Sen. Kirk’s brain swelling subsides; doctors reattach skull section

Doctors on Tuesday reattached a 4-inch by 8-inch piece of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk’s skull that was removed to ease swelling in his brain following his Jan. 21 stroke.

Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl

Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.”

Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago.

Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical …

Gov. Quinn signs bill to allow speed cameras near schools, parks

Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday ended months of deliberation and signed into law a measure allowing Chicago to install speed-enforcement cameras near schools and parks.

Kirk rests after stroke, his Senate projects don’t

The work goes on.

Sen. Mark Kirk might be in a hospital bed recovering from a stroke.

But his colleagues in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives are moving forward with the issues he has championed, from getting tough on Iran to easing …

Quinn’s State of State address gets cool reception from legislators

Touting a jobs platform, Gov. Pat Quinn pushed modest tax relief for families and businesses that hire veterans, Medicaid and pension reforms, and more spending on college grants in a spartan State of the State speech Wednesday overshadowed by the gloom and doom of Illinois’ crushing financial condition.

Former Survivor member sues Gingrich for using ‘Eye of Tiger’

A founding member of the rock band Survivor says Newt Gingrich is using the band’s biggest hit — “Eye of the Tiger” — without permission at campaign appearances, according to a federal copyright infringement lawsuit filed Monday.

Sen. Mark Kirk upgraded to fair condition

Sen. Mark Kirk has been upgraded to “fair” condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital a week after undergoing surgery for a stroke. “Senator Kirk’s recovery is continuing,” his neurosurgeon, Richard Fessler, said in a written statement. “He is alert, talking and responding well to questions.” Fessler …

Kirk undergoes more surgery to relieve brain swelling

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has undergone more surgery to relieve swelling in his brain following the stroke he suffered over the weekend.

Jacobs to run as write-in candidate in 30th District; one drops from District 13 County Board race

A Mundelein man whose name was removed from the March 20, 2012 primary ballot will run as a write-in candidate in Illinois’ 30th District House race. Gregory S. Jacobs was removed from the ballot after a successful challenge his nominating petitions earlier this month. Jacobs …

Report: College Illinois! could need $1.6 billion bailout

Illinois’ financially tanking prepaid college tuition program could require a $1.6 billion bailout from the state to remain solvent during the next 25 years, a new study shows.

Sente supports traffic safety efforts

Focusing on traffic safety this holiday season, state Rep. Carol Sente (D-59th) has commended law enforcement on their efforts to combat drunken driving while she continues to seek ways to keep roadways safe. In its fifth annual Report to the Nation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving …

Berrios denies election ‘payback’ after judge rules against daughter

Appellate Justice Rodolfo “Rudy” Garcia accuses Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios of stacking the deck against him in next year’s election for appellate court. Garcia said Berrios sent a message through an intermediary seven years ago that he wanted Garcia to rule a certain way in a case involving Berrios’ daughter.

7 state senators to call it quits

Big turnover in the House and Senate usally happens with the redrawing of legislative boundaries that often puts incumbents in the minority party in areas with which they are not familiar or that may be unfriendly politically. But this go-around, there is a sizeable contingent of Democrats who have decided to call it quits.

Schoenberg won’t seek re-election

Senator Jeff Schoenberg, D-9th, of Evanston, announced Tuesday that, at the end of his term, he will end his 22-year career in the Illinois General Assembly. During a Springfield press conference, the veteran legislator and assistant Senate majority leader explained he is not seeking re-election …

Illinois Legislature overrides Gov. Quinn’s veto of ComEd rate-hike bill

The Senate and House voted Wednesday to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of utility rate-hike legislation, handing Commonwealth Edison seeming victory in its pursuit of the $2.6 billion package and dealing a major setback to the governor.