By AP
Springfield, IL – With the Illinois state budget held up by gridlock in Springfield, some groups that provide government-funded services are laying off hundreds of employees and cutting aid. Illinois Action for Children Executive Director Maria Whelan says government-funded care for 150,000 children statewide is at risk. Progress Illinois is a Web site supported by the Service Employees International Union. It reports that as of July 10, 68 agencies had cut at least 1,400 jobs and halted services for nearly 13,500 people.