996 of fatally shooting his grandparents.

Rauner granted the reduction Friday for 38-year-old Jon Morgan, who confessed at age 14 to killing Lila and ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation that gives the Illinois Department of Corrections authority to sell the closed Hardin County Work Camp to Hardin County for $1.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Latest on the new Illinois legislative session (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

The new session of the Illinois Legislature is underway with the largest percentage of Democratic lawmakers serving in Springfield in more than five decades.

Democratic ...

MANTENO, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs says it’s taking action after a case of Legionnaires’ disease was confirmed at a home for veterans.

The department says it was alerted early Tuesday by hospital medical staff that a resident of the Manteno Veterans’ Home had ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Latest on action in the Illinois General Assembly (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

Gov. Bruce Rauner is highlighting school-funding reform, cutting red tape for businesses, curbs against government unionization and efforts to clip conflicts of interest in his ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has approved plans for enhanced safety at underground natural gas storage facilities.

The Republican signed legislation Friday which authorizes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to implement federal regulations for minimum safety ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A private investigator wants Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner to free a man serving life for a woman’s 1989 slaying.

The Springfield State Journal-Register ...

DETROIT (AP) — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has rejected Michigan’s offer of $8 million to support a project to keep invasive carp from establishing themselves in the Great Lakes, saying the money wouldn’t be useful for at least 10 years.

Rauner said in a letter to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has named three cabinet members to replace top aides who are retiring.

The Republican named replacements Friday for Transportation Secretary Randall Blankenhorn, Agriculture Director Raymond Poe and Kirk Lonbom, secretary of the Department of ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is seeking federal aid for residents and businesses in four counties recovering from a rare December tornado outbreak.

Rauner said Friday he’s asked the U.S. Small Business Administration for a disaster declaration that would open up ...

QUINCY, Ill. (AP) — State officials are ready to display the final master plan for redevelopment of the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy.

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs has scheduled an open house Tuesday at Lippincott Hall on the campus. The public may view the plan from 4 ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials say that Airbnb’s ban on lodging listings in the disputed West Bank violates state law.

The Investment Policy Board ’s vote Wednesday followed Gov. Bruce Rauner’s request last ...

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is urging his Illinois counterpart to help pay for a project to keep invasive carp from establishing themselves in the Great Lakes.

Snyder sent a

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the state’s motor-fuel tax should be increased to fund highway and bridge improvements.

The Democrat and colleagues from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus said Tuesday the 19-cents-per-gallon tax should be

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Residents and businesses impacted by severe weather and tornadoes this month in central Illinois’ Christian County may request waivers of penalties and interest on state taxes if they can’t file their returns or make payments on time.

The waivers apply to ...

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker says the state’s best days are ahead as he helped celebrate Illinois’ 200th birthday at a gala celebration in Chicago.

The Illinois Bicentennial party took place Monday night ...

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (AP) — The National Weather Service says multiple tornadoes touched down in central Illinois, damaging dozens of structures and injuring at least 20 people.

Meteorologist Chris Geelhart says the twisters occurred Saturday evening along the Illinois River and near ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois turns 200 on Monday. And the state has a gala celebration planned

The Illinois Bicentennial party that organizers have arranged at Chicago’s Navy Pier will be at times solemn, like a Cahokia Woodhenge solstice observed 1,000 years ago by some of the ...

CHICAGO (AP) — An opponent to legal marijuana in Illinois says it will allow white corporate exploitation of minority customers.

Chicago activist the Rev. Gregory Seal Livingston on Wednesday called the effort to take over a lucrative illegal market “a gangsta move worthy of Al Capone.” He ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Latest on action in the Illinois General Assembly (all times local):

6 p.m.

A Democratic lawmaker pushing regulation for so-called peer-to-peer car rentals says he will continue negotiating a resolution.

House Deputy Majority Leader Arthur Turner of ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — People who are harmed or injured in incidents that are the state government’s fault will be eligible for damage awards of as much as $2 million after the state House voted to override a veto by Gov. Bruce Rauner Tuesday.

The House voted 71-36 to override a veto on ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Senate on Wednesday rejected Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation designed to ensure immigrant crime victims who cooperate with police get the assistance they need to stay in the country.

The 40-12 vote to override the Republican’s veto came just a ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Latest on the Illinois General Assembly’s fall session (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

The Senate has failed to overturn a veto on legislation that would withdraw Illinois from contentious multistate voter registration system.

The vote to override Gov. ...