The Associated Press

Black Illinois lawmakers undecided on gay marriage are feeling increasing pressure as a vote nears, but are keeping mum on their plans. Few members of the House Black Caucus have publicly backed the measure, which would make Illinois the 13th state to allow same-sex marriage. Caucus members are being lobbied extensively by both sides.

The federal investigation into the truck stop chain owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam led to its first convictions this week and threatens to widen against employees at Pilot Flying J.  Court documents allege that sales teams were being trained on how to scam the company's customers out of rebates and get away with it. Pilot's regional sales director and regional accounts representative both pleaded guilty yesterday  to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Illinois state senators are poised to take up proposals dealing with Illinois' unprecedented pension debt. Three smaller pension bills are awaiting floor consideration. They deal with retirement age, salary caps and cost-of-living increases. Senate President John Cullerton says his Democratic caucus will discuss the plans and a strategy today.

The Kentucky State Police have called off the search for a young boy who went missing last night near Lake Barkley yesterday. The Marshall County Rescue Squad’s dive team recovered 9-year-old Warren Patterson’s body late last night around the beach area of Kuttawa Harbor.  The Lyon County Coroner pronounced him dead on the scene.  Multiple agencies from several counties assisted the Kentucky State Police in the search.

A judge has ordered Kentucky Spirit to pay for preventative care that local health departments across the state provide to school children.

The Courier-Journal reports Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd issued the ruling Tuesday.

The Medicaid-managed care provider stopped paying for such services last summer, saying it wasn't obligated to cover the care under its contract with the state.

Former Miss America Heather French Henry has voiced her displeasure with a GOP statement calling her a "bottom-of-the-barrell pick" to run for U.S. Senate against Republican Mitch McConnell.

French Henry said in a blog post last week she'll make a decision on the race soon.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says he favors a Senate plan to allow the carrying of concealed weapons in his state. The Democrat says Senator Kwame Raoul's measure contains "reasonable limits and restrictions on guns" and allows local governments to retain their firearms regulations.

House Republicans who would take a shellacking under a redistricting plan proposed by Democrats still insist they don't want federal judges to redraw legislative boundaries in Kentucky. The Democratic majority in the House has a redistricting proposal ready that could force 11 House Republicans to run against each other next year. And Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear says he plans to call lawmakers to Frankfort for a special legislative session later this year to deal with the issue.

Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville received the highest score ever recorded for the prison in its recent re-accreditation audit with the American Correctional Association. The prison received a total score of 99 percent. This audit marks the 11th accreditation in the history of the penitentiary, Kentucky's oldest prison facility.

Tennessee’s TennCare Office of Inspector General says there have been more than 1,700 arrests for fraud against the state health care system since 2005. The inspector general's office, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3.5 million paid in restitution to TennCare.