The Illinois House on Friday approved legislation that would let Illinoisans carry concealed firearms.  It passed on a vote of 85 to 30 after more than two hours of debate.

“As we all know, after years of debating this issue, it is incredibly difficult, if not darn-near impossible, to come to a middle ground on this issue,” said the bill’s sponsor, Representative Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg).

“Every legislator on this floor has a different opinion when it comes to concealed-carry policy.”

For this week’s Emphasis, we present the documentary Remembering the Governor of Forgottonia.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the tongue-in-cheek political campaign that helped put western Illinois on the map – sort of.  Neal Gamm, a bushy-haired, energetic, theater student at Western Illinois University, declared 16 counties should secede from the US and found the Republic of Forgottonia.

A group of Illinois lawmakers is encouraging the state to study the feasibility of an east-west passenger rail corridor.

The route -- by bus at first, with the hope to eventually move to trains – would run from the Quad Cities to Danville. It would include stops in Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, and Champaign.

Des Moines County is taking itself out of the running for a piece of real estate.