Gov. Pat Quinn says the state will lay off more than 1,900 state workers and close seven state facilities to help close the $313 million budget shortfall. more ›

Cook County government officials have one of the highest-paying pension programs in the state. more ›

Whenever we talk about the budget mess here at home we always remind ourselves that it's worse elsewhere. Case in point: Gary, Indiana, which is set to hand out pink slips to 34 firefighters by tomorrow unless a federal grant comes through. more ›

Did you know that, once upon a lonesome, there were 70 aldermen representing 35 wards in Chicago? That's one of the many tidbits you'll learn from a recent Better Government Association report that reopens the argument of whether we really need 50. more ›

Daley's budget plan doesn't raise taxes, fees or fines. "I do not believe it is right to raise taxes with the economy as bad as it is," he said. The press release also highlights freezes on non-safety hiring, job cuts, department consolidations and the use of furlough days to help balance the budget. Daley also called his decision to raid the parking meter funds, which leave only $78 million from the one-time $1.18 billion payment, "controversial" while emphasizing he did not touch the reserves from the Chicago Skyway privatization. more ›

Mike Madigan shared some advice for Governor Quinn with the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday: "Be like me," he said, adding, "Learn day by day. Try and make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today." Madigan also suggested that he thinks Quinn would learn from his experiences. "I would think that he's going to learn from his experience," Madigan told the Tribune. "I would think he would." more ›

Reviewing Carolyn Evans Hammond's Good, Better, Best gave us an idea to expand on our frugal wine hunting. We decided to check in with local wine blogger Sam Klingberg, author of The Broke Wino, to help us create a list of our top wines under $15. If you are broke (or even just a little frugal) and like wine, Sam’s blog is a must read. more ›

In a state already plagued by scandal after scandal and corruption allegations galore, it’s never a surprise to hear about someone getting a free ride. According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Tollway workers get just that. The Tribune expose revealed that more than 1400 Illinois Tollway employees receive a gratis I-PASS, which translates into nearly $200,000 worth of free tolls. In addition, 55 tollway agency workers get the use of private vehicles. more ›

With all the talk of fare hikes, doomsdays, and state funding shortfalls we've heard about our public transportation system since the beginning of the year, well, there's going to be even more talk over the next several days. Starting tomorrow and running until next Tuesday, September 1, the RTA will conduct 13 hearings to help them set next year's budget. WBBM 780 has more on the meetings as well as a break-down of the schedule. more ›

Governor Rod Blagojevich called on lawmakers yesterday to return to Springfield August 12 and 13 for a special session to work on the state's spending. Blago doesn't expect lawmakers to deal with his recent budget cuts, however. “Unless they find the funding, there’s nothing much more to do with the budget,” said Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero. Instead, he wants them to address the state's need for both an education funding plan and a capital spending plan. “Last week former U.S. Speaker Dennis Hastert and I sat with leaders from the four caucuses to present a compromise that addresses many of the concerns that legislators had posed with the previous capital plan. Now that they have had time to review our proposal, I will convene a special session so that they can pass a plan this summer that will repair and rebuild our states infrastructure and put Illinoisans to work,” said Governor Press Release, in an, erm, press release. more ›