KEY POINTS

• Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Gov. Bruce Rauner put aside their differences to meet privately for about 40 minutes — with both signaling some optimism over a resolution to the historic budget impasse on Thursday. • The two haven’t met since December when leaders’ meetings were called off by the governor, who requested that Democrats present a budget plan. • The clock is ticking with the legislative session ending on May 31, with the impasse having stretched nearly 22 months.