Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn pitched a 33 percent income tax increase Wednesday, framing the debate as a choice between finding more money or hurting schoolchildren.

While foreclosure activity in troubled states like California, Arizona and Nevada posted year-over-year declines last month, Illinois had a 21.76 percent increase in foreclosure filings in February.

Acknowledging that teenagers in correctional facilities suffer from trauma and mental health issues and that the state has fallen short in helping them, Illinois officials announced Wednesday that the Department of Juvenile Justice will be folded into the Department of Children and Family Services.

Legislators shot down a proposal today that called for abolishing a regional education office drowning in debt and allegations of corruption and patronage.

Seeking a tax hike is never a popular move -- even less so in the middle of both a historic recession and an election year. Nonetheless, Gov. Pat Quinn called on Illinois lawmakers Wednesday to do just that.

Springfield School District finance director Agnes Nunn lauded Gov Pat Quinn's proposal for a 1 percentage point increase in the state income tax that would be devoted solely to schools, but she said Quinn's proposal raises many questions.

The governor's proposed budget may not be enough to save local school districts from making cuts in personnel and programs.

The possibility of a $1.3 billion cut hangs over the heads of higher education while a proposed 33 percent tax hike could restore some much-needed funding.

Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to raise the income tax rate 33 percent to pay for schools didn't find many fans among local lawmakers Wednesday.

The proposed $1.3 billion cut to state support for public education could lead to layoffs and furloughs for Southern Illinois University in the next fiscal year, President Glenn Poshard said.

Gov. Pat Quinn's budget speech today was short, lacked details, and his 2011 spending plan relies too much on borrowing, Rockford-area lawmakers said.

State Sen. Bill Brady says Gov. Pat Quinn's budget plan is shortsighted and relies too heavily on borrowing.

NORMAL, Ill. -- Local education officials were grimly unsurprised by Gov. Pat Quinn's budget address in which he put $1.2 billion in education cuts on the table.

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Public school leaders in the Rock River Valley say Gov. Pat Quinn's state budget proposal leaves them stuck between two equally grim funding scenarios.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, is expressing some concern over Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed cuts to state services and more reliance on borrowing, as outlined in today's budget address.

After a week of controversy that he said had "just gotten crazy," University of Illinois Springfield chancellor Richard Ringeisen will take his original retirement deal after all.

The University of Illinois board of trustees voted today to give Richard Ringeisen, the retiring chancellor of the Springfield campus, a one-year paid administrative leave after he steps down Oct. 31.

A University of Illinois trustee hinted Tuesday that the board in the future might scrutinize more closely employment agreements such as the one that called for University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Richard Ringeisen to receive a year of paid leave after his retirement as chancellor.

Chicago and state officials are moving forward with legislative proposals to improve safety inside the state's troubled nursing homes.

Overcoming their fear of deportation, a group of college-age immigrants publicly admitted their undocumented status at a rally at the Federal Plaza on Wednesday in hopes of putting a face on the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

Mayor Richard Daley on Wednesday threw his support behind state Rep. Art Turner for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination vacated by troubled Chicago pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen.

For the second time in a week, a House panel dominated by downstate lawmakers signaled its approval of a law allowing Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A shorter college career could save money for students, families and the University of Illinois itself, the interim president said Wednesday.

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. -- The Illinois Valley Central School Board quietly formalized its plan to combat a lack of state funding with a unanimous vote to cut the budget by $1.5 million.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Union County officials will discuss alternative sources of funding at the board meeting Monday, as delayed state income tax payments have made it more difficult to pay the bills.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- In a move described as "discouraging" by District 87 Superintendent Bob Nielsen, the Board of Education voted to cut 26 teaching positions in the first phase of a cost-cutting deficit reduction program Wednesday night.

Chicago-area Cadillac dealers Dennis Bauer and Mike Ettleson were among at least 15 General Motors dealers in Illinois who got a stay of execution this week.

The use of antibiotics in livestock is getting at least as much attention from hog and cattle producers this year as taxes and deficits.

Ameren Illinois Utilities is in the midst of a contentious campaign for a utility rate hike.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich paid a return visit to David Letterman to field jokes -- mostly about his hair.