Jack Lew expected to get tapped by Obama for next Treasury Secretary

WASHINGTON — White House chief of staff Jack Lew is President Barack Obama’s expected pick to lead the Treasury Department, with an announcement possible before the end of the week.

White House officials would not confirm that a final decision had been made. But aides …

Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson to perform at Obama inauguration

WASHINGTON — Beyonce will sing the national anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony. The committee planning the Jan. 21 event also announced Wednesday that Kelly Clarkson will perform “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and James Taylor will sing “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in …

Lame-duck session ends with no pension reform

On the last day of the lame-duck legislative session, Gov. Pat Quinn and the Democratic-led Legislature laid a gigantic goose egg Tuesday by failing to deliver a fix to Illinois’ paralyzing $95 billion pension crisis.

Illinois House plans hearing on pension-reform package Monday

SPRINGFIELD — Cost-of-living increases for state retirees and Downstate and suburban teachers would freeze for six years, and no one would be eligible for that perk until turning 67 under a pension-reform package expected to surface Monday in the Illinois House.

House won’t vote on gun, ammo bans in lame-duck session

SPRINGFIELD — Add gun-control legislation to the growing legislative scrap heap for what thus far has been a lame lame-duck session. Citing a lack of support, the House sponsor of bans on military-style weapons — dubbed “assault weapons” by critics — and the high-powered ammunition that feeds them decided Sunday not to call either measure for a vote in his chamber. Those same bills stalled last week in the Senate.

Deb Mell: a legislative career where family, politics intersect

The state lawmaker’s first vote came on Jan. 14 2009, the date when the House impeached her brother-in-law, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. She was the only member in a 117-1 decision to vote against his impeachment.

Senate Dems wave white flag on gay marriage, guns as session winds down

The math isn’t on the side of supporters of the high-profile legislation on gay marriage, gun control and pension reform as the lame-duck Legislature nears end of its term next Wednesday with much unfinished business.

Seven candidates file petitions to run for Jackson’s old congressional seat

It was the first day candidates could file with the Illinois State Board of Elections for a special primary to replace Jackson, which will be held February 26th. More candidates are expected to enter the crowded field before the January 7th filing deadline.

Emanuel, McCarthy beat the drum for assault weapons ban

Flanked by parents whose children were innocent victims of gun violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel demanded Thursday that Illinois legislators put “public safety over politics” by banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

Illinois Senate panel OKs ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines

SPRINGFIELD — Driven by the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, gun-control legislation designed to ban assault weapons and the ammunition that feeds them passed a Senate panel late Wednesday, setting the stage for a possible floor vote on Thursday.

Setback for bid to legalize gay marriage in Illinois, but Senate could vote Thursday

SPRINGFIELD — A bid to legalize gay marriage in Illinois suffered an unexpected setback Wednesday when supporters fell two votes shy of getting a legislative hearing, meaning there won’t be a Senate vote on the measure until Thursday at the earliest.

April 2012 campaign donations for Mitt Romney

Contributions are a key indicator of support for political candidates. The following list of donors represents local people who made donations in April 2012 to the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney.  Donations are limited by the Federal Election Committee to $2,500 per general election cycle and …

End of payroll-tax cut hurts, as does Illinois’ income-tax hike

A collective sigh of relief over averting the fiscal cliff is expected to be short-lived for Illinois workers, whose incomes will be dented by the deal — and a state income-tax increase that was approved in 2011. The 2-percentage-point hike in the state income tax …

Helen Doria, cultural programmer for Chicago parks, helped design Bloomingdale Trail, dies at 61

When Chicago’s parks seemed to have more gang members than ordinary people in the early 1990s, authorities turned to Helen Doria to help lure average citizens back.

Obama to fly home early as ‘fiscal cliff’ looms

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama is cutting short his traditional Christmas holiday in Hawaii, planning to leave for Washington on Wednesday evening as lawmakers consider how to prevent the economy from going over the so-called fiscal cliff. The White House said Tuesday that first lady …