From the WGLT Newsroom, I'm John Norton. Illinois Democrats are cheering passage of a more than $55 billion annual state budget. State Representative Sharon Chong of Bloomington says the process was difficult, but that the Democratic Party was unified throughout the process.

From the WGLT Newsroom, I'm John Norton. Illinois Democrats are cheering passage of a more than $55 billion annual state budget. State Representative Sharon Chong of Bloomington says the process was difficult, but that the Democratic Party was unified throughout the process.

When it came to talking about things about the budget, we

When it came to talking about things about the budget, we

I had we each had a sort of budget here that we're assigned to um, I was in pretty regular contact with them and so, um, you know, just feeling that our input, uh, was listened to.

I had we each had a sort of budget here that we're assigned to um, I was in pretty regular contact with them and so, um, you know, just feeling that our input, uh, was listened to.

Chung secured local funding for OSF Healthcare, the Bloomington Normal Water Reclamation District, and District 87 schools. Republicans say they were shut out of negotiations and had no time to review the budget before voting.

Chung secured local funding for OSF Healthcare, the Bloomington Normal Water Reclamation District, and District 87 schools. Republicans say they were shut out of negotiations and had no time to review the budget before voting.

The Normal town council is expected to approve about $1.7 million in street resurfacing projects tonight. Parts of a dozen streets are targeted for new asphalt, including the north end of Airport Road along with Hovey Avenue and Division Street.

The Normal town council is expected to approve about $1.7 million in street resurfacing projects tonight. Parts of a dozen streets are targeted for new asphalt, including the north end of Airport Road along with Hovey Avenue and Division Street.

Hundreds of supporters of convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan are urging a federal judge to impose a lenient sentence on the one-time political power broker. The nearly 250 letter writers to the judge include former Republican Governor Jim Edgar, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and even the operators of Madigan's favorite Italian restaurant. Prosecutors want Madigan to serve more than a dozen years in prison.

Hundreds of supporters of convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan are urging a federal judge to impose a lenient sentence on the one-time political power broker. The nearly 250 letter writers to the judge include former Republican Governor Jim Edgar, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and even the operators of Madigan's favorite Italian restaurant. Prosecutors want Madigan to serve more than a dozen years in prison.

And Congressman Eric Sorensen says the effectiveness of Head Start early childhood enrichment programs is well proven. During a tour of Heartland Head Start in Bloomington, Sorenson talked about the friendly kids he saw who are learning empathy through the program. If I would have shown up 6 months earlier, those kids would have just started crying. They would have been so afraid of a stranger.

And Congressman Eric Sorensen says the effectiveness of Head Start early childhood enrichment programs is well proven. During a tour of Heartland Head Start in Bloomington, Sorenson talked about the friendly kids he saw who are learning empathy through the program. If I would have shown up 6 months earlier, those kids would have just started crying. They would have been so afraid of a stranger.

And they're not anymore. These kids are on their way. 85% of the children at Heartland Head Start have parents who are on Medicaid. Sorensen says cuts to Medicaid and work requirements that make it difficult for parents to keep their kids in Head Start need to be prevented. Sorensen says he has hoped the Senate will block the cuts. I'm John Norton, WGLT.

And they're not anymore. These kids are on their way. 85% of the children at Heartland Head Start have parents who are on Medicaid. Sorensen says cuts to Medicaid and work requirements that make it difficult for parents to keep their kids in Head Start need to be prevented. Sorensen says he has hoped the Senate will block the cuts. I'm John Norton, WGLT.