SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to restructure state pensions has gotten a lot of attention since he introduced it in April, but it’s not the only plan on the table. Two University of Illinois professors have suggested an approach they believe would save the state half the money it contributes to the State Universities Retirement System for current employees.

SPRINGFIELD -- Two key state lawmakers involved in gambling legislation last week flatly predicted the legislature will vote on an expansion bill before the end of the month.

A little bit of recent Springfield political history made it into the June edition of Vanity Fair magazine.

SPRINGFIELD -- A federal appeals court Thursday sided with Gov. Pat Quinn over pay raises the Quinn administration canceled for thousands of union workers.

SPRINGFIELD -- llinois has received a $32.8 million federal grant to help establish a statewide health insurance exchange, but it’s unclear how the money will be used.

SPRINGFIELD -- A revised plan to tax adult clubs to benefit rape crisis centers sailed out of an Illinois Senate committee Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD -- A new study warns that state government’s costs could actually rise if Illinois reduces Medicaid funding for home care services in order to balance next year’s budget.

One of the reasons state Sen. LARRY BOMKE, R-Springfield, didn’t seek a new term was because his insurance agency had merged with a regional firm that could handle larger enterprises.

SPRINGFIELD -- Lawmakers scrounged up some money on Wednesday so low-income parents in Illinois can keep subsidized child care, but Republicans said the legislation became necessary because Gov. Pat Quinn has mismanaged the state budget.

SPRINGFIELD -- An Illinois House Republican staffer has been punished for performing political activities on state time.

SPRINGFIELD -- After weeks of relative quiet, public employee unions are airing television ads statewide to highlight what they say is the unfairness of Gov. Pat Quinn’s pension ideas.

SPRINGFIELD -- Saying he’s concerned about more companies coming to Illinois with their hands out, state Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, wants publicly traded corporations to disclose how much state income tax they pay.

Covering circuit court cases, as I did for a year early in my journalism career, provided hours of boring testimony, but also a steady stream of real and heart-tugging emotion.

SPRINGFIELD -- State retirees who now receive premium-free state health insurance would have to start paying for their coverage under a bill that cleared the Illinois House Wednesday. The House vote was 74-43. The bill now goes to the Senate.

SPRINGFIELD -- Questions about Illinois’ law against audio recording of police remain after a federal appeals court this week declared it unconstitutional.

Illinois lawmakers imposed campaign contribution limits in the wake of corrupt fundraising done by former Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH. So what’s a billionaire to do now?

SPRINGFIELD -- Amy Martin hopes her work at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will help in her new role as the director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

SPRINGFIELD -- The company behind the proposed Taylorville Energy Center reportedly is proposing to build a power plant that runs on natural gas rather than one that uses clean-coal technology. Crain’s Chicago Business reported Tuesday that Omaha, Nebraska-based Tenaska floated the idea during a meeting Tuesday with Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, environmentalists, business groups and others.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Revenue is limiting distributors of cigarette tax stamps to their usual supplies while the legislature and Gov. Pat Quinn debate whether to add an additional dollar to the state portion of the taxes.

SPRINGFIELD -- Auditor General William Holland is poised to receive another 10-year term after the Illinois House approved his re-election unanimously on Tuesday.