Progress Illinois

Gov. Pat Quinn told reporters today that the federally subsidized "Put Illinois to Work" program has already provided jobs to 10,000 people. The program, criticized by conservatives, seeks to provide jobs to 15,000 Illinoisans with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. 

Gov. Quinn believes the Illinois Senate will vote on the $4 billion pension borrowing plan by the end of the month.  But the Senate President has "no plans" to call the chamber back.

The prosecution rested its case in the perjury trial of former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge yesterday following testimony from former armed robbery suspect Shadeed Mu’min, who said Burge unloaded all but one bullet from a .44 Magnum revolver and put the gun to the middle of Mu'min's forehead. The defense will begin calling witnesses this morning.

After three days of testimony, Lon Monk has left the witness stand in Rod Blagojevich's federal corruption case. If he satisfies his plea bargain, Monk will only serve a two-year prison sentence for his corruption conviction.  Former Illinois director of debt David Abel is the next witness to take the stand.