Mike Moen

When it comes to the economy, the city of Rockford attracts headlines for its consistently high unemployment rate. But a new federal report says the area’s GDP rate posted a strong gain in 2011, beating the national average.

A federal appeals court is refusing to reconsider a ruling  that says Illinois' concealed carry ban is unconstitutional.

The deadline is looming for automatic spending cuts at the federal level. While lawmakers wrangle over ways to avoid the so-called sequester, those who rely on federal funding are wondering how they would be affected. That includes companies, agencies and many others in northern Illinois.

The lawyer representing former NIU police chief Don Grady calls the decision to fire his client "unjust action." This week, the university dismissed Grady on the heels of misconduct allegations within the campus police department.

The city of Dixon wants state charges against its former comptroller Rita Crundwell to move forward. Crundwell was sentenced last week to more than 19 years in federal prison for embezzling more than 50-million dollars from the city.