By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — The federal tax credit that has supported wind energy for almost 20 years is set to expire at the end of 2012.

With this expiration looming, the future of the industry in Illinois — one of the top producers of wind energy in the nation — could leave the state struggling to meet its renewable energy requirements, even as the state exports more wind energy than it uses.

With 1,500 turbines in operation and about the same number in permitting stages, Illinois’s wind industry also has thrived because of an electric grid ideal for carrying power into Chicago and exporting it to Midwestern and Eastern states and the state’s renewable-energy requirements.

By Lynn Campbell | IowaPolitics.com

DES MOINES — Jody Miller played online poker for three to four years before the government cracked down on the practice a couple of years ago.

Before that, Miller said, online poker was technically never legal, but the laws were rarely enforced. But increased government enforcement, he said, made it more difficult to play and caused some online poker websites to shut down. Some players saw their assets frozen and become tied up in online accounts.

By M.D. Kittle | Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON — The state’s elections watchdog Tuesday announced it would release all 153,335 pages of recall petitions online, 24 hours after pausing to consider the impact of posting personal information about domestic violence victims.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ difficulties reining in its pension costs are expected to pale in comparison to its efforts to control Medicaid, the state’s other big expense.

A new report released Monday from the Civic Federation, a Chicago-based nonpartisan policy group that focuses on state spending, predicts Illinois’ Medicaid costs will skyrocket over the next five years.

By Stacy Brown | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — Outraged by the state’s handling of Chester Upland School District’s financial crisis, lawmakers came out swinging Tuesday against the Corbett administration who they said wants to eliminate failing school districts and require students to attend area charter schools.

At the Senate Education Committee hearing, senators grilled state Department of Education Secretary Ron Tomalis during his two-hour appearance as the guest speaker.