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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Democrats say they have enough votes to approve gay marriage on the floor of the Illinois Senate.

But Thursday's vote poses a challenge for Republicans.

After suffering big losses at the polls last fall, GOP leaders in Illinois and nationwide said the party needs to be more inclusive and diverse.

But after Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady publicly backed same sex marriage during January's lame-duck legislative session, members of the more conservative wing of his party called for his ouster. Opponents also pledged to fund primary challenges to any Republican who voted in favor of the bill.

The conflict comes as voters' feelings are shifting rapidly in favor of gay rights.

If the Senate approves the measure, it will move to the House.

Students at one Washington County school will have Valentines Day off. A broken boiler is forcing officials to cancel classes at St. Joachim School in Old Mines, Missouri Thursday.

The principal says they hope to have repairs completed in time for school on Friday.

A good Samaritan is being credited with coming to the aid of a dementia patient who'd wandered away from a New Athens nursing home.

Eighty-four year old Arthur Crowl was discovered missing just after 7 a.m. Wednesday by staff at the New Athens Home for the Aged on South Johnson Street.

New Athens Detective Ray Wilson says Crowl had been wearing only pajamas when he was found walking along a side road just after 8 a.m. A motorist picked him up, took him to a nearby gas station and called authorities.

Detective Wilson says Crowl was taken to the hospital as a precaution, but seemed to be unharmed.