WUIS News

The countdown clock is ticking for Democratic lawmakers in the state capitol. In less than a week... they need to roll out a final draft of a legislative map... or reluctantly hand off some power to the Republican minority.  At the most recent hearing on the proposed map... the feedback followed a general theme: go back to the drawing board. As Luke Runyon reports... Democrats may want to heed that advice or feed the fire of an almost certain court battle...

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Sean Crawford talks with Tim Landis of the State Journal-Register about the aging Illinois population and an entry point for Springfield is due for a makeover...

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The Department of Energy will hold three public hearings next month on the FutureGen coal-energy project. One will be June 9th in Jacksonville -- near the site where a power plant will be retooled to capture carbon dioxide from coal and store it underground. The other hearings are June 7th in Taylorville and June 8th in Tuscola. (AP)

State lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow craft beer brewers to distribute their own concoctions. A federal judge had stripped all brewers of that right, but delayed implanting the ruling so the Legislature could make adjustments to self-distribution rights. The bill now heads to Governor Pat Quinn for review. (AP)

Rod Blagojevich's attorneys say government lawyers have failed to prove corruption allegations against the former governor and they're asking a federal judge to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors rested their case last week and the retrial reconvenes on Wednesday. (AP)

The CEO of Caterpillar has given the commencement address at Millikin University in Decatur. Doug Oberhelman told the graduates that while the country is at the tail end of a recession, it's times like these that help define future success. Oberhelman graduated from Millikin in 1975 with a bachelor's in finance and economics. (AP)

The Illinois Senate was forced to backtrack on a bill that would require murderers to register with the state after leaving prison. Legislators unanimously approved the bill before realizing that some amendments had never been adopted. The additions will be added this week and the bill will be put to another vote. (AP)

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says the legislative district map he unveiled is intended to comply with the law, not help his Democratic majority. Democrats released outlines of proposed districts for 59 Senate seats which would be up for grabs in 2012. Cullerton says the proposal is not final. Public hearings will be held this weekend. (AP)

Gov. Pat Quinn has replaced the head of a commission that helps families save for college, saying he wants ``a fresh approach'' at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The agency came under scrutiny last month after a state audit questioned its management and noted a continuing deficit of more than $300 million in the College Illinois prepaid tuition program. (AP)

Attorneys for Rod Blagojevich are staying quiet on whether the impeached governor will testify next week. The prosecution rested their case yesterday and Blagojevich's lawyers told the judge they would put on a defense. The former governor's team rested at the first trial without calling witnesses or entering any evidence. (AP)