Springfield News

A major credit-rating house has taken a more positive outlook on Illinois debt than it has in years after last week's pension-reform vote.

Gov. Pat Quinn went without a paycheck for months to make the point that lawmakers needed to pass a pension reform bill.

Pat Yeagle , AAW LEAVEN Award Committee and IL Agri-Women member from Winslow, presents the LEAVEN Award to Penny Lauritzen of Lanark at their 38th annual convention American Agri-Women awarded Penny Lauritzen, AFM, CFPA of Lanark, Ill., its highest member honor, the LEAVEN Award, at its 38th annual convention, held recently in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Last week, I stood in a small country church and sang the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" along with about 50 others celebrating the life of my 103-year-old grandmother, whose long life had come to an end.

An exchange of well-wishes between a first-year president and the world's oldest republic is the latest find of the Springfield-based Papers of Abraham Lincoln, a foundational research arm of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

In this Aug. 19, 2013 file photo, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill. speaks in Chicago. Senator Kirk underwent surgery Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 to have his gallbladder removed in Chicago.

Today Representative Aaron Schock introduced the Family Cord Blood Banking Act. Umbilical cord blood is unique in that it has a high concentration of rich stem cells that can then be used to combat various diseases which may develop throughout ones life.

Tammy Altepeter of St. Louis held the hand of her 10-year-old son as they toured the Bryant Cottage State Historic Site recently.

Lawmakers work toward passing pension legislation while on the House floor during session last Tuesday at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.

Menard County's state's attorney, Ken Baumgarten, has died of natural causes. Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards tells The Associated Press that Baumgarten was pronounced dead Friday at Memorial Medical Center's emergency room in Springfield just before midnight.

But every Feb. 12 at the Old Statehouse in Springfield, Ill., scores of farmers leave the livestock and the frozen corn and bean fields to sit in the balconies alongside scholars and statesmen for the Abraham Lincoln Association's annual Lincoln Symposium, held since 1908 on Lincoln's birthday.

Wallace L. Heil, Jr., 72, of Taylorville, IL passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 11:04 p.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

Cecilia Abadie models her Google Glass as she talks with her attorney outside of traffic court Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, in San Diego.

One year ago, the head of the AFL-CIO predicted Gov. Pat Quinn could not win re-election "without making peace with the unions."

The Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site is decking the halls with new decorations and spreading holiday cheer with music, poetry, children's activities and even a holiday-themed writing workshop.

Illinois is marking the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 1,177 people and brought the United States into World War II.

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NCR normally doesn't feel compelled to comment on individual bishops' actions in their home dioceses.

A good morning to all our friends, neighbors and our readers. We hope everyone had a safe and good weekend.

A group aimed at keeping religion away from politics said the large "A" near the Christmas display in Chicago's Daley Plaza is aimed at encouraging atheists.