* Student-led effort lobbies online for civil unions bill

* Payday loan law loophole swallows borrowers whole

Illinois is the only state with a cap on payday loans but no cap on longer-term loans.

* Chance to update state constitution will be in voters hands

* Cubs chairman raises specter of taxes to pay $400M tab

Former Gov. Jim Thompson said Friday he can’t understand why the Cubs are still touting the idea of renovating Wrigley Field with sales and amusement tax growth generated by the project when a plan to finance the $400 million overhaul without raising taxes is sitting on Tribune Co. CEO Sam Zell’s desk.

* Rosemont mayor antes up tax revenue to gain casino

Rosemont’s mayor still wants a casino — so much so that he is now willing to give up millions of dollars in tax revenues to land one.

* Chicago roads may undergo bumpy transition to bus-only lanes

* Officials launch updated Web portal for Medicaid information

* Union: IDOT has plenty of room

A major state employee union thinks the Illinois Department of Transportation has room in its headquarters building to house the Division of Traffic Safety that is now headed for southern Illinois. IDOT says the union is wrong. Two Springfield lawmakers said they’re thinking about making their own visit to the building to see who is correct.

* Bernard Schoenburg: Ex-Rep. McKeon sees setbacks in efforts to end bias

* Strattons big in Illinois politics

* Schools Lobby for Makeover Dollars

* Cook health chief hasn’t left yet

* Hospital board slights suburbs

“It’s frustrating because this just lends credence to people talking about seceding.”

* Lincoln, Douglas to duke it out again