Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants a Downstate judge to lift a court order that’s ensured state workers get paid in full during Illinois’ historic budget impasse, contending it’s “removed any imperative” for Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic lawmakers to cut a deal.

Madigan’s office filed the request Thursday afternoon in St. Clair County Circuit Court, seeking to undo a July 2015 ruling from St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Robert LeChien that said the state must pay workers in full despite a lack of a budget agreement.

The Illinois Senate left town Thursday without voting on a much-hyped, sweeping plan that aims to end the state’s historic budget impasse, with one leader warning lawmakers not to buckle from interest group pressure while they’re home for nearly two weeks.

Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno said members needed more time to address concerns with the multipronged proposal that calls for various tax hikes and pro-business changes.

Illinois senators left Springfield Thursday without voting on their grand bargain to end the state’s budget stalemate.

However, Senate leaders insisted that it was not a sign that efforts to reach a compromise are failing.

Illinois Senate leaders issued warnings to their members as they packed their bags on Thursday — telling them not to “succumb to pressure” and also to be prepared to vote on a “grand bargain” budget package come Feb. 7.

Also on Thursday, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said he wants a legislative committee to take up one of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s preferred reforms — procurement reform. Madigan earlier this month said he’s pushing for his own “aggressive economic reforms,” which Rauner signaled as an “important positive step.”

Any state budget deal must establish sound spending priorities and provide the foundation to fund them for the long term.

Gov. Bruce Rauner put on his cheerleader outfit Wednesday, expressing satisfaction with some achievements during his first two years but urging legislators to work together on a bipartisan basis to lift Illinois out of its degraded state.

“Despite the problems and uncertainties we face, I am deeply optimistic about the future of our beloved Illinois. We have big challenges, and like many of you, I’m frustrated by the slow pace of change in Springfield. But with great challenge comes great opportunity. By working together, we can overcome any obstacle,” he said during his State of the State address to the General Assembly.

The Illinois Senate has ditched its promise to vote on a compromise budget plan by the end of the month.

But the Senate president warned members to be ready to take action early next month.

Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t want to send the National Guard into Chicago, despite the city’s spiking violence, saying in a recent interview the extreme measure “would be a mistake.”

President Donald Trump once again brought national attention to the city’s violent crime Tuesday, tweeting that he would “send in the feds” if officials in Chicago can’t get a handle on the ongoing “carnage.”

Let’s get this out of the way up front: Democrat Will Guzzardi knows Illinois will not be providing free college tuition anytime soon.

“But I want that to be the guide star, I want that to be the objective that we work toward,” Guzzardi says.

Starting Wednesday, Chicago will be nudging shoppers to BYOB — bring your own bag, that is.

A checkout tax of 7 cents per bag will be added at all Chicago retailers, the city’s latest attempt to cut down on the use of disposable bags, typically provided for free at checkout, which often end up in landfills.

After passing a $543 million property tax hike in 2015 — the biggest such tax grab in Chicago’s modern history — Mayor Rahm Emanuel and aldermen tried to apply a cool compress to taxpayers’ foreheads. They approved a $20 million property tax rebate program for homeowners who were hardest hit by the tax hike.

It didn’t work. Only a small fraction of eligible homeowners took advantage of the rebate program. Why? Maybe City Hall didn’t advertise it enough. Maybe requiring homeowners to apply in person was too burdensome. Maybe the window to apply for the money was too short. Maybe residents realized it wasn’t worth the trouble. The city’s most recent numbers have only about $1.2 million of the $20 million leaving City Hall as rebates.

Vanquished mayoral challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia sounded Thursday like he’s itching for a 2019 rematch, blasting Mayor Rahm Emanuel for everything from taxes, schools and crime to his handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting video.

Garcia argued that Emanuel wears the jacket for the 60 percent surge in homicides and shootings because he relied on overtime — to the tune of $116.1 million-a-year — to mask a dangerous manpower shortage that has mushroomed on his watch.

The Chicago Board of Education said Wednesday that it will vote next month on an amended budget.

The need to pass an amended budget comes after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a plan that would’ve sent $215 million to the cash-strapped city school district. Chicago Public Schools had budgeted that money to help make its annual pension payment to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund.

The merger of MELD with Youth Services Network is an example of two agencies deciding to come together to deliver services more efficiently with an ever-shrinking pool of dollars.

Other nonprofit agencies should take note and look at ways they, too, can partner to help the most vulnerable residents of our community.

After shedding 16,000 jobs in 15 months, Caterpillar Inc. is not currently planning any additional large-scale layoffs.

Company officials on Thursday confirmed the intention Thursday in the clearest language used to date in earnings reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission and conversations with investors and reporters.

The Quincy School Board will hold a special meeting as early as next week to ratify a one-year contract with the Quincy Federation of Teachers and Educational Support Personnel.

Board President Sayeed Ali said Wednesday night that the contract is not yet ready for board approval.

The former manager of a metro-east water district has been charged with stealing public funds and using a water district credit card for personal use.

Brian Buske, who was a supervisor at the Pontoon Beach Public Water District, has been charged with one count of wire fraud. Buske is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 6 in federal court in the Southern District of Illinois, according to court records.

In a blistering Facebook post, Amy Blagojevich, the oldest daughter of former governor and current federal inmate Rod Blagojevich, blasted former President Barack Obama for not using his presidential powers to release her father from prison.

The 20-year-old Northwestern University student’s screed was posted Thursday night on the Facebook page of former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich, who wrote that she was “happy” to post her daughter’s letter “if it brings her any relief or comfort.”