Miscellaneous
The Illinois budget impasse is now nine months old and there's no sign of progress. But one reason the stalemate has dragged out so long is that Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the one part of the state budget that funded elementary and high schools. Combined with state employees being paid thanks to a court order, the school funding bill meant that government functioned fairly normally and without disruption for most Illinoisans. But this school year is almost over and Rauner and lawmakers soon must deal with a budget for FY 2017. Will Democrats again hand Rauner a K-12 funding bill so schools will open on time for the 2016-2017 school year? Will higher education funding get settled as high school seniors in the next month try to make plans for college and financial aid? Those are our topics on this week's "Only in Illinois."