Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

Wednesday, August 15, 2012  JWCC 2013 budget is 4% lower than the 2012 budget.

Sunday, June 24, 2012  Sunday, taxes on cigarettes in Illinois rose a full $1 per pack. The tax rate for cigarettes rose from $0.98 to $1.98.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012  Illinois lawmakers have approved raising cigarette taxes by one dollar a pack.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011  Local Regional Office of Education budget eliminated

Friday, June 10, 2011 

Monday, March 14, 2011  The future of all Pre-K programs in Illinois are up in the air these days, which could affect all of the programs in our area. Lawmakers are looking at possible cuts to the Early Childhood Block Grant to help trim the state budget. Those grant dollars help at-risk children attend pre-school.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010  The Illinois House has approved key pieces of a Democratic budget plan that attempts to address the state's massive budget deficit.

Thursday, May 21, 2009  Illinois lawmakers say that are still dicussing the budget.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007  The Illinois House is pushing ahead with efforts to overturn the millions of dollars in cuts Governor Rod Blagojevich made to the state budget.

Thursday, August 23, 2007  A big sigh of relief Thursday in Illinois, but some groans of uneasiness. Governor Rod Blagojevich signed most of the state budget into law on Thursday. But not before vetoing nearly $500 million in what he calls "pork projects" the state can't afford.

Thursday, August 23, 2007  The Illinois governor's approval Thursday of a state budget put the state's check-writers on overtime and legislative leaders scratching their heads.

Thursday, August 23, 2007  Some of the cuts Governor Rod Blagojevich is making to the state budget raise questions about political payback.

Thursday, August 23, 2007  Governor Rod Blagojevich has approved most of a new state budget, 23 days after the old budget expired, but he vetoed $463 million in spending.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007  Defying legislators, the Democratic governor says he'll slash $500 million from the budget approved by the General Assembly and increase spending for several health care programs he favors. But House Speaker Michael Madigan Wednesday called that plan "contrary to the Constitution."

Friday, August 10, 2007  The Illinois House has approved a state budget Friday that would increase education spending and hire about 1,100 new government employees. However, there is little new money for other services.