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As the Illinois Senate prepares to vote on a measure that would legalize gay marriage, a new poll shows increasing support for marriage equality in the state.

The poll, taken by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, shows support has grown from 33.6 percent in 2010 to 45.5 percent today.

Democrats hold a supermajority in the Senate and believe they will pass the bill. If approved, it heads to the House. Governor Quinn has also indicated he would sign the bill.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) - Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon says she won't seek re-election next year but is weighing her options when it comes to seeking another public office.

She declined to give details, but she spent much of a news conference yesterday playing up her legal and financial experience.

Political experts say the move points toward exploring a run for attorney general or another statewide office and would allow for Simon to raise campaign funds separately from Gov. Pat Quinn, who's seen his approval rating dip.

It would also allow Simon to see who else is running.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan said yesterday that she hasn't decided yet on a 2014 gubernatorial run.

Simon told Quinn her decision in December. She said that in a few months she'll make another announcement about her future plans.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The union representing Illinois correctional workers is demanding a stop to what it says is the transfer of violent maximum-security prison inmates to less-secure lockups.

The letter sent Wednesday and obtained by The Associated Press was addressed to Department of Corrections Director S.A. "Tony" Godinez (goh-DEE'-nez).

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says in one instance up to 15 inmates were being moved to medium-security prisons. The inmates allegedly beat two guards and a chaplain at Menard prison last week.

The union is worried increased violence has ushered a return of "circuit riders" - keeping troublemakers isolated by moving them from prison to prison.

The 1998 opening of the high-security Tamms prison ended that practice. But Gov. Pat Quinn closed Tamms in January because of budget cuts.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois has received conditional federal approval for its plan to provide a health insurance marketplace where thousands of state residents will shop for insurance beginning Oct. 1.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a conditional approval letter Wednesday to Gov. Pat Quinn with a list of six conditions.

Conditions include signing a memorandum of understanding with the federal government for how the state will monitor and approve health plans sold on the exchange by March 1 and a separate memorandum of understanding for how the state will run consumer outreach activities by April 1. Sebelius’ letter acknowledges that “Illinois is working under intense timelines.”

The state is partnering with the federal government to offer the online marketplace.

CHICAGO (AP) - Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon says she won't seek re-election in 2014 but that she will likely run for another public office.

In brief remarks to reporters in Chicago on Wednesday, the Carbondale Democrat refused to go into detail about her future plans.

She says she will make another announcement in a few months.

Simon says she informed Gov. Pat Quinn of her decision in December. Quinn has said he'll seek re-election.

Simon is a former law professor and prosecutor. A brief statement released before her news conference highlighted her legal background.

In that written statement, Simon also said she wants to serve the people of Illinois in a role where she can have "an even greater impact."

Simon was first elected lieutenant governor in 2010.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A southwestern Illinois village clerk seeking to be mayor is free on bond after being accused of sneaking a cellphone to a jailed relative while working as a records clerk for the sheriff's department.

Alorton Village Clerk JoAnn Reed was arraigned Monday on charges of official misconduct and bringing contraband into a penal institution.

St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson says he suspended Reed with pay in the wake of allegations she smuggled food and a cellphone to her niece while that relative was jailed Feb. 3 in Alorton on charges that accused her of assaulting a pregnant woman.

Reed's attorney, John O'Gara, declined to comment after Monday's court appearance.

The charges are the latest involving officials in Alorton. A former mayor and a former police chief are in prison.

Governor Pat Quinn wants Illinois residents to be able to register to vote online. The Chicago Democrat says the state's election process must move into the 21st century.

Supporters of the plan say online registration would make the process simpler and attract younger voters.

Republicans say they don't oppose the idea, but think the state should first focus on fixing its worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.

More than a dozen states, including Colorado, Nevada and Indiana, already offer online voter registration.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is seeking public input on concealed carry of firearms and gun safety at two hearings later this month.

The Chicago Democrat announced Thursday that the Judiciary Committee will have public hearings Feb. 19 at the state Capitol and Feb. 22 in Chicago.

Madigan says the hearings will allow gun-rights advocates, gun-control supporters and police to "offer their views and argue their cases" on the issues.

A federal court rejected the state's concealed-carry ban in December and demanded the Illinois Legislature adopt some form of firearms possession.

Madigan says hearings are important after the court decision and the December school massacre in Connecticut.

Concealed-carry legislation that narrowly failed in 2011 has been re-introduced in the Illinois House.

CHICAGO (AP) - An Illinois Senate committee has approved legalizing gay marriage for the second time in a month.

The Executive Committee voted 9-5 Tuesday to move legislation giving marital rights to same sex couples to the Senate floor. Democrats with a 40-member majority say they have the needed votes.

The same committee OK'd a similar measure just after the New Year -- in the final days of the last General Assembly. But a floor vote was scuttled because supporters feared they were short of the 30 necessary votes.

Sponsoring Sen. Heather Steans reworded the legislation at insistence of Republicans. The Chicago Democrat says the new language makes clear that places of worship don't have to open their doors to gay-marriage ceremonies.