Cadre of GOP insiders getting big salaries at Illinois tollway

The Illinois tollway has hired a number of politically connected Republicans to work at the agency in important positions. While that is troubling to some government watchdogs who say they're concerned about favoritism, tollway officials say the agency is staffed with well-qualfied professionals.

Ap Fact Check: Trump plays down hurricane death estimates

In a stormy week, President Donald Trump blustered and distorted reality, denying massive deaths from a hurricane that scientists believe to be one of the nation's deadliest and blowing out of proportion U.S. economic growth and his role in spurring it. He's insisting the federal response to Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico last September, was "incredibly successful," even though blackouts there remain common and several forms of federal aid have been slow to arrive compared with past disasters.

Ap Fact Check: Trump’s blustery myths on hurricanes, income

In a stormy week, President Donald Trump blustered and distorted reality, denying massive deaths from a hurricane that scientists believe to be one of the nation's deadliest and blowing out of proportion U.S. economic growth and his role in spurring it. He's insisting the federal response to Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico last September, was "incredibly successful," even though blackouts there remain common and several forms of federal aid have been slow to arrive compared with past disasters.

Tax increases a staple of many Democratic campaigns in state, Congressional races

One primary message from Democrats this election is that if they win the majority in the U.S. House, or win their respective governors' seats, they will do everything they can to increase taxes.

Ap Fact Check: Obama doesna t always tell the straight story

Former President Barack Obama's recent denunciation of President Donald Trump's treatment of the press overlooks the aggressive steps the Justice Department took to keep information from the public during his administration. Obama also made a problematic claim that Republican "sabotage" has cost 3 million people their health insurance.

Former President Barack Obama just told y’all to stop bingeing TV

Former President Barack Obama spit hot fire Friday at the University of Illinois to encourage all you young people out there to get your behinds to the voting booths in November to stop whatever is going on in Washington and bring some sanity back to democracy. But it may be harder for some than others.

In the Senate, the August recess will be missed

If you thought Congress was already polarized , wait and see what happens when dozens of senators are stuck in Washington together for most of swampy August. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, canceled the usual monthlong recess this year for his chamber, a tradition that spans decades and was born out of lawmakers' efforts to ensure they'd have a set time they could travel home every legislative calendar.

Illinois celebrates first Barack Obama Day

The legislature of Obama's home state of Illinois, passed a law last year to designate Aug. 4 as a holiday. Just a few weeks ago, he spoke before a crowd of around 15,000 people in Johannesburg, South Africa, to honor the life of Nelson Mandela.

Obama’s birthday becomes Illinois holiday starting Saturday

WASHINGTON Former President Barack Obama started his birthday week grooving to tunes at a Beyonc and Jay-Z concert . He'll end it by marking the first Barack Obama Day on Saturday as he turns 57. The legislature in Obama's former home state of Illinois passed a law last year to designate each Aug. 4 as a commemorative holiday to celebrate the 44th president, whose political career began in the Land of Lincoln.

Congress OKs more federal funding for career and technical education

Apprentices in Harper College's general insurance apprenticeship program split their time between insurance coursework at Harper and working at Zurich North America in Schaumburg. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi says increased federal funding for career and technical education programs will help create more apprenticeship opportunities like these.

Chicago releases plan for court-monitored police reform

Chicago and state officials released a plan Friday to carry out far-reaching police reforms under federal court supervision more than a year after a U.S. Justice Department investigation found a deep-rooted history of civil rights violations by the police department. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to release a 200-page report covering numerous topics, ranging from police recruitment and training to the use of force and misconduct investigations.

Funerals set for last 5 of 9 relatives killed in sinking

Nine members of the Coleman f... . Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry is comforted after speaking during the funeral of Glenn Coleman, Reece Coleman, Evan Coleman and Arya Coleman, Friday, July 27, 2018, in Indianapolis.

Illinois congressional members selected to hash out farm bill

Three members of Illinois' Congressional delegation will be behind closed doors when lawmakers hash out the reconciliation of the farm bill that passed the House with the version approved by the Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a farm bill, and the Senate passed a similar but different one.

Two states poised to celebrate Route 66’s centennial in 2026

Today, when the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill to set up a federal-level 100th anniversary commission for Route 66, two Midwestern states also are poised to set up their commissions to mark the road's centennial in 2026. Under legislation signed by then-Gov. Eric Greitens, Missouri is set to form an 18-member commission to plan and sponsor a centennial observance in 2026 for the Mother Road, which stretches 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.