http://nwherald.comThe latest news from nwherald.comen-usCHICAGO (AP) — It is the last day of class for more than two dozen Chicago public schools that are scheduled to close their doors for the last time.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/last-day-for-some-chicago-schools-slated-to-close/a4lri2v/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/last-day-for-some-chicago-schools-slated-to-close/a4lri2v/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:10:00 GMTSPRINGFIELD – Both chambers of the Illinois Legislature voted Wednesday to create a bipartisan committee to try to solve the state's worst-in-the-nation pension crisis, but some lawmakers expressed skepticism that the effort would be any more fruitful than previous unsuccessful attempts.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/legislature-takes-action-to-form-pension-committee/aaho21f/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/legislature-takes-action-to-form-pension-committee/aaho21f/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:10:00 GMTPEOTONE – Transportation officials in Illinois have proposed that the planned Illiana Expressway be a tollway.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/idot-proposes-tolls-for-illiana-expressway/aa5lqi8/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/idot-proposes-tolls-for-illiana-expressway/aa5lqi8/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:07:00 GMThttp://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/official-pushes-to-make-it-easier-to-post-bond/ant9z91/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/official-pushes-to-make-it-easier-to-post-bond/ant9z91/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:11:35 GMThttp://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/special-session-expected-to-form-pension-committee/a3jovrs/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/special-session-expected-to-form-pension-committee/a3jovrs/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:09:57 GMThttp://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/1-in-12-illinois-bridges-structurally-deficient/a4g1789/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/1-in-12-illinois-bridges-structurally-deficient/a4g1789/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:08:30 GMTYORKVILLE — An autopsy is expected to take place on the remains of a 27-year-old Yorkville man whose badly decomposed body was discovered this week in his home — likely months after he died.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/body-found-in-n-illinois-home-after-8-months/afofh4r/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/19/body-found-in-n-illinois-home-after-8-months/afofh4r/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:07:00 GMTWHEELING – The village board in the Chicago suburb of Wheeling is to consider an ordinance prohibiting assault weapons.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/wheeling-to-consider-assault-weapons-ban/ak77zkt/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/wheeling-to-consider-assault-weapons-ban/ak77zkt/Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:30:00 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — Two species of invasive Asian carp may be able to spawn in more Great Lakes tributaries than previously thought, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report on Tuesday.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/usgs-asian-carp-eggs-can-incubate-in-more-areas/ahrcx52/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/usgs-asian-carp-eggs-can-incubate-in-more-areas/ahrcx52/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:17:00 GMTSPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Supreme Court is granting the Illinois attorney general more time to decide on an appeal over the carrying of concealed weapons.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/u-s-supreme-court-grants-madigan-more-time-on-guns/a39g9g8/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/u-s-supreme-court-grants-madigan-more-time-on-guns/a39g9g8/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:30:00 GMTSPRINGFIELD (AP) — Unable to overcome a stalemate on the state's $97 billion pension crisis, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders are working on a new plan that involves forming a bipartisan committee this week and reconvening the Legislature for an additional session in July.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/quinn-lawmakers-plan-pension-talks-into-july/awleb14/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/quinn-lawmakers-plan-pension-talks-into-july/awleb14/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:14:00 GMThttp://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/colleges-plan-training-for-gas-drilling-jobs/a2abi0o/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/colleges-plan-training-for-gas-drilling-jobs/a2abi0o/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:28:56 GMThttp://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/legislatures-special-session-to-cost-40k-a-day/a160pk9/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/legislatures-special-session-to-cost-40k-a-day/a160pk9/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:27:19 GMThttp://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/moline-aldermen-to-consider-backyard-chickens/az65sjq/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/18/moline-aldermen-to-consider-backyard-chickens/az65sjq/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:25:58 GMTCHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday signed into law the nation’s strictest regulations for high-volume oil and gas drilling.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/quinn-signs-tough-fracking-regulations/a2yzj6i/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/quinn-signs-tough-fracking-regulations/a2yzj6i/Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:30:00 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — A spokeswoman for Lisa Madigan says the Illinois attorney general is "doing her job" to advise state lawmakers and make sure the Legislature's final plan on pension reform "survives an inevitable court challenge."http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/court-fight-on-pension-reform-termed-inevitable/a28rsat/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/court-fight-on-pension-reform-termed-inevitable/a28rsat/Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:40:00 GMTPONTIAC (AP) — Rumors have persisted for years that a gun was smuggled into Pontiac Correctional Center. But no one found it until prison workers cut open a wall.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/long-rumored-gun-found-behind-pontiac-prison-wall/aq51zo6/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/long-rumored-gun-found-behind-pontiac-prison-wall/aq51zo6/Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:27:00 GMTMOUNT STERLING, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say a 2-year-old western Illinois boy is dead after flood waters swept his father's car into a rain-swollen creek.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/illinois-toddler-dies-when-car-swept-into-creek/ah8skmy/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/illinois-toddler-dies-when-car-swept-into-creek/ah8skmy/Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:00:00 GMTSPRINGFIELD – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for another monthlong extension of time to decide whether to appeal a lower court order allowing citizens to carry concealed guns.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/madigan-seeks-2nd-delay-on-illinois-gun-plan/a82xqtr/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/madigan-seeks-2nd-delay-on-illinois-gun-plan/a82xqtr/Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:19:00 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — Advocacy group Equality Illinois says it's getting ready to launch a $500,000 effort to promote gay marriage ahead of the 2014 election.http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/equality-illinois-gears-up-for-2014-election-fight/a6f1gzo/http://nwherald.com/2013/06/17/equality-illinois-gears-up-for-2014-election-fight/a6f1gzo/Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT