Taking an important step on the thorny path to closing the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the White House plans to announce Tuesday that the government will acquire an underutilized state prison in rural Illinois to be the new home for a limited number of terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo. ...more

December 15, 2009

CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin today tried to build support and counter criticism of a proposal to sell a prison in rural northwestern Illinois to the federal government to house Guantanamo Bay detainees and other inmates. ...more

November 15, 2009

From an Antarctic research base to the Great Pyramids of Egypt and beyond, the world switched off the lights on Saturday for Earth Hour, dimming skyscrapers, city streets and some of the world's most recognizable monuments for 60 minutes to highlight the threat of climate change. ...more

March 29, 2009

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris kept out of sight Friday as longtime friend Gov. Pat Quinn joined the roster of fellow Democrats calling for his resignation following his disclosure that he tried to raise money for the disgraced governor who appointed him, while the White House urged the senator to take the weekend to consider his future. ...more

February 20, 2009

Just as Illinois was moving past the agony and embarrassment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's ousting, the fellow Democrat whom Blagojevich appointed to the U.S. Senate was hearing calls for his own resignation Sunday amid allegations he lied to legislators. ...more

February 16, 2009

Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was schooled in the politics of the Chicago Machine, but his successor's career has been built on grass-roots organizing to cut government and protect the little guy. ...more

January 30, 2009

With Gov. Rod Blagojevich entering what could be his final hours in office, some politicians are watching closely to see whether he attempts some last-minute mischief by spending state money, issuing executive orders or granting pardons. ...more

January 28, 2009

It's a good time to be a used car salesman. In fact, if you're in the business of selling anything pre-owned, you're likely to get more attention than normal these days. ...more

January 23, 2009

Lightning LW/C Jussi Jokinen went unclaimed on the waiver wire Saturday and suited up against the Thrashers. ...more

December 21, 2008

In many ways, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan couldn't be more different: He has carefully promoted his image as an outsider and reformer; she comes from a powerful political family. ...more

December 14, 2008