Illinois legislators 'held' in Chicago schools bailout

Gov. James R. Thompson vowed Thursday to keep legislative leaders "locked in Springfield" until a short- term solution is devised to avert a shutdown of Chicago schools. The governor's announcement came a day ahead of what figures to be the school system's second payless payday and just hours after Chicago officials and lending institutions announced tentative agreement on a school bailout plan. Unless immediate money is found, schools could be shut down next week.

Before meeting in his office with eight legislative leaders, the governor said the city's plan to borrow money to purchase Board of Education bonds "looks as if everyone is finally complying with what I wanted."