Illinois Supreme Court (Alanscottwalker)

The Illinois Supreme Court dealt Mayor Rahm Emanuel a major setback Thursday in his efforts of saving two of the city’s four public employee pension funds, which city officials say could go broke within the next 15 years.

President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon—nine years to the day after he announced his run for the White House on the steps of the Old State Capitol. In a return to his old stomping grounds as a state senator, the president invoked many of the same themes from his 2007 speech.

The state's oldest and largest social service agency announces it will eliminate 30 programs and 40 percent of its staff. We bring you more on this and other news out of Springfield with Amanda Vinicky.

Chicago State University campus

Many Illinois college students face the loss of their MAP grants because of the state's fiscal crisis, and Chicago State University says it won't be able to make payroll in March. Amanda Vinicky joins us with details.

Illinois is in its fifth month without a state budget and Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner have traded barbs—and possibly some dead fish—over how to resolve the impasse that is sucking all of the oxygen up in Springfield. We talk with "Chicago Tonight" reporters Paris Shutz and Amanda Vinicky, and WBEZ political reporter Tony Arnold. 

The Illinois Senate is back in session in Springfield to consider a property tax freeze and possible funding relief for social service providers. Amanda Vinicky will join us with the latest on Chicago Tonight.

The Democratic-led Illinois Senate on Wednesday passed the temporary one-month budget by a vote of 39-0 (with 15 voting present) that the House passed last week, but can they override Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto? Amanda Vinicky joins us tonight with the latest updates from Springfield.

Credit: Amanda Vinicky

Illinois House lawmakers are back in session in Springfield a week after representatives failed to pass a one-month spending plan. The Democrat-controlled House led by Speaker Michael Madigan is scheduled to take up the temporary spending plan again despite opposition from Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republican lawmakers. We talk with Chicago Tonight's Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky about the status of the budget and more.

State lawmakers are considered a temporary one-month budget in an effort to keep state government funded. That measure failed in the House. Senate President John Cullerton has proposed a measure that addresses the pension crisis facing Chicago Public Schools, while also incorporating a property tax freeze which Gov. Bruce Rauner sought. We talk with Chicago Tonight correspondents Carol Marin and Amanda Vinicky.

We’ll talk about the latest developments in Springfield with veteran reporter Carol Marin and Springfield correspondent Amanda Vinicky. It’ll be a whooper of day as a state government shutdown appears increasingly likely because Tuesday is the final day in the state’s current budget. Meanwhile, Chicago Public Schools managed to pay its $634 million pension payment Tuesday afternoon. 

The Illinois State Board of Education has identified $450 million to fund CPS' pension contribution. Meanwhile, budget talks continue as Illinois faces a potential shutdown. Amanda Vinicky joins us tonight from Springfield while Paris Schutz has reaction from local lawmakers.

The Illinois House failed to approve a bill that would have delayed CPS’ massive pension payment due at the end of the month. Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky has the latest on that and why the Governor’s office skipped a House and Revenue Finance Committee meeting.

Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky talks with us about where state budget negotiations stand as the beginning of fiscal year 2016 approaches quickly. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner has launched attack ads against House Speaker Michael Madigan and Democrats, which have started circulating on the Internet. Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky discusses what that could mean for budget talks.

The battle over the state’s budget continues to heat up. We’ll talk with Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky about the latest news coming out of the state’s Capitol. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic lawmakers were unable to agree on a budget plan for the state on Sunday, the deadline for the spring legislative session. Powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan said his chamber plans to be in “continuous session” this summer to address the state’s $6 billion budget shortfall. We’ll talk with Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky about the public relations battle between the governor and Democratic leaders.