stateline

State workers behind a challenge to an Illinois pension law that was declared unconstitutional are opposing the government's attempt to have it speedily heard by the state Supreme Court. Attorney General Lisa Madigan argues the government needs a decision quickly because if it can't implement the law, it would have to find a way to make up about $1 billion in savings ... Read More ...

A Rockford man has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars on drug delivery charges. 39-year-old Derrick Lewers made two deliveries of cocaine in 2012. Officials say both transactions took place within 1,000 feet of a senior citizen's center in Belvidere ... Read More ...

Al-Qaida is threatening to kill a Beloit College graduate taken hostage in Yemen. Luke Somers was kidnapped last year in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, where he had been working as a freelance photographer. The al-Qaida branch in Yemen is threatening to kill Somers if unspecified demands are not met in three days ... Read More ...

Rockford Health System ambassadors are holding a holiday toy drive this year. The goal is to raise $20,000 to purchase toys for children and their siblings in local hospitals. The toys will be distributed year round. Illinois lawmakers have ended their fall veto session ... Read More ...

The TSA is apologizing for security lines on Sunday at Chicago's Midway Airport that stretched over one mile long. Travelers said lines spilled out into the public transit line. The TSA says problems were caused by inadequate staffing and a closed security checkpoint ... Read More ...

The annual “Drive Sober or get pulled over/Click it or Ticket” campaigns have come to a close for this year in Winnebago County. The mobilization ended on Sunday and officials are reporting a successful outcome. Starting November 17, extra patrols were supported through IDOT in the Stateline region...

Jurors would get a big pay boost under legislation the Illinois House approved today. The measure would require counties to pay jurors $25 for the first day of service and $50 for each additional day. Counties now are allowed to pay jurors as little as $4 a day ... Read More ...

Local Rockford fast food workers will join over 150 cities across the nation demanding higher pay. Leaders of the Fight for $15 movement announced a pair of local rallies later this week. McDonald's workers at the Auburn St. location will strike Thursday, which also happens to be the two year anniversary of the movement's birth ... Read More ...

Republican Tom Cross has conceded the Illinois treasurer's race to Democrat Mike Frerichs. Cross released a statement today saying he has called and congratulated the state senator from Champaign. The hard-fought race had as few as 400 votes separating the candidates early this week ... Read More ...

A Rockford man was sentenced to 57 years in prison today in connection will an assault and home invasion earlier this year. 18-year-old Coreyon Brown was handed down the sentence in court after pleading guilty to two counts out of 17 against him, which include 1st degree murder and unlawful restraint ... Read More ...