Massachusetts has joined New York and Illinois in refusing to participate in a fingerprint-sharing program that is central to the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement strategy.

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Immigration Program Is Rejected by Third State

The first cross examination of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich got off to a good start, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar asking, “You are a convicted liar, correct?” Blagojevich answered yes, but proceeded to dance around every other…

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Blagojevich Spars With Prosecutor

An Illinois legislator has proposed removing the tax deduction for parents of obese children.

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Economix: Taxing Parents of Obese Children

In a bid to save the small town of Cairo, Illinois, a levee was breached at the convergence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers late Monday night, and as of Tuesday the situation has definitely improved, with local Ohio River levels dropping a foot…

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Levee Breach Saves Illinois Town

The Army Corps of Engineers will destroy a levee to ease the bloated Mississippi River upstream, officials said.

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Officials Will Blow Up Missouri Levee Late Monday

Residents of the southern Illinois town of Cairo are being told to evacuate as river water is flooding the ground behind the town levee, “kind of like Old Faithful.” Overnight thunderstorms dropped more rain on the soaked town, worrying emergency…

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IL Town Evacuated Ahead of Levee Breach

An education bill passed by the Illinois Senate gives Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel a weapon to improve schools.

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Chicago News Cooperative: Emanuel Gets Boost, and Challenges, in Schools Bill

Freshman members of Congress, like Representative Bobby Schilling of Illinois, are already under pressure from all sides, Democrat and Republican.

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Hardly Settled in House, but Already in Hot Seat

When Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois outlawed the death penalty this month, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin was vindicated, 15 years after his death.

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On Religion: Governor’s Change of Heart Is Influenced by Faith

A day after top-seeded Pittsburgh lost in the Southeast Region, the other No. 1 seeds — Kansas, Duke and Ohio State — take the floor.

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The Quad: Looking Ahead to Sunday’s Games

Saying the state’s “broken” system could not ensure justice in every case, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill making Illinois the 16th state to ban capital punishment.

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Illinois Bans Capital Punishment

The Energy Department’s pilot project for capturing carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants has chosen a place to impound this greenhouse gas in Morgan County, Ill.

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Green: A Home for Captured Carbon Dioxide

Prosecutors have cut a deal, and it’s golden for Rod Blagojevich. The former Illinois governor, who’s charged with trying to sell an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama to the highest bidder, will face 20 counts instead of 23 when…

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Prosecutors Drop Three Blago Charges

Illinois has suddenly found itself the refuge of choice for outnumbered Democrats fleeing their states to block the passage of bills.

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Life on the Run For Democrats In Union Fights

If you haven’t raided the grocery store already, it may be too late. More than 4,000 flights have been canceled so far across the country as an enormous blizzard threatens more than 30 states. Missouri and Illinois could be hardest hit, with up to 30…

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Snowfall, Winds Batter Midwest