SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Democrats approved a $3.9 billion bill to fund colleges and various social service programs while the state operates without a budget, but their plan is expected to be rejected by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Republicans have blasted the proposal, saying Democrats have not shown how they will pay for it…
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Donald Trump was showing off his knowledge of all things Pennsylvania during a Pittsburgh rally when he asked a baffling question – about Penn State’s famed football coach. “How’s Joe Paterno?” Trump asked supporters Wednesday night. “Are we gonna bring that back?” Paterno died in January 2012 just months after being dismissed…
ST. LOUIS (AP) – David Backes scored at 9:04 of overtime on a shot that deflected off a Chicago Blackhawks defenseman, and the St. Louis Blues took the series opener 1-0 over the defending Stanley Cup champions on Wednesday night. Backes’ shot got past Corey Crawford after bouncing off Trevor Van Riemsdyk’s skate. Defensemen Jay…
(KTRS) – State lawmakers are hammering St. Louis County election directors over problems in last week’s elections. The Post-Dispatch reports that election officials say the problems were the result of several factors. Among them is a new requirement that touch-screen machines had to be used for the presidential primary on March 15. Officials say there…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois House approved a measure that would give victims of sexual abuse up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work following the incident. Democratic Rep. Camille Lilly of Chicago says the proposal expands an existing law that currently protects employees of large companies to ones at small businesses. The…
(KTRS) – The VP Parade is returning to downtown St. Louis after moving to Forest Park for two years. The theme of this year’s parade if “Hats Off to Heroes” and will step off from Seventh and Market Streets at 10 a.m. on July 2. Fair St. Louis will remain in Forest Park for a…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois House has passed a measure to suspend fines for drivers who are late renewing their vehicle license plates until the state can continue mailing reminders. The bill advanced out of the Illinois House unanimously Tuesday and now goes to the Illinois Senate for consideration. The secretary of state stopped…
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – The Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck has been ordered to spend nearly two years in jail. State District Judge Wayne Salvant said Wednesday that Ethan Couch must spend 180 days in jail for each of the four people he killed in 2013 when…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Top House Republicans say they are likely to grant a portion of President Barack Obama’s $1.9 billion request to combat the Zika virus but will probably wait until September to do so. Congressional Republicans have succeeded in forcing the administration to divert almost $600 million in unspent Ebola funds to fighting Zika.…
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Paul Ryan’s national stature is such that he had to call a news conference to deny he wants to be president. Back on Capitol Hill, he’s about to blow through a statutory deadline to pass an annual budget, a major embarrassment for him and House Republicans. Under the government’s arcane…