Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who’s accused of bank fraud and lying to the FBI in connection with a sexual abuse scandal, pleads not guilty in federal court. 

On the heels of former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett's resignation, and as they are in the middle of contract negotiations with the district, thousands of Chicago Teachers Union members rally in the Loop to demonstrate their frustration with the district. 

The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. We break down the first three games of the series and look ahead to Wednesday's Game 4 in Chicago.

Some have described the atmosphere in Springfield as toxic. Will lawmakers and Gov. Rauner move beyond the ugliness to get a deal done on the budget? Two lawmakers join us to talk about what's ahead.

As Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly continue to battle over the state’s budget, we talk with former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar (1991-1999) about the state’s pension-funding plan he signed into law, how he worked with Democrats in Springfield, and what advice he has for the governor. 

There's a lobbying and advertising war going on in Illinois. No, it's not related to the state budget. It pits the state's largest producer of energy, Exelon, which is asking for a rate hike to help its struggling nuclear power plants, against wind and solar energy groups that say Exelon is merely a billion dollar corporation seeking a bailout.

• Overtime Session Begins in Springfield

Speaker Michael Madigan and the House return to work today as the overtime session begins. Is it political theater or is this a sign of a compromise with Gov. Bruce Rauner?

This Saturday, The 606, park and trail system will officially open. Chicago Tribune Pulitzer-prizewinning architectural critic Blair Kamin shares his thoughts about the trail ahead of its opening.

Now that the temperature has warmed up, we’re ready to plant the seeds and transplants for our summer crops. The Organic Gardener Jeanne Nolan visits our garden to help us plant our latest round of viewer selected crops and check in on the crops we planted a month ago.  

Gov. Bruce Rauner wants a freeze on all property taxes in Illinois. He says that’s what he needs before he’ll agree on new revenue in a budget. Will it work? Paris Schutz has the latest.