Republican presidential nominee John McCain made plain on Thursday how his experience as a prisoner of war has shaped his career in politics, U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood said moments after McCain wrapped up his acceptance speech.

New Orleans and the Republican National Convention may have dodged the threat of Hurricane Gustav, and for two families the evacuation may have gone too well — leaving them stranded in a city unaware of their arrival and unprepared to help them get home.

Chrysler LLC fared the worst in a dismal month for most of the major automakers in the United States.

At first glance, the room of teacher Patti Schumacher resembles your everyday classroom.

News of the apparently unplanned pregnancy of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter will give parents across the country the chance to talk with their own children about sex, but adults should be careful not to use this opportunity to give a lecture, a Springfield pediatrician says.

State Rep. Aaron Schock, a Peoria Republican who is running for Congress, will speak Thursday at the Republican national convention in Minnesota, a Schock spokesman said.

The Illinois House will return to Springfield Wednesday and Thursday next week with a full agenda.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association should rethink an English-proficiency requirement it is imposing on LPGA Tour golfers, the title sponsor of its tournament in Springfield says.

For years, Jason Hallman knew he wanted to work in medicine — but he just couldn’t ignore his love for cars.

A new garden is growing at Ronald McDonald House to bring cheer to the guests.

Dewaine Nelson has gotten more calls for estimates on installing solar panels in the past month than he’s gotten in the past six years.

Connie and Don Harrison frequently passed Edwards Apple Orchard this summer to view its rapid reconstruction. It’s been rebuilt from the ground up since being destroyed in a January tornado.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he doesn’t know much about Sarah Palin, who is Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s choice as a running mate, but she recently said something that Durbin finds puzzling.

The United States needs to rely more on renewable energy sources and less on oil from other countries, congressional candidate Colleen Callahan said Tuesday as she outlined a plan to “chart our future energy course.”

Dorian Moore moved from Seattle to enroll in Illinois State University’s new renewable energy degree program. Todd Karzen left a Chicago job to return to ISU for a second bachelor’s degree in the new program. The two are among nearly 60 students who have declared majors in the school’s new degree program that has areas of concentration in wind, solar and biodiesel energy.