State News

SPRINGFIELD – A $1.95 million federal grant will go toward building a transit station in Rockford.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration will comb records for Medicaid fraud without the federal government’s approval.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois officials say they’re trying to protect the state’s black walnut trees from a deadly fungus that has killed thousands of trees in the western United States.

CHICAGO – More than half of Illinois voters disapprove of Gov. Pat Quinn’s job performance, and just 30 percent approve of what he’s done, according to a recent poll.

CHICAGO – Sen. Mark Kirk has left the Chicago hospital where he was treated after his stroke last month and has been transferred to a rehabilitation center.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's administration will start combing records for Medicaid fraud despite not having the federal government's approval.

NORMAL – Illinois is now fourth in the nation in terms of wind-farm electric capacity behind Texas, Iowa and California, according to the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Employment Security plans to garnish the state tax returns of people who wrongfully collected unemployment insurance.

CHICAGO – Illinois is expected to receive about $1 billion in a multistate settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage lenders, Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced Thursday.

CHAMPAIGN – Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday he believes Caterpillar’s decision to bypass Illinois while it looks to build a new plant and relocate some of its Japanese operations was based almost entirely on Illinois’ lack of ocean access and had little to do with the state’s business climate.

CHICAGO – Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed statewide legislation Thursday to require handgun owners to register their weapons, calling it a common sense measure that would protect the rights of responsible owners while keeping illegal firearms off the streets.

CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says homeowners who believe they’re entitled to reimbursements from a multistate settlement with large mortgage lenders or who have questions can contact a help line set up by the office.

WHEATON – A suburban Chicago basketball coach and substitute teacher has been charged with sexually abusing a student.

ROCKFORD – Rockford is looking to enlist residents and their dogs for volunteer patrols to keep Canada geese from taking over parks and paths.

CHAMPAIGN – Caterpillar has ruled Illinois out of plans to relocate a factory and 1,400 jobs from Japan, citing both logistical problems with building the plant in its home state and ongoing concerns about the business climate.