Mike Moen

Illinois schools would see $200 million in cuts in the budget approved by state lawmakers last week. An Associated Press analysis says if the governor signs the budget, Illinois would fall further behind in providing basic education funding for each student.

An aviation expert says Chicago's plan to bolster air cargo capacity at O'Hare International could have a negative effect on surrounding airports. He says Rockford's airport could be among those affected.

An increase was expected. But the revenue manager for the state's forecasting commission says income and sales taxes are exceeding expectations.

Jim Muschinske says it's too early to detect what's behind the 7.9 percent increase last month over May 2011 in revenues from personal income taxes.

Illinois lawmakers have wrapped up their spring session. But they left some work on the table. 

The General Assembly did send the governor a budget. But Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, says it contains "gimmicks" meant to disguise bad policies.

"Pushing bills off. Moving them around," he said. "Trying to deceive the people into believing that fiscal responsibility has finally been visited upon their Capitol when clearly it has not."

A revised plan  to overhaul state pensions has cleared its first hurdle and is headed to the Illinois House.

Just yesterday, partisan differences had threatened to kill prospects for a pension overhaul when Republicans refused to go along with House Speaker Michael Madigan's plan to cut pension costs. Madigan transferred sponsor ship to House Republican Leader Tom Cross.