The state [of Illinois] must phase out all financial ties with the Republic of Sudan under legislation Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed over the weekend... The new law...bans Illinois investments in companies that do business in or with the African nation... According to a press release from the governor's office, the state's pension systems have about $1 billion invested in approximately 32 companies with ties to Sudan... Illinois is the first state to ban investments in the Sudanese government and with companies that have business ties to that nation...