State capital: Springfield
Entered Union: Dec. 3, 1818
Population: 12,713,634 (2004 estimate)
Area 55,584 sq mi. (143,963 sq km)
Governor: Rod R. Blagojevich (Democrat)
U.S. Representatives: 19
State nickname: Prairie State

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Illinois lawmakers want teenagers who send salacious or sexually provocative photographs via their cell phones to come before a judge in a courtroom.
' target='_blank'> Illinois legislators pushing 'sexting' ban

Illinois legislators pushing 'sexting' ban Illinois lawmakers want teenagers who send salacious or sexually provocative photographs via their cell phones to come before a judge in a courtroom.

Illinois faces Catch-22 on budget options cuts

Illinois faces Catch-22 on budget options cuts Gov. Pat Quinn greets students and signs a T-shirt Thursday while visiting the Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Springfield.

3 former candidates have applied to be Ill. lt gov

3 former candidates have applied to be Ill. lt gov Several former Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor are among the more than 220 applicants for the post.

' target='_blank'> China to Bid on US High-Speed Rail Projects

China to Bid on US High-Speed Rail Projects FILE - In this Wednesday, March 3, 2010 file photo, a worker checks a CRH high-speed train at a... FILE - In this Wednesday, March 3, 2010 file photo, a worker checks a CRH high-speed train at a maintenance base in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province.

' target='_blank'> Quinn administration fires 3 officials in apparent Corrections Department shakeup

Quinn administration fires 3 officials in apparent Corrections Department shakeup In what may be a shake up of the Illinois Department of Corrections, Gov. Pat Quinn's administration has fired three of the department's top administrators.

' target='_blank'> Donald Trump returns with new crop of celebrities hoping to win for charity

Donald Trump returns with new crop of celebrities hoping to win for charity A new potpourri of celebrities starts working for 'The Donald', millionaire businessman Donald Trump, on Sunday.

Expert offers tips to avoid Medicare scams

Expert offers tips to avoid Medicare scams Scam artists sometimes target older adults and their Medicare benefits. But there are ways to avoid being fooled.

Quinn wants to borrow nearly $5 billion _ but how?

Quinn wants to borrow nearly $5 billion _ but how? While laying out his budget plan, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn sounded less like the leader of a state facing a $13 billion deficit than a guy looking to find a credit card with a better interest rate.

' target='_blank'> Another hassle for Illinois Senate candidate

Another hassle for Illinois Senate candidate The Illinois Democrat running for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat faced a new political hassle after one of his major campaign contributors was arrested on charges of defrauding banks by writing bad checks.

Attorneys for an Illinois State Trooper who allegedly caused a crash that killed two sisters on an Illinois freeway say the charges should be dismissed.
' target='_blank'> Lawyers: Speed limit doesn't apply to Illinois trooper

Lawyers: Speed limit doesn't apply to Illinois trooper Attorneys for an Illinois State Trooper who allegedly caused a crash that killed two sisters on an Illinois freeway say the charges should be dismissed.

SIU cancer center gets grant for online resources

SIU cancer center gets grant for online resources The National Library of Medicine has awarded a $36,000 grant to Simmons Cooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield.

World War II vets stream toward DC monument

World War II vets stream toward DC monument The chance viewing of a segment on a television news program gave Don Niehart an idea that has enriched the golden years of 296 World War II veterans from the southeastern third of Illinois.

' target='_blank'> Blagojevich asks judge to delay corruption trial

Blagojevich asks judge to delay corruption trial Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attorneys are asking a federal judge to postpone his corruption trial, saying they can't be ready by the scheduled June 3 start date.

Young illegal immigrants a coming outa

Young illegal immigrants a coming outa Tania Unzueta , a 26-year-old graduate of the University of Illinois is an illegal immigrant who decided to "come out" publicly Wednesday about her status at a youth immigration rally in Chicago.

A central Illinois woman is seeking $10 million in a lawsuit that accuses police of waiting too long to start looking for her two sons after they were taken by their father last year.
' target='_blank'> Illinois mom's lawsuit blames police in sons' deaths

Illinois mom's lawsuit blames police in sons' deaths A central Illinois woman is seeking $10 million in a lawsuit that accuses police of waiting too long to start looking for her two sons after they were taken by their father last year.

' target='_blank'> U of Ill. president says schools could help students get out in 3 years to save money

U of Ill. president says schools could help students get out in 3 years to save money The University of Illinois will look into ways to help students graduate in three years as it tries to save money and cut students' costs.

Recall Alert: 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor

Recall Alert: 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor Mitsubishi has issued a recall for 56,113 Endeavor vehicles from the 2004 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .

' target='_blank'> UGA study tackles myth of Obamaa s Muslim faith

UGA study tackles myth of Obamaa s Muslim faith A study by The University of Georgia found media reporting did little to quell the debate during the recent presidential campaign about President Barack Obama's supposed Muslim faith.

Quinn seeks income tax hike for schools

Quinn seeks income tax hike for schools Calling himself a realist, Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday scaled back his proposal to raise income taxes, shifting to a call for an increase of just one percentage point to be used solely for preventing deep cuts to education.

Ameren Illinois asks customers to swap lights, take energy-saving pledge

Ameren Illinois asks customers to swap lights, take energy-saving pledge An Illinois electric utility is asking customers to pledge to use less energy by swapping out one incandescent light in their homes with a compact fluorescent light that is qualified by Energy Star.

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