EAST ST. LOUIS – The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois published a notice on Feb. 7 announcing greater clarity for the nation’s creditors as it pertains to Chapter 13 insolvencies. The newly added Rule 3015.1 requires, as of December 2017, the use of a national form for Chapter 13 plans unless a district already has a process that meets the requirements in the new rule.

SPRINGFIELD – If you think you're already paying too much for sweetened liquid refreshments, hold on to your wallet. If approved by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law, Senate Bill 9 would sharply raise the price consumers pay for packaged sodas, syrup-based coffee drinks and tea.

State Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) calls for lower taxes on businesses, reduced regulations and civil justice reforms combined with belt-tightening as the types of measures needed to get the state out of its financial straits.

CARBONDALE – Consistent with a trend beginning in 2009, a recent poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University found that a slowly growing number of state voters do not see a series of proposed budget and spending cuts as affecting them directly.