The supervisor is Sophia Tareen.

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CLOSER LOOK-CONCEALED CARRY

SPRINGFIELD — Gun owners say that when there's a concealed carry law in Illinois, it must apply evenly across the state. If local governments — cities or counties — are able to design their own rules for where and how residents may publicly carry concealed weapons, they say it would be unfair and confusing. A central Illinois gun owner might be able to carry a gun at home, but could become a criminal if he visits takes his weapon to another city that bans public possession, they say. But Gov. Pat Quinn supports letting local communities decide their own gun-possession rules. And after a disappointing defeat of the gun-rights advocates' preferred concealed carry bill in the House, a uniform measure applying equally statewide, the next best option is a measure percolating in the Senate which would require a local law enforcement "endorsement" to carry weapons in Cook County or Chicago. By Political Writer John O'Connor.

SCOTT AIR BASE

MASCOUTAH — The federal government won't make a decision for years on whether to close Scott Air Force Base, but leaders in southwestern Illinois fear growing budget pressures in Washington could affect the facility's future. Illinois' congressional delegation has vowed to work to keep the base open, even though the next round of closures won't begin taking place until at least 2015, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. U.S. Department of Defense officials have said the military has more infrastructure than needed, and Illinois lawmakers fear the base will stay on the chopping block as the costs of Medicare and other government-funded social programs continue to soar, forcing spending reductions in other areas of the federal budget.

CHICAGO SCHOOLS-ALDERMAN SISTER

CHICAGO — The sister of a key Chicago City Council member has been hired by Chicago Public Schools to help with the controversial closures of dozens of schools, according to a published report. Catherine Sugrue was named to the newly created position of CPS director of school transition, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. She is the sister of Alderman Pat O'Connor, who serves as Mayor Rahm Emanuel's floor leader. O'Connor, a former longtime head of the City Council's Education Committee, said his sister is a contract employee without benefits and she is qualified for the job. Sugrue worked at CPS for 17 years before she became an education consultant.

BUDGET BATTLE-AIR SHOWS

MILWAUKEE — Dozens of air shows that draw tens of thousands of people and generate millions of dollars for local economies have been cancelled this year after the military grounded its jet and demonstration teams because of automatic federal budget cuts. For years, the biggest draws at air shows have been the military's two elite jet teams, the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds, and their intricate stunts. The armed services also have provided F-16, F-18 and F-22 fighter jets and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, known as the Golden Knights. All the teams were grounded as of April 1 to save money, and the military also dramatically curtailed its help with ground displays of various aircraft. By M.L. Johnson.

Also moving:

— LINCOLN TRAIL HIKE, from SPRINGFIELD— More than 1,000 Boy Scouts are helping to clean up a 20-mile trail in central Illinois as they retrace steps taken by a young Abraham Lincoln.

— VETERAN HONORED, from CHICAGO — A northern Illinois man is being honored for his more than 30 years of service to his fellow veterans.

— FORMER CONGRESSMAN-BIRTHDAY, from PEORIA — Former U.S. Rep. Robert Michel is celebrating a milestone birthday with a party, some political stories and a rousing version of "God Bless America."

Moved previously and available for use anytime.

FAMILY SLAIN-TRIAL

PEORIA — The first trial begins Monday in the case of two brothers accused of killing five members of one family in their home in the tiny town of Beason, Ill., in 2009. The only survivor was a young girl who was 3 at the time. Christopher Harris is the first of the brothers to go on trial, which has been moved out of Logan County to Peoria at the request of the defense, which feared that Harris couldn't get a fair jury for the area's most sensational crime in two decades. Jury selection alone could take several days. By David Mercer

AP Photos

SPORTS:

BBA--RAYS-WHITE SOX

CHICAGO — David Price goes for his first win as the Tampa Bay Rays wrap of their series against the Chicago White Sox. Price is 0-2 with a 5.52 ERA in five starts. Dylan Axelrod starts for Chicago. 1:10 p.m. CT. Eds: With hometown lead on losing team. AP Photos.

With:

—WHITE SOX-FLOYD, from CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed starter Gavin Floyd on the disabled lost with a flexor muscle strain in his right arm on Sunday. Floyd left Saturday's 10-4 loss to Tampa Bay due to the injury after giving up two hits and two runs with two walks and a strikeout in 2 2-3 innings. He threw 47 pitches and departed after throwing a first-pitch strike to Evan Longoria.

BBN--CUBS-MARLINS

MIAMI — Carlos Villanueva starts against Ricky Nolasco when the Chicago Cubs close out a four-game series against Miami. By Steven Wine. Noon CT. Eds: With hometown lead on losing team. AP Photos.

Also:

BKN--BULLS-NETS: The Bulls prep for a trip to New York with a chance to eliminate the Nets on Monday night. By Brian Mahoney.

BIG TEN-DIVISIONS, from PARK RIDGE — The Big Ten says it is going to an East and West alignment for divisions and a nine-game schedule format for conference play. Big Ten presidents and chancellors approved the moves on Sunday.

ILLINOIS SPOTLIGHTS:

BAT AWARENESS

PONTIAC — What started as a batty joke in science class has led Pontiac Regional Alternative School students to become local leaders in promoting awareness of bats. In answer to student Anthony Bartonlini's wisecrack in a fall 2012 class, RAS science teacher Gary Norris told the boy to meet him after class to start a bat club - as a joke. The next day two girls interested in such a club asked the teacher where he was after class. Norris says he won't be joking like that anymore, but he is impressed the comment brought forth a serious effort. By Phyllis Coulter. The (Bloomington) Pantagraph.

AP Photos ILBLO301-303.

KNOWING GOVERNMENT

SPRINGFIELD — Most fourth-graders learn about state government and history in the confines of a classroom, but Wednesday morning, 32 Harristown Elementary School students were able to see state government in action as they toured the Illinois Capitol and participated in a mock news conference. The field trip, a longstanding tradition developed by former fourth-grade teacher Jeff Deremiah, was designed not only to help enrich the students' understanding of state government, but also to expose them to the fields of communication and journalism. "I started this field trip 43 years ago," said Deremiah, who helped chaperone the students, "and I decided students in fourth grade needed to do this because this is the time they're learning about state government." By Nicole Harbour. (Decatur) Herald & Review.

AP Photos ILDEC304-308.