From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. The president of Heartland Community College says proposed cuts to the federal Pell Grant program would affect 1600 currently enrolled Heartland students. Keith Cornell says requiring heavy course loads could also hurt their ability to get a degree. And when you look at the community college students and they're working.

From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. The president of Heartland Community College says proposed cuts to the federal Pell Grant program would affect 1600 currently enrolled Heartland students. Keith Cornell says requiring heavy course loads could also hurt their ability to get a degree. And when you look at the community college students and they're working.

And they're raising families, they may only be able to take two classes at a time. Cornell says the legislation is still changing, but Heartland estimates if the new grant and loan standards were in place today, it would reduce student aid by $1.2 million.

And they're raising families, they may only be able to take two classes at a time. Cornell says the legislation is still changing, but Heartland estimates if the new grant and loan standards were in place today, it would reduce student aid by $1.2 million.

A new $55 billion state budget is passed with no Republican support. GOP State Representative Travis Weaver of Pekin calls the budget grotesque.

A new $55 billion state budget is passed with no Republican support. GOP State Representative Travis Weaver of Pekin calls the budget grotesque.

It gets out of touch with the state of Illinois every single year since the governor's been the governor. The budget has gotten larger. Here we are once again with the largest budget that we've ever had that's got a billion dollars of tax increases and gimmicks in it.

It gets out of touch with the state of Illinois every single year since the governor's been the governor. The budget has gotten larger. Here we are once again with the largest budget that we've ever had that's got a billion dollars of tax increases and gimmicks in it.

Republicans say they had no input into the budget that adds new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products, and businesses.

Republicans say they had no input into the budget that adds new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products, and businesses.

Congressman Eric Sorensen is urging the public to call Republican lawmakers to protest cuts to food aid and health insurance programs for lower income people. During a stop at the Heartland Head Start Early Childhood program in Bloomington, Sorensen said GOP lawmakers who voted for the president's big bill need to hear about the stakes. Is it moral for us to be OK taking away funding for someone at a grocery store who is really struggling today?

Congressman Eric Sorensen is urging the public to call Republican lawmakers to protest cuts to food aid and health insurance programs for lower income people. During a stop at the Heartland Head Start Early Childhood program in Bloomington, Sorensen said GOP lawmakers who voted for the president's big bill need to hear about the stakes. Is it moral for us to be OK taking away funding for someone at a grocery store who is really struggling today?

That's a question for our own morality. It's not about left or right. It's about what is right or wrong. Though the administration has not proposed cuts to Head Start, other cuts may make it more difficult to get funding to recipients like the program in Bloomington, and convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan would be in his.

That's a question for our own morality. It's not about left or right. It's about what is right or wrong. Though the administration has not proposed cuts to Head Start, other cuts may make it more difficult to get funding to recipients like the program in Bloomington, and convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan would be in his.

Before getting out of prison if federal prosecutors have their way, the government wants the federal judge in Madigan's bribery conspiracy case to impose a 12.5 year prison sentence. Prosecutors say Madigan was steeped in corruption, committed perjury during his trial, and showed no remorse for his crimes.

Before getting out of prison if federal prosecutors have their way, the government wants the federal judge in Madigan's bribery conspiracy case to impose a 12.5 year prison sentence. Prosecutors say Madigan was steeped in corruption, committed perjury during his trial, and showed no remorse for his crimes.