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Illinois' two U.S. senators are saying party leaders are trying to avoid a government shut down. Lawmakers are facing a Friday deadline to finalize the federal budget.Illinois' senior U.S.

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says he thinks the federal government is very close to reaching a deal with Illinois to buy an under-used prison.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, said the political bickering over the federal budget isn't expected to end any time soon.Durbin said Friday he thinks Congress will have to approve another temporary budget to avoid a government shut down.

There is a new focus on the safety of Lake Shore Drive and how Lake Michigan affects it after last week's blizzard. Hundreds of drivers got stuck in the snow there and eventually had to abandon their vehicles.Illinois U.S.

Missed anything this week in Chicago politics? We have you covered with our weekly digest of the best game in town. Rahm’s residency reignsHaven’t we used that header before?

The new U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on repealing President Barack Obama's health care law Wednesday.Republicans now control the House. Many of the new Republican congressmen campaigned on repealing the law.Illinois U.S. Sen.

Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin says he supports a proposal by Senate Democrats that would set new limits on filibusters. Durbin says rules allowing senators to simply raise an objection to start a filibuster need to change.