Greg Hinz

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) and Senate President Emil Jones (D) said they will call a special legislative session next week to repeal the state law that now gives the governor the power to fill the state's open US Senate seat.

On Tuesday, Sen Barack Obama's campaign said news organizations will have to pay if they want to cover Barack Obama's election-night celebration in Chicago. Credentials will cost $715 to $1,815, depending on whether electrical and phone lines are needed and whether an indoor or outdoor seat is requested for the event, which is expected to be held outside the evening of Nov 4.

AT&T has taken its first formal step to begin TV service in the city of Chicago. Utilizing provisions of a new state law, the telecom giant's Illinois unit last week quietly filed notice with the city that it may begin offering Internet-based high-definition television service in portions of Chicago in as soon as 10 days.