Rauner approves streamlined school-construction pilot

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a law allowing schools to use a streamlined approach to construction. The Republican approved the legislation Thursday for a pilot program allowing schools to use a so-called design-build

Former state Comptroller Hynes among Pritzker’s top staff

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker has named former state Comptroller Dan Hynes as deputy governor among top staff picks. The Democrat also announced Thursday that state Rep. Christian Mitchell and education advocate Jesse Ruiz will

Rural bankers survey climbs back up to growth level

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of rural bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests the regional economy is growing. The overall index of the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet survey for December climbed

Man says he found gun that led Chicago cops to train tracks

CHICAGO (AP) – The man police were searching for when two Chicago officers were struck and killed by a train says he didn’t know police were looking for him following reports of gunfire. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi

Springfield ordered to pay another $54K in panhandling cases

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – A federal judge has ordered the city of Springfield to pay another $54,000 to civil rights attorneys who represented two panhandlers in a legal fight over the city’s anti-panhandling ordinances. The State Journal-Register