2 key FutureGen partners drop out, leaving Ill. project looking for more

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just two weeks after the federal government revived plans to build the FutureGen power plant in eastern Illinois, two of the experimental coal plant’s financial backers said Thursday they are withdrawing.

Former Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett’s death attributed to overdose of pain killer fentanyl

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett died of an overdose of a pain killer, a coroner said Tuesday, and authorities are viewing his death as accidental.

Federal investigators at site of deadly Illinois derailment say high water may have had a role

ROCKFORD, Ill. — There was high water along the northern Illinois rail line where a freight train derailed, setting off a fiery explosion and killing one person, federal authorities said Sunday.

Northwestern University honors journalist freed from prison in Iran

EVANSTON, Ill. — Journalist Roxana Saberi, released from prison in Iran last month, has been honored by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Ill. train derailment explosion kills woman running for safety, hundreds evacuated

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Railroad tank cars holding thousands of gallons of highly flammable ethanol derailed and exploded in flames, killing a 41-year-old woman as she tried to run to safety from a car stopped at a crossing.

Fiery freight train derailment kills 1 northwest of Chicago, residents evacuated

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Railroad tank cars holding thousands of gallons of highly flammable ethanol derailed and exploded in flames, killing a woman as she tried to run to safety from a car stopped at a crossing.

1 dead after fiery freight train derailment northwest of Chicago, area residents evacuated

ROCKFORD, Ill. — A freight train hauling ethanol derailed and its tankers exploded, killing one person and triggering a fire that continued to burn early Saturday.

1 female dead from fiery train derailment northwest of Chicago

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Authorities say one person is dead after a fiery freight train derailment northwest of Chicago.

Freight train derails northwest of Chicago, area residents evacuated

ROCKFORD, Ill. — A Canadian National freight train derailed, triggering an explosion Friday night that left at least two people critically injured and prompted officials to evacuate the area northwest of Chicago amid concerns more of the train’s cars might catch fire.

Prosecutors say no perjury charges for Illinois Sen. Burris; political future uncertain

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — U.S. Sen. Roland Burris won’t face a perjury charge over statements he made to state lawmakers investigating how he got his job, but the junior senator still faces the task of salvaging his political future and shaking the stigma of his link to the disgraced former governor who put him in office.

Prosecutor: Illinois Sen. Roland Burris won’t face perjury charge due to lack of evidence

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — U.S. Sen. Roland Burris will not be charged with perjury for statements he made before an Illinois House impeachment committee because there isn’t enough evidence to support the charge, the state prosecutor investigating the case said Friday.

Authorities: Robbery suspect arrested after following would-be victim to sheriff’s department

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Illinois authorities say a Michigan man was so intent on robbing a motorist that he unwittingly followed her in his car straight to a sheriff’s department, where he was arrested. Carleous Clay Jr., 26, was arrested Tuesday and remains jailed in Madison County, Ill., on charges of attempted armed robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Out of office and under indictment, former Ill. governor still finds ways to grab spotlight

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been rejected by the people of his state, bounced out of office by legislators and indicted by federal prosecutors. But in the world of entertainment, he’s a hit.

Illinois blogger who claimed she was pregnant with terminally ill child apologizes for hoax

CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago woman has apologized for an Internet hoax in which she claimed to be pregnant with a terminally ill child, saying the story that attracted nearly a million hits her Web site stemmed from “unresolved pain” she couldn’t handle alone.

Blogger who drew following for tale of carrying terminally ill child admits hoax

MOKENA, Ill. — A blog that told the tale of a woman who chose to carry a terminally ill child to term drew a following online, prompting supporters to promise prayers and send gifts.

Ill. village officials tell woman to remove her toilet planters from her front yard

LAKEMOOR, Ill. — The planters in Tina Asmus’ front yard aren’t too pleasing to some of her neighbors, and village officials in Lakemoor have told her to remove them, or face a fine. Asmus, who likes to recycle discarded items, created the planters out of two old toilets and a pedestal sink. Mayor Todd Weihoffen, who is a plumber by trade, said he stands behind police who have given Asmus 30 days to remove the toilets.

Utility officials in Illinois say no public threat in tritium leak at nuclear power plant

MORRIS, Ill. — A utility in Illinois says routine monitoring has revealed a leak of water contaminated with radioactive tritium (TRIHT’-ee-um) gas at a nuclear power plant.

McDonald’s May same-store sales climb 5.1 percent on cost-conscious consumers

NEW YORK — McDonald’s Corp. said Monday its same-store sales climbed 5.1 percent in May, boosted by strong international sales but weighed down by slower sales growth in the U.S.

Impoverished E. St. Louis hopes park, overlook facing Gateway Arch lead to riverfront renewal

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — The panoramic view of the shimmering Gateway Arch and St. Louis skyline is stirring. But for this struggling city, the debut of a new riverfront park offers a vision of far bigger things.

US Rep. Mark Kirk announces divorce after 8 years of marriage

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk’s office has announced that the Republican congressman and his wife are divorcing.

FTC: Sears agrees to settle claims over personal data company collected by tracking Web use

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The Federal Trade Commission is announcing a preliminary settlement with retailer Sears Holdings.

Judge makes requirements for Drew Peterson’s media interviews and phone calls from jail

JOLIET, Ill. — A judge is making it tougher for Drew Peterson to talk to the media from jail.

Illinois authorities arrest father and daughter after a dispute over a pair of shoes

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Authorities said an argument over a pair of shoes led to criminal charges against a southwestern Illinois woman and her dad. Prosecutors charged the 24-year-old woman with criminal property damage, while her 47-year-old dad was accused of aggravated battery.

Redemption from scandal? Critics say Illinois ethics reform all bluster, little substance

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois politicians running for office next year can say something virtually unheard of in the state’s long, shady history: We put limits on the size of campaign contributions.

Deere to furlough most workers at Iowa plant due to weak demand amid economic downturn

MOLINE, Ill. — Deere & Co. says it will temporarily lay off most of the production workers at an Iowa plant because of weak demand for its products amid the global economic crisis.

Woman, boy killed in house fire in Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — A house fire in a Chicago suburb has killed a woman and her son and injured three other family members.

Deere names Allen to succeed Lane as CEO starting in August

PITTSBURGH — Deere & Co., the world’s largest farm equipment maker, on Monday named Samuel R. Allen to succeed Robert W. Lane as the company’s chief executive.

Ill. school bus driver killed after leading police on chase, ramming cars; 2 officers injured

GLENWOOD, Ill. — A school bus driver who had just been criticized by his employer was shot and killed by police Friday after he led officers on a chase, ramming police vehicles and other cars.

School bus driver rams cars in suburban Chicago as police give chase, mayor says

GLENWOOD, Ill. — Authorities say a person driving a school bus with no children on board led police on a chase, ramming cars before stopping in the yard of a house in a Chicago suburb.

Eastern Corn Belt farmers delay planting in wet spring as concerns over crop size, prices rise

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In an average year, southwestern Illinois farmer Richard Borgsmiller would have his 300-acre corn crop in the ground. This isn’t an average year.