But Gov. Quinn said he planned to appeal to a higher court, and his attorneys were due in court Friday on the issue.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn called the outline of a pension overhaul proposal floated by a bipartisan panel "positive" and "progress," but he shied away Sunday from saying whether he'd fully back it.

Gov. Pat Quinn dangled the possibility this week that he'll call lawmakers back for a special session on Illinois' nearly $100 billion pension crisis.

An attempt at solving Illinois' worst-in-the-nation pension problem faces its first test Monday as a House committee considers a plan calling for more employee contributions and freezing cost-of-living increases for retirees.

Public employees cranked up pressure on lawmakers Wednesday to address Illinois' worst-in-the-nation pension problem, saying they'd be willing to contribute more money toward their retirements and plan to host a pension summit after the new Legislature is sworn in next month.

Chicago children returned to school on Wednesday after teachers ended a seven-day strike that disrupted the daily routines of thousands of families and made the city a flashpoint in the debate over union rights and efforts to overhaul the nation's public school system.

As they awaited a vote that could end Chicago's first teachers strike in 25 years, teachers were balancing their desire to get back to class with lingering doubts and questions about a proposed contract that could mean major changes to their pay and job security.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel asked a state court Monday to force Chicago school teachers back to work and end a week-long strike he calls illegal.