Illinois Man Acquitted in 50-Year-Old Rape Case, Faces Murder Charge
Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A man who was accused of raping his half-sister 50 years ago was found not guilty Thursday by a judge in DeKalb County, Ill., who said prosecutors “failed to meet their burden.”The sexual abuse allegation agains…
Mega Millions Winners: Identities Not Yet Revealed
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The identities of three lucky Mega Millions ticket holders in Maryland, Illinois and Kansas who will share a $656 million prize, the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, are still a mystery today. The three…
After Win in Illinois, Romney Says ‘America’s Greatest Days Ahead’
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images(SCHAUMBURG, Ill.) — Mitt Romney used his victory speech in Illinois Tuesday evening to launch fresh attacks on President Obama, juxtaposing his own economic background with the president’s and suggesting that a former…
Santorum Tells Supporters to ‘Saddle Up Like Reagan Did’
Mark Wilson/Getty Images(GETTYSBURG, Pa.) — Despite suffering a double-digit loss in Illinois to Mitt Romney Tuesday night, Rick Santorum pointed to the delegates he will gain in the night’s primary as being the catalyst to boost his quest for t…
Mitt Romney Projected to Win Illinois Primary
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Mitt Romney on Tuesday regained some of his footing as the leader of the Republican race for the presidential nomination, as he decisively beat Rick Santorum in the Illinois primary. About an hour after the po…
Some Illinois Ballots Too Big for Their Scanners
Ethan Miller/Getty Images(NAPERSVILLE, Ill.) — Election officials in Illinois are discovering that size does matter. In 26 jurisdictions across the state, the ballots are too big to fit into the scanners, sources at the Illinois State Board of Electio…
Does Romney Have an Enthusiasm Problem in Chicago Suburbs?
Ethan Miller/Getty Images(CHICAGO) — The fact that Mitt Romney is expected to win Illinois’ primary Tuesday night shouldn’t come as much of a shock. Not only has he drastically outspent his main GOP rival Rick Santorum, but the demographic…
After Unemployment Flub, Santorum Admits He Sometimes Wishes for ‘Do-Over’
AFP/Getty Images(EAST PEORIA, Ill.) — Hours after he said he doesn’t “care what the unemployment rate’s going to be,” Rick Santorum admitted to an Illinois crowd that he sometimes wishes he had the opportunity for a “do-o…
Romney Compares Puerto Rico Win to Massive Pancake
Win McNamee/Getty Images(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) — Stopping by a breakfast joint in central Illinois Monday morning, Mitt Romney was still riding high from his victory in Puerto Rico, noting that the diner’s famous 16-inch pancakes were nearly as lar…
Newt Gingrich Says JFK, Big Ideas Inspire Campaign
Richard Ellis/Getty Images(BARRINGTON, Ill.) — Speaking to high school students in Illinois Thursday, Newt Gingrich said he looked to Democratic President John F. Kennedy as an example of how to inspire Americans to do great things.“I think ther…
Newt Gingrich Says Illinois Primary ‘Largely Will Be Romney, Santorum’
Jessica McGowan/Getty Images(ELGIN, Ill.) — After two days of campaigning in Illinois, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told reporters that he believes the race in Illinois “largely will be Romney and Santorum.”A poll last w…
Mitt Romney and Allies Poised for Multi-Million-Dollar Illinois TV Blitz
Ethan Miller/Getty Images(BOSTON) — The ink is not yet dry on Tuesday’s Southern primaries, but the candidates are already gearing up for battle in two of the month’s remaining contests: Illinois and Louisiana.With recent polls showing Mit…
Illinois Fires Bruce Weber
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — After nine seasons in Illinois, the Fighting Illini parted ways with head basketball coach Bruce Weber on Friday.
The firing comes one day after the first round loss in the Big Ten tournament to Iowa. Aft…
Pro-Romney Super PAC Spends Big in Ill., La., Miss. and Ala.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — If you’re a voter in an upcoming primary state, chances are you’ll see a lot of pro-Romney super PAC ads.On Wednesday, the Romney-backing super PAC Restore Our Future reported big purchases of TV time …
At Least a Dozen Confirmed Dead in Midwest Tornado Aftermath
Scott Olson/Getty Images(HARRISBURG, Ill.) — At least 12 people are dead after a series of tornadoes blew through the Midwest earlier this week, according to authorities, and the death toll is expected to rise.The extensive damage caused by the storms…
Disabled Teen Falls 46 Stories in Trash Chute to His Death
Comstock/Thinkstock(CHICAGO) — A 17-year-old boy with Down syndrome and autism fell to his death down a garbage chute Monday night in a high-rise Chicago apartment building. Police discovered the body of Charlie Manley inside the building’s tras…
Illinois Proposes $5 ‘Skin Tax’ for Strip Clubs
LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images(CHICAGO) — So-called “sin taxes” exist for smoking, gambling and alcohol, so Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson says it’s about time there’s a “skin tax” for strip clubs.Hutchinson, a Democ…
Seven State School Systems to Get Share of $200 Million Jackpot
Creatas Images/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Christmas will arrive two days early for school systems in seven states.The Education Department announced Friday it will divide a $200 million jackpot among the following states in the latest round of the &ldqu…