State

SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Unable to overcome a stalemate on the state's $97 billion pension crisis, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders are working on a new plan that involves forming a bipartisan committee this week and reconvening the Legislature for an additional session in July.

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois residents using mobile phones are wasting $1.4 billion a year by signing up for the wrong cellphone data plan, according to a consumer advocacy group's study released Tuesday.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is granting the Illinois attorney general more time to decide on an appeal over the carrying of concealed weapons.

CARMI (AP) — The list of Illinois counties where prosecutors have decided not to prosecute people for carrying concealed weapons is growing.

MOLINE (AP) — Aldermen in the western Illinois city of Moline are getting ready to decide whether residents should be allowed to own chickens within city limits.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) — The Illinois Legislature's special session will cost about $40,000 a day, which includes a $111 daily payment to lawmakers to defray the cost of food and lodging while they work in the state capitol.

Quinn signs into law tough fracking regulations

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation giving the state the nation's strictest regulations for high-volume oil and gas drilling.

CHICAGO (AP) — A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn says he has fully backed the tough pension proposal supported by the Illinois House and has "fought hard" to get it passed.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for another monthlong extension of time to decide whether to appeal a lower court order allowing citizens to carry concealed guns.

CHICAGO (AP) — Advocacy group Equality Illinois says it's getting ready to launch a $500,000 effort to promote gay marriage ahead of the 2014 election.

CARBONDALE (AP) — Administrators are making counselors available to students at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale after a student died in a weekend traffic crash.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – As lawmakers strain again this week to find a fix for the state’s $97 billion pension crisis, the stalemate between House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton highlights the evolving relationship between two powerful Democratic friends who’ve seldom had such a prolonged disagreement on such an urgent issue.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Fatal motorcycle accidents are up 13 percent in Illinois, according to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Hospital investigates snapshots during surgery

Retirement pay would be tied to inflation

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Miss Illinois was among the top five finalists, but lost the Miss USA title to a 25-year-old contestant from Connecticut Sunday night in Las Vegas.

More than Ashford faculty exempt from voluntary resignation program

CHICAGO (AP) — A solution to Illinois' worst-in-the-nation state pension crisis remained far from reach Friday, as legislative leaders and Gov. Pat Quinn said they would try again to pass a plan backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan — one that failed in the Senate last month and is unlikely to pass next week.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Public Schools says its plan to close 50 schools and programs means that it will have to lay off nearly 850 workers.