The Illinois legislature yesterday approved legislation authorizing the Illiana Expressway.

The measure now goes before Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn — who is expected to sign it. Gov. Mitch Daniels has already signed into law similar legislation for the Indiana portion of the road.

“The fact that we’ve gotten two states to come up with enabling language for one specific project in the same legislative cycle is an exciting day,” said state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights, the sponsor of the legislation in the Illinois Senate.

Hutchinson said she is excited by the estimated $6 billion in projected economic development and the more than 13,000 permanent jobs expected to come into Illinois as a result of the road.

Indiana is expected to reap some 10,000 permanent new jobs related to development along its 10-mile portion of the Illiana Expressway.

“Cash for Caulkers,” a new stimulus program passed yesterday by the House, would allow homeowners to collect rebates for renovating their homes with better insulation and energy-saving windows and doors.

Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman will kick off Visit Indiana Week today with a variety of discounts and deals for summer travel in the state.

Nonfarm payroll employment rose nationally by almost 300,000 in April, but overall unemployment edged as more job-seekers returned to hunt for work.

Muncie officials want to buy and clean up an industrial location in a bid to save 38 jobs.

A recent study says that Midwest states could add more than 9,000 jobs by growing produce locally.

The NFL Players Association is threatening to boycott three Indianapolis hotels during next year’s Scouting Combine if they don’t change their labor practices.

Illinois and federal officials will conduct another mass fish poisoning in Chicago waterways to check for the presence of Asian carp.