Updated: 12:41 PM A teacher's strike has left more than 7,000 northern Illinois students out of class Monday.

Updated: 12:40 PM A new poll of likely voters in Illinois shows Democrat John Kerry with a 14-percentage point lead over President George Bush.

Updated: 12:39 PM Illinoisans have nothing to worry about when it comes to new federal rules that determine who qualifies for overtime pay.

Updated: 9:42 PM Contract talks have entered the 11th hour in the Harlem School District

Updated: 10:38 PM The Harlem School District teachers union plans to strike unless a new contract agreement is reached by Monday morning.

Updated: 7:54 PM Parents in the Rockford School District have one more item to add to the back to school list, extra lunch money.

Updated: 7:52 PM Most of us look forward to vacations so we can relax, but eight local members of Northeast Community Church in Rockford spent their vacation hard at work

Updated: 1:11 PM Despite soaring crude oil prices, the cost of gasoline in Illinois is coming down.

Updated: 1:09 PM Federal officials say three Palestinian activists have been indicted in Chicago on charges they participated in a lengthy racketeering conspiracy to finance terrorism in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Updated: 1:08 PM Madison, Wis. (AP) – U.S. News and World Report ranks U-W Madison seventh best among American public universities.

Updated: 10:36 PM For the first time in nearly seven months, the parents of Roscoe soldier Justin Savage see on videotape their son's account as a military reporter via satellite from northern Iraq.

Updated: 5:36 PM The City of Chicago Thursday announced another round of inspections for Wrigley Field, saying it will cancel Monday night's game if the ballpark's structure is deemed unsafe.

Posted: 5:31 PM As contract talks between Harlem teachers, support staff and administrators continue, the possibility of a strike still exists.

Updated: 1:30 PM Chicago-based Exelon Thursday raised its 2004 earnings estimates and says it will spend $2.7 billion to pay down debt.

Updated: 12:56 PM Some veterans say John Kerry supporters shouldn't use Wisconsin's war memorials to further their politics.

Updated: 12:53 PM Swimmers won't notice, but scientists say Lake Michigan measures a foot deeper this year.

Updated: 12:54 PM State education officials say about 93-percent of Illinois teachers returned to their schools last year.

Updated: 12:50 PM Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to help Illinoisans buy prescription drugs from Ireland has surprised Irish government officials and pharmaceutical company representatives.

Updated: 11:09 PM A neighbor down the street from a shooting early Wednesday morning expresses his frustrations on troubles happening on Woodlawn Avenue.

Posted: 6:18 PM Democrats at the Illinois State Fair rallied around U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama Wednesday and mocked his Republican opponent.

Updated: 1:01 PM ACT scores improved slightly among Illinois high school students this year.

Updated: 12:50 PM Federal authorities say a temporary flight-reduction agreement at O'Hare International Airport calls for United and American airlines to cut a total of 37 arrivals each day.

Updated: 10:47 PM Buying prescriptions abroad is a first in the nation. Now, Illinois residents have that option.

Updated: 10:42 PM Mount Morris residents may be able to vote on a decision to rebuild.

Updated: 5:04 PM Prices of lumber have reached record highs. Since December, retailers have seen costs jump more than 200 percent.