* Illinois civil-union bill appears to be stalled

A proposal to allow civil unions in Illinois between same-sex couples has been stalled in the state legislature and seems likely to stay that way, as gay rights activists Wednesday plan nationwide “Day Without a Gay” rallies to protest California’s Proposition 8 and other measures opposing gay marriage.

* Republic Windows & Doors plant sit-in still a stalemate

Early Tuesday, Bank of America sent a letter to Republic offering to provide limited loans so the company could pay employee claims. Though that sparked hope of a resolution, Bank of America spokeswoman Diane Wagner said agreement on the terms of those payments was still to be reached between management and union representatives.

“We’ll worry about ourselves later; right now we want to do what’s right for those employees,” Wagner said.

She also responded to a timeline released by Republic Monday, which stated that the company had proposed plans in October for an “orderly wind down” of the factory that the bank rejected. The bank had been concerned about Republic’s finances since February and had discussions with owners about closing the plant as early as July.

“Republic had plenty of time to give their employees 60 days’ notice under the WARN act,” Wagner said. “But instead they kept employees in the dark about the company’s dire financial circumstances.”

* 2 suburbs in top 10 for unemployment

* Shopping mall operator cuts jobs

Debt-heavy shopping mall operator General Growth Properties Inc. cut more than 100 jobs this week.

The publicly-traded Chicago-based Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns and manages more than 200 regional shopping malls in 44 states, cut about three percent of its 4,000-person workforce, a spokesman said Tuesday.

* Lawmakers question federal report on CN rail bypass plan

An analysis of the Canadian National Railway’s plan to use a suburban rail line as a freight bypass around Chicago does not sufficiently address economic and safety issues, Sen. Dick Durbin and several members of Congress said Tuesday.

The environmental impact review conducted for the federal Surface Transportation Board falls short in its recommendations to ease traffic, noise and safety concerns in suburbs along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, the lawmakers said.

“A cursory reading of [the report] shows that the staff did not take into consideration the serious questions of safety and economic impact that this acquisition would have,” Durbin (D-Ill.) said.

CN seeks federal approval for its $300 million purchase of the EJ&E. The Montreal-based railroad wants to run freight trains on the line to avoid rail congestion in Chicago.

* Chicago’s police recruits take the same oath, accept new challenges