The Illinois Senate has taken action to create a committee to deal with the state's $97 billion pension crisis.

A wooden beam that has long been the focus of the search for a 17th century shipwreck in northern Lake Michigan was not attached to a buried vessel as searchers had suspected, but still may have come from the elusive Griffin or some other ship, archaeologists said Wednesday.

A wooden beam that has long been the focus of the search for a 17th century shipwreck in northern Lake Michigan was not attached to a buried vessel as searchers had suspected, but still may have come from the elusive Griffin or some other ship, archaeologists said Wednesday.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has taken on-field batting practice for the first time since being cleared to increase his rehabilitation program for a broken left ankle.

Chicago Tribune sports writer Dan Pompei has won the Dick McCann Award from the Professional Football Writers of America for his work covering the NFL for 28 years.

A wooden beam that has long been the focus of the search for a 17th century shipwreck in northern Lake Michigan was not attached to a buried vessel as searchers had suspected, but still may have come from the elusive Griffin or some other ship, archaeologists said Wednesday.

Gov. Tom Corbett is signaling that he's engaged in efforts to help the financially troubled Philadelphia School District, which is in the midst of shedding 20 percent of its workforce.

Justice Department prosecutors secured new indictments Wednesday against a former BP engineer and a former BP executive charged separately with obstructing probes of the company's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

A panel appointed by Georgia's governor to determine whether an indicted state lawmaker should be suspended will meet next week.

A grand jury has indicted two men in connection with the arrest of a former St. Clair County judge who resigned over drug charges.