By Saturday night, Republican representatives joined with Democrats who control the General Asssembly to agree to a massive package of bills comprising a $40 billion budget.

A $39 billion budget. A public works program. Casinos. Legalized recreational marijuana. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers have a single day – until 11:59 p.m. Friday – to wrap up all of that, and more.

Will a sports betting plan cross the finish line in Illinois? Gov. J.B. Pritzker supports it, and plans are being negotiated in Springfield to expand gambling in the state.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision last year opened the door to state-authorized sports betting, and Illinois is hurrying to take advantage of it. 

Chicago’ and Illinois’ budgets could both use extra padding – money for schools, and to pay pension debts. One option? More gambling. But just what are the chances? 

Chicago’s long-held desire for a city-owned casino will continue to go unrequited if an Illinois House panel’s Memorial Day vote against a massive gambling expansion package stands.

Sports gambling gets a big boost from the U.S. Supreme Court. What that could that mean for Illinois. 

Federal law permits betting on sports in just a few states that had laws on the books before a federal ban in the early 1990s. But a case before the U.S. Supreme Court could change that.

Could Chicago soon be home to one of the world’s largest casinos? Read an article.

What are the odds that pension reform, same-sex marriage, and gambling will be passed in the coming months? WUIS Statehouse Bureau Chief Amanda Vinicky looks ahead to the Springfield veto session.

Illinois legislators from both sides of the aisle, and both houses, weigh in on what was and was not accomplished during the spring legislative session.

Springfield is divided over pensions, concealed carry, gay marriage and more. Senate President John Cullerton gives us a glimpse of what's really happening in the State Capitol. Then, Eddie Arruza and his roundtable of reporters have analysis.

Medical marijuana, pensions, gambling and guns. What will the governor do about these hot-button issues as lawmakers enter the final stretch of the spring session? Paris Schutz has more.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss a new Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll showing waning support for a Chicago casino, and the potential impact of slot machines at Chicago airports.

House Speaker Madigan's pension reform bill clears the Illinois House. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney has the latest Springfield news.

The Illinois Senate approved gambling legislation today. See how members voted in our interactive graphic.