There was a flurry of late-session activity in the Illinois House and Senate on Tuesday, but still no budget deal.

Eight days left in the General Assembly's spring session. Is there any end in sight to the budget impasse? We have a live report from the state capital. 

Days after a bipartisan group filed a constitutional amendment that would take redistricting out of the hands of state lawmakers, a lawsuit was filed to get the proposal thrown out.

It may be the worst-kept political secret in Springfield, and now the chatter has reached fever pitch.

A bill that's advancing in Springfield would move Illinois from a flat income tax of 3.75 percent to a graduated system, where higher earners pay higher rates. Does the bill stand a chance of becoming law?

Nearly a week after the Illinois primary election, Gov. Bruce Rauner said Monday he has not received any commitment from House Speaker Michael Madigan to resume negotiations on a state budget for what remains of the current fiscal year. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner is coming up empty in his bid to influence several General Assembly primary races, despite he and allies spending millions of dollars. If tonight’s races are indicative of a wider proxy war with House Speaker Mike Madigan, Madigan appears to be the runaway winner. 

A final look at the stakes in Tuesday’s primary election in Illinois. Chicago Public Schools sues its former CEO and SUPES Academy for $65 million. And former Bears head coach Lovie Smith is back in Illinois to coach football. Joel Weisman and his guests discuss these stories and more in this week’s show.

It's a simple state legislative primary, but observers view it as ground zero in the standoff between Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan. Paris Schutz has more on a race that has the money and mud flying. 

Teachers threaten an April strike. The Illinois House votes to strip Mayor Rahm Emanuel of school board control. Homicides soar and police morale sinks. And baseball is back. Joel Weisman had guests for these stories and more.

Early voting numbers in the March 15 primary are up this year. But in one ward, the numbers are towering over all of the rest.

On Monday, the state of Illinois announced the reopening of the Illinois State Museum, a 138-year-old institution closed by Gov. Bruce Rauner last September. But it's not exactly that easy. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner delivered his second State of the State address Wednesday as Illinois continues to see an unprecedented budget impasse. How will Rauner appeal to the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and how will Democratic leaders respond? Amanda Vinicky joins us to share reactions from lawmakers.  

Gov. Bruce Rauner says he and Senate President John Cullerton have a deal on major pension reform, but it fell apart as the day went on. What happened? Paris Schutz has details.

A young, Harvard-educated, first-time candidate tells us why he believes he can defeat the state’s most powerful incumbent, House Speaker Michael Madigan. Paris Schutz brings us the report.

The Illinois General Assembly returned to work in Springfield on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks. Amanda Vinicky joins us with the latest.