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Federal lawmaker blames governor for Caterpillar HQ decision
Congressman Randy Hultgren is blaming Illinois' governor for Caterpillar deciding not to relocate a factory and 1,400 jobs to the state.

Constitution change would give victims more rights
Illinois lawmakers are considering a change to the state constitution that would guarantee crime victims a bigger voice in what happens to offenders.

Counties to house other inmates for money
Two counties in central Illinois plan to house prisoners from the Chicago area and federal inmates under programs to raise money.

Governor to talk about Caterpillar's decision against Ill. HQ
A spokeswoman says Gov. Pat Quinn hopes to address some concerns about Illinois' business climate that Caterpillar Inc. cited in its decision not to build a new plant in the state.

Jurors watch Mackowiak's explanation of murders on video
Jurors today watched a video in which Keith Mackowiak, now 44, explains what happened to 84-year old Aloysius Twardowski and his 87-year old wife Catherine in 2007.

Energy efficiency grant helps pay for motors at sewer plant
Sewer plant upgrades at the Ottawa sewer plant cost close to $10 million. A quarter million dollar grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation is helping with some of the cost.

Cong. Kinzinger says most county GOP chairs endorsing him
Congressman Adam Kinzinger says his fresh conservative values have earned him the endorsement of most of the county Republican Party chairmen in the new 16th Illinois District.

Caterpillar not putting headquarters in Illinois
Cat says it's concerned about the business climate in Illinois.

U of I president's ex-chief of staff to teach at university
The woman who resigned as University of Illinois President Michael Hogan's chief of staff over anonymous emails sent to faculty has accepted a teaching position at the school.

Sen. Kirk almost ready for rehabilitation
Doctors say Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has reached an important milestone in his recovery from a major stroke.

Sen. Kirk almost ready for rehabilitation
Doctors say Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has reached an important milestone in his recovery from a major stroke.

Sen. Kirk almost ready for rehabilitation
Doctors say Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has reached an important milestone in his recovery from a major stroke.

Byron nuclear reactor on again
A northern Illinois nuclear plant is back up and running after a reactor lost power and shut down last week.

Mayor starting Riverfest improvement committee
Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach wants to hear from people who think Riverfest could be better.

Mackowiak murder trial testimony begins
A grandson of the victims, a police evidence collector, and a girlfriend of the accused were among those who testified as Keith Mackowiak’s murder trial began Tuesday.

Mackowiak murder trial testimony begins
A grandson of the victims, a police evidence collector, and a girlfriend of the accused were among those who testified as Keith Mackowiak’s murder trial began Tuesday.

Advocates say keep Illinois Cares Rx funded
A program to help seniors pay for prescriptions could be on the chopping block this year as lawmakers look to get the budget under control.

Deer sharpshooting halted in Rockford area
An Illinois Department of Natural Resources program to cull deer in Winnebago County forest preserves has caused a disagreement between state and local officials.

Lawmaker wants to change ban on recording police
Illinois residents don't have the right to record audio of their conversations with police, a law that some state legislators say needs to be changed, especially with the likelihood of protests at this spring's NATO and G8 summits in Chicago.

Protection from prosecution offered in overdose cases
A new Illinois law is meant to encourage people to seek help if they or friends suffer a drug overdose.

Sen. Kirk's condition is improving
Doctors say Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has been upgraded to good condition and is continuing to improve after a major stroke.

Manzullo endorsed by Illinois Tea Party
Barb Offill, President of the Iroquois County TEA Party, says Manzullo is the true fiscal conservative in the race for the 16th Ill. Cong. District.

Jury selection starts for Keith Mackowiak
The 44-year old is accused of killing 84-year old Aloysius and 87-year old Catherine Twardowski in their home just outside the west edge of Seneca in the summer of 2007 during a burglary.

OHS team wins robotics contest
The Technology Student Association went to the engineering challenge at Joliet Junior College where most of the competing schools are bigger ones from the suburbs.

National Children's Dental Health Month
State health officials are offering tips for children's dental care. February is National Children's Dental Health Month.

St. Rep. Mautino expects Medicaid cuts
Mautino says leaving Medicaid as it is now, with lawmakers planning for unrealistically low 5% medical inflation rate, unpaid bills will add up to $17 billion in 2017.

Ottawa Salvation Army chapter reports red kettle results
Ottawa’s Salvation Army chapter raised $110,000 during its annual red kettle fund raising drive. The goal was $125,000 but Capt. Quentin Boyle is promising to continue supporting the less fortunate.

Gov. Quinn telling about Illinois earned income tax credit
Gov. Pat Quinn is encouraging poor and working families to apply for a tax break aimed at helping them keep more of what they earn.

Halvorson-Jackson primary heating up
A former congresswoman and one-time Mary Kay saleswoman is giving Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. the first Democratic challenge of his career.

Gov. Quinn appoints scholarship fund raising commission
Governor Pat Quinn named seven members of a state commission that will raise scholarship money for college-bound students from immigrant families.

State Rep. Pam Roth is serious about fiscal responsibility
State Representative Pam Roth says being the only CPA on the house floor; obviously fiscal responsibility is her number one issue.

Chad Scoles scholarship deadline is in April
Anyone who lives within 30 miles of St. Mary’s in Streator and getting training in health care can apply.

Trial begins Monday for accused murderer Keith Mackowiak
Mackowiak is accused of killing 87-year old Catherine and 84-year old Aloysius Twardowski inside their home just west of Seneca during a burglary in 2007. 

Local health department says wear red for three more Fridays
The LaSalle County Health Department wants you to wear red every Friday this month for American Heart Month.

Republicans want Gov. Quinn to get going on Medicaid reforms
The GOP joined with Democrats in an effort to curb the rising costs of the program.

State employees still want raises
Governor Quinn froze their pay last year, citing budget constraints.

New Navistar headquarter opens
The company said Thursday that more than 3,000 people will work at the location in Lisle.

Wear red Friday
Illinois health officials are asking people to wear red Friday to raise awareness about women's risk of heart disease.

Chrysler adding 1,800 jobs in Illinois
The new employees will be working at the plant's new body shop to produce the 2013 Dodge Dart.

Tritium released in Byron nuclear plant shutdown
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the amount of radioactive tritium released in steam to cool a reactor during a shutdown at an Illinois nuclear plant was not enough to present a danger to the public.

Ill. Sup. Ct. orders hearing in police torture case
The Illinois Supreme Court has granted a new shot at an evidentiary hearing to a man who claimed Chicago police tortured him into confessing to a rape decades ago.

Old Central School kitchen preserved
The Central School life skills kitchen has been in three different places since teacher Julie Rolando asked for donations for it in 2008.

Univ. of Ill. police training program funding in trouble
Several lawmakers have proposed a bill that would have criminals help pay for the Police Training Institute.

Ill. Republican leaders criticize State of the State address
State Republicans say Gov. Pat Quinn's State of the State address was unrealistic and fails to address major issues like pension reform and restructuring Medicaid.

Catholic bishop criticizes health care law over contraception, abortion
A statement is to be read at masses this weekend.

Nuclear plants in Midwest may need new inspections
The federal government says nuclear plants throughout the central and eastern U.S. must be reassessed within four years to determine how well they might withstand earthquakes.

United Way $9,000 short of goal
The annual United Way fundraising goal was $444,444. The result announced Wednesday night is over $435,000.