Among Illinois’ most populous urban centers, the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Metro East, posted the highest percentage of mortgages that owe at least 25 percent more on their loans than their property is worth, according to a home equity analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions.

Three colleges in Chicago had the highest default rates among private colleges in Illinois for borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 and defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis.

Among Illinois counties, Piatt, Moultrie and Monroe had the highest percentage of property owners with mortgages who have at least 50 percent equity in their homes, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity at the end of the first quarter.

Twenty-four educators from Metro East were among scores of honorees from throughout Illinois recognized as tops in their fields – from health to dance to foreign language – during an annual awards luncheon held Tuesday in Normal.

In Illinois, owners of more than 393,000 properties with mortgages have at least 50 percent equity in their homes, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity at the end of the first quarter.

State Sen. Kyle McCarter and Rep. C. D. Davidsmeyer were among just 20 Illinois House and Senate members to oppose a “smoke and mirrors” budget plan that isn’t really balanced, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

Road construction and wastewater loans top the list of projects funded by Gov. Bruce Rauner's 2019 capital budget.

Under Gov. Bruce Rauner's $7.8 billion capital budget proposal, the Illinois Department of Transportation would receive $2.7 billion and two other agencies would receive more than $1 billion each toward capital projects.

Madison County in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) recorded the ninth highest foreclosure rate for Illinois MSAs during the first quarter of the year, according to an ATTOM Data Solutions analysis of property data.

St. Louis Metro East/Shafer Field Airport is one of six recognized today with a 2018 Airport of the Year award by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

MidAmerica Airport is one of six recognized today with a 2018 Airport of the Year award by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

Columbus College Chicago, DePaul University and Roosevelt University, all based in Chicago, reported the largest share of borrowers at private higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

DePaul University softball tops the list of highest grossing programs in Illinois, reporting more than $1.3 million – or $63,791 per athlete – in 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.

Fifty-eight University of Illinois fraternities and sororities will pay $814,000 more in property taxes this year than they did in 2015, according to Champaign County Assessor data analyzed by the Chambana Sun.

At Kennedy King College, 26.3 percent of borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

In an open letter to the General Assembly, 65 local government officials, including six from Metro East, asked state legislators to block attempts to scrap the state’s flat income tax in favor of a graduated tax structure.

College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Parkland College in Champaign and Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville reported the largest share of borrowers at public higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Seven Metro East firefighters received awards Tuesday during an annual awards ceremony and memorial in Springfield.

Illinois is the fifth most popular states for college softball, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Robert Morris University baseball tops the list of highest grossing programs in Illinois, reporting more than $1.3 million – or $10,678 per athlete – in 2016, followed by Bradley University ($1.2 million), and University of Illinois at Chicago ($980,248), according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.