Topic: Illinois
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Thanksgiving Day by the numbers: 10 mind-stuffing facts
Data from the Census and other sources provide some numerical insights into Thanksgiving, arguably the most cherished national holiday.
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Hillary Clinton: 10 quotes on her birthday
Here are 10 quotes from Hillary Clinton – politician, public servant, and US Secretary of State.
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Election 2012: top seven super PACs
Decoder profiles the seven top super PACs, the organizations that have spent the most trying to influence the elections – and still have the most money in the bank.
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20 banned books that may surprise you
The following books may seem harmless to most readers, but they all made it onto banned books lists at one time or another.
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Penn State football: A dozen questions as the post-Paterno era begins
This year will be the most closely watched football season in the history of Penn State. The post-Paterno era comes with many questions. Here are 12.
All Content
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New laws on New Year's Day, from gay marriage to ‘Caylee’s Law’
While much attention has been paid to the ‘fiscal cliff’ and the federal legislation behind it, thousands of new state laws took effect more quietly at the start of 2013.
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Change Agent
Restoring US native prairies, acre by acre, yard by yardAcross the US Midwest, homeowners are restoring their yards and former farmland to the native prairie that existed in pre-settlement days. The benefits can be substantial — the need for less water and no fertilizer, and an ecosystem that supports wildlife.
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'Fiscal cliff': How far apart are the sides now on tax cut deal?
Both sides have appeared to come closer together on Bush-era tax cuts, but many other issues remain, and Senate majority leader Harry Reid still isn't saying much publicly.
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Focus
Immigration reform: Is 'amnesty' a possibility now?Congress seems primed to address immigration reform in 2013, and even a path to citizenship – which critics deride as 'amnesty' for illegals – may be on the table. The shift in the national conversation came suddenly. Here's why.
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Christmas snow storm kills 3, tornadoes knock out power in South (+video)
A snow storm caused flights across the country to be cancelled. Three died, and many were injured in dangerous highway conditions and as trees fell on homes. In the South, tornadoes left 100,000 without power on Christmas Day.
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Opinion: Christmas shopping: A pink kitchen set and the 'buying local' dilemma
I wasted hours looking for a cheaper version online, when my dad was willing to pay more at the local store. He made me realize that I was all about 'buying local' until I had to shell out more money. I've learned: I can’t always pay more, but I don’t always have to pay less.
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Deportations of illegal immigrants in 2012 reach new US record
The Obama administration deported at least 400,000 illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2012, a new record. It emphasizes deporting 'criminal aliens' to protect public safety, but the high figure serves to remind Latinos of the president's unfilled pledge to reform immigration policy.
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Audits looking for undocumented immigrants on the rise
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported auditing more companies than ever before to look for undocumented workers on the payroll. Though President Obama has supported a path to legal status for many immigrants, he also supports penalties for companies that purposely hire illegal immigrants.
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Are 'fiscal cliff' woes killing Christmas sales?
In last weekend before Christmas, traditionally a strong sales period, shoppers cite worries over taxes and so-so discounts as reasons to rein in spending. Experts warn of ho-hum holiday sales.
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Unemployment down: which states are doing better than others
Unemployment rates fell in 45 states in November, but the strength of the job market varies widely by region, according to US data. Local resources and housing markets are among the reasons.
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Midwest blizzard leaves some stranded
Blizzard conditions in the midwest on Thursday delayed holiday travelers and caused hazardous conditions on the roads. Despite the inconvenience, some were glad to see the snow.
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Drought's winter toll: Mississippi barges face losses while US blasts river (+video)
Traffic along 180 miles of the drought-stricken Mississippi will be curtailed for a month, at a cost of billions to the barging industry, to allow the US to blast rock formations and raise river levels.
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Energy Voices
Edison Mission Energy files for bankruptcy. Is natural gas to blame?Edison International's Edison Mission Energy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday. Edison Mission's financial woes reflect the obstacles coal faces in a market increasingly dominated by cheap natural gas and a shift towards renewables.
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With Illinois concealed gun ban struck down, some say 'Fight on' (+video)
Even as Illinois lawmakers contemplate a new law allowing concealed weapons, as ordered by a US Appeals Court, some plan to take the fight against the 'wrongheaded' ruling to the next level.
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With wide gap, Obama and Boehner meet for 'fiscal cliff' talks
With an end-of-year deadline looming, the two leaders came together at the White House on Thursday in an attempt to rejuvenate negotiations as frustration mounted over the lack of progress on averting the 'fiscal cliff.'
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Foreclosures hit nine-month high, but starts drop
Foreclosures completed by banks rose to a nine-month high in November, but there's some good news: The number of homes starting on the path to foreclosure fell to the lowest level in six years.
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Why more people didn't die in Clackamas mall shooting
Improved police practices and greater public awareness about what to do in an 'active shooter scenario' may have limited casualties during the Clackamas mall shooting Tuesday in Portland, Ore.
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Concealed weapons: Illinois's last-in-the-nation ban must go, US court rules
At least some Illinois legislators say the ruling will help calm the violence in Chicago, where the nation's strictest gun controls have failed to quell growing numbers of gang shootings this year.
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Energy Voices
A123 sale to China: threat to US security?The sale of advanced battery maker A123 to China's Wanxiang Group could recoup US taxpayer funds. But critics warn the threats to US security outweigh any benefits from the pending sale of A123.
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Federal court strikes down Illinois concealed carry ban
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said state lawmakers have 180 days to write a new law that legalizesconcealed carry.
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Energy Voices
Is Chicago a new cleantech hub?The recently-announced Joint Center for Energy Storage Research in suburban Chicago arguably leapfrogs the Windy City into the top echelon of cleantech technology research clusters, Stuebi writes.
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Opinion: 'Fiscal cliff' or not, tax reform is easier said than done
As part of any deal on the 'fiscal cliff,' Congress will likely take up comprehensive tax reform. That's a worthy goal, but it will involve more political and economic pain than most would like to admit. Every line in the tax code has its own constituency and rationale.
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Obama's Medicaid expansion: How many states are likely to rebel?
The Supreme Court ruled that states do not have to abide by the expansion of Medicaid under President Obama's health-care law. There are strong economic arguments on both sides.
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Stubborn US drought could be costlier than hurricane Sandy
As drought conditions persist across the South, hitting farmers and ranchers, parts of the Mississippi River are on the verge of becoming unnavigable. The potential costs are large.
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Decoder Wire
Debt ceiling debate twist: Sen. Mitch McConnell filibusters himselfYes, another debt-ceiling debate is looming, and the Senate's attempt to deal with the issue Thursday involved complex legislative machinations that appeared to backfire on Mitch McConnell.
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