SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has signed legislation restoring money for drug treatment and child-welfare workers he earlier cut from the state budget.

ST. LOUIS — Bill Raney considers coal golden. After all, the black rock fuels half of the nation's electrical generation.

CHICAGO — The unemployment rate in Illinois rose to 7.3 percent in October, up from 6.9 percent the month before.

HARRISBURG--The SIC Board of Trustees handled several items during its regular meeting Tuesday.

Board President Krystal Tison talked about short-term and long-term plans for athletics, indicating Southeastern Illinois College has a planning process that takes into account both the need for the sport and finances.

Karis Lane, 4, reads with Gretchen Noelle at the weekly lap-sit for preschool children at Eldorado Memorial Library. Lane picked out several books to read with Noelle during the one-hour session. The story hour lap-sit is free for preschoolers and takes please on Thursdays.

SALINE COUNTY -- An Eldorado man is in custody after having stolen a tractor from Jeadon Trucking in the Saline County Industrial Park in Raleigh.

Christopher Shawn Cox, 35, 17 Wise St., Eldorado, turned himself in to authorities Sunday on a Saline County warrant charging him with burglary and theft over $300. He posted $2,000 cash bond and was released.