Illinois Public Radio

The sponsor of same-sex marriage legislation is facing a backlash for not calling it for a vote before the Illinois General Assembly adjourned on Friday. 

Gay rights activists praised Rep. Greg Harris in 2011 for helping pass civil unions. Some of those same activists are now criticizing him.

Most of those running for governor in 2014 have already expressed their interest in the job. Only a few have made it official. Congressman Aaron Schock is not running for governor. State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is.

“I sense the citizens of Illinois are in depression and frustration with their government," Rutherford said at a Chicago event at the restaurant Harry Caray's downtown.

Rutherford toured the state Sunday as part of his announcement. 

Will be updated. Reporting from Chris Slaby.

Both the Illinois House and Senate have approved legislation allowing people to carry guns in public. Illinois, under threat of a court order, is poised to be the last state with such a law. 

The fate of concealed carry in Illinois now rests with Governor Pat Quinn.

Reporting from Chris Slaby.

A measure that would regulate hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” heads to the full Illinois House after Representatives approved it at a hearing Tuesday.

The plan, which passed unanimously, comes two months after a previous version appeared to have enough momentum to go before the House. It stalled over environmentalists’ raised concern there was not enough protection to keep water wells from becoming contaminated.

Unions were also divided over a labor dispute.