The Illinois Senate on Sunday afternoon approved a widespread gambling expansion bill that legalizes sports betting across the state and authorizes a Chicago casino.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

THOMPSONVILLE — Farmer Leon McClerren hesitantly cast a ballot for President Donald Trump in 2016. If elections were held this week, he said, he likely wouldn’t cast that same vote.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

The average Illinois teacher’s 2018-19 salary is estimated to be $66,600, the 12th highest in the nation, according to annual rankings and estimates recently released by the National Education Association (NEA).

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Netflix and chill could soon be more expensive in Illinois under a proposal from the governor’s office to increase taxes on liquor, wine, beer and streaming media services, among other non-motor fuel tax increases.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Up until the 1950s, hemp was an important industrial product in the United States, used for everything from ropes and clothing to parachutes for the military during World War II.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

PINCKNEYVILLE — During a special meeting Monday, the Perry County Board voted to replace its amended budget with a budget recommended by Bruce Delashmit of Bellwether LLC, a consultant hired to help with the county budget.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined with state lawmakers on Tuesday to promote legislation that would increase penalties for drivers who don’t slow or change lanes to avoid vehicles on the side of the road.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

A proposed hike in Illinois’ annual registration fee for electric vehicles, from $17.50 to $1,000, is being called unfair by current EV owners, and a sales disincentive by manufacturers — just as the new technology is beginning to gain broader traction.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

The state’s largest unfunded debt will likely continue to linger when lawmakers return to finish the final three weeks of the legislative session.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released results of its 2017 census of every farm in the country. That includes the 72,651 farms in Illinois, which generated $17 billion in revenue that year, a $3 billion increase from 2012, the last time the once-every-five-years census was conducted.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.