By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers have avoided making the tough calls on major reforms, they confess are needed, in an election year — when all seats are up for grabs.

By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers from southern and central Illinois are challenging the economic impact closing several state facilities would have on the communities housing them.

  By Illinois Statehouse News   SPRINGFIELD — Guns, snakes, cell phones and revenue projections emerged in legislation during the busiest week of the Illinois General Assembly so far this spring.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD —The nearly 1,500 gun owners who marched to the Illinois statehouse Wednesday found several empty offices and hurried staff members.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News   SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's budget proposal tops 400 pages and is more than 3 inches thick.   Inside the governor's plan for the next fiscal year, which begins in June, are the details of how he wants to spend $33.9 billion in taxpayers’ money. 

  By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News   SPRINGFIELD — Illinois' local governments, parks, prisons and police officers are going to have to fight over the leftovers of Gov. Pat Quinn's budget proposal.