Teaming up on truancy

Pharmacists win abortion drug spat in court

State gives Ameren a pollution pass

Stricter limits put off until 2020

State regulators won’t enforce pollution limits on one of Illinois’ largest power generators until 2020 under a ruling released Sept. 20. The Illinois Pollution Control Board last week gra

Ag experts: Farm bill delay endangers food supply

Congress’ inaction affects farmers, low-income families

As Congress wrestles over an agriculture bill that will set policy for the next five years, local farmers and ag experts worry the delay could endanger a variety of important programs when the current

Agreement paves way for juvenile justice reforms

A federal class-action lawsuit settled last week requires Illinois to improve conditions for incarcerated youth, but the state agency overseeing the facilities says many reforms are already in place.T

AFSCME under siege

Union faces unprecedented challenges, even from allies

What would drive a crowd of unionized state employees to boo the very governor they helped elect? The answer is about $83 billion of pension underfunding, a broken labor contract and a lot of jobs in

Autumn means music in central Illinois

Summer may be drawing to a close, but the music scene in central Illinois is as vibrant as ever. From cutting-edge electronica to old-time a capella, Springfield and other central Illinois cities offe

Canoe dig it

Springfield man taking dugout canoe down Illinois and Mississippi rivers

Dean Campbell of Springfield says ideas are cheap. Putting them into action is what matters.On Sept. 1, the 78-year-old former teacher will launch a 1,200-pound dugout canoe that he fashioned out of

Neighbors must pay damages for delaying hog shed

An appellate court in Springfield says opponents of a pig farm outside Rochester must pay for delaying the project. However, neither side is overly happy with the outcome.“It’s a mixed bag

One last spin

Your guide to the State Fair’s final four days

For Amy Bliefnick, the Illinois State Fair is like a party with 815,000 of her closest friends. Bliefnick has been manager of the fair for eight years, making her the longest-serving manager in the fa