The Associated Press

Illinois officials say savings from cuts to the state's Medicaid program have fallen short by $464 million. That’s about 30 percent of the expected $1.6 billion in cuts to the health program for the poor.

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Julie Hamos says nearly half the gap is because of a delay in implementing a program to check Medicaid recipients' eligibility. The federal government also denied permission to carry out some planned cuts.

Gov. Pat Quinn is praising a bill that would regulate high-volume oil and gas drilling in Illinois, saying it'll help the economy. Two state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would establish ground rules for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."

The method uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals to crack open rock formations and release oil and gas. The industry is eyeing southern Illinois' New Albany shale. Quinn says he's committed to protecting the environment and creating jobs.

Clarksville area residents can get their documents shredded for free Saturday at an event that aims to protect against identity theft. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is spearheading the project.

The House has passed a bill that would require police to take DNA samples from people they arrest on felony charges. The vote was 68 to 27 Thursday. The bill will proceed to the Senate for consideration.

If the measure becomes law, Kentucky would join the federal government and 25 states that take DNA samples from felony arrestees. The U.S. Supreme Court this year will consider the constitutionality of the testing based on a Maryland case.

The Senate has passed its own version of legislation that would require students to stay in school until they're 18, up from the current dropout age of 16. The vote was 36 - 2 yesterday. The House unanimously passed a similar proposal last week. Each chamber will consider the other's legislation.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is promising to delay the Army Corps of Engineers from restricting access near Cumberland River dams and says he might even restrict their funds. Alexander is the senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Water, which has jurisdiction over the Corps.

Kentucky Auditor Adam Edelen is promising a closer review of cybersecurity within state government agencies. Edelen says he is concerned about dozens of findings in a yearly audit related to security breaches, including the accidental posting of the Social Security numbers of more than 100 current and former state employees on a publicly accessible website last April.

A Kentucky State Senate panel has approved two measures requiring legislative approval before the Commonwealth could expand Medicaid or operate a marketplace that sells insurance.  The bills passed along party lines in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, which has a Republican majority.

The proposals now go to the Republican-controlled Senate for a full vote. The bills are expected to die in the mostly Democratic House.

A bill to allow Tennessee handgun carry permit holders to store loaded firearms in their vehicles no matter where they’re parked has cleared its final legislative committee before a full state House vote.

The House Civil Justice Committee advanced the measure Wednesday after supporters stressed it would not stop employers from banning weapons on their property.  They say it would simply remove employers’ ability to call for criminal charges against violators. 

A top Illinois Republican is scrutinizing a new state pension overhaul that would make a state income tax hike permanent. Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno says several pension proposals are on the table, but there isn't consensus.