States Miss Budget Deadline, Go Into Full Or Partial Shutdown Mode
New Jersey, Maine and Illinois couldn't resolve budget impasses, while Washington and Alaska managed eleventh-hour deals.
Illinois
After 2 Years Without A Budget, Debt And Pain Are Mounting In Illinois
The state has nearly $15 billion in unpaid bills due to a standoff between Republicans and Democrats. The most vulnerable people in Illinois are feeling the pain of the standoff.
Illinois Bishop Decrees No Communion, Funeral Rites For Same-Sex Spouses
Bishop Thomas Paprocki is telling priests in his diocese not to offer sacraments to people in same-sex marriages. A Catholic LGBT group calls the decree "mean-spirited and unchristian in the extreme."
Tired Of Promises, A Struggling Small Town Wants Problems Solved
There's a lot of talk about how to revive small towns, especially in the rural Midwest, which Donald Trump carried easily. Visit Cairo, Ill., and at times it feels like a place on life support.
How To Make Farmers Love Cover Crops? Pay Them
New satellite images reveal that few Midwestern farmers are planting pollution-preventing "cover crops." In Maryland, though, farmers are doing it, thanks to hefty subsidies.
With New Law, Illinois Stylists Join The Fight Against Domestic Violence
The state law requires salon professionals to get abuse-prevention training during their licensing process. Lawmakers and stylists hope to use a unique relationship with clients to prevent abuse.
'Your Parents Came All The Way From Thailand': Senator Wrongly Hits Rival On Heritage
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk's racially charged comment about Democrat Tammy Duckworth has made his already slim chances of holding his seat that much harder.
How To Lose The Senate In 82 Days
Senate Republicans are bracing for down-ballot losses that are likely to cost the party their Senate majority this year.
Some Trump RNC Delegates Surprised About Paying Their Own Way To Cleveland
Hotel rooms can cost $300 a night for delegates, who also have to pay for their own travel and meals. Some are turning to crowdfunding sites to pay for their trips.
The View From Illinois: Voters Frustrated That Government Is Broken
Across the state, some argued to blow up the system, while others cautioned against a wholesale political revolution. But voters in both parties agreed: Government in its current form is not working.