A nonprofit legal foundation that helped in the Supreme Court case against forced public union dues is threatening comptrollers and public payroll departments across the nation with lawsuits if they continue to take union dues from the paychecks of non-union members.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

One year ago last Friday, lawmakers overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto, passing a $36.5 billion budget that took an additional $5 billion from taxpayers and ended a more than two-year standoff between the freshman governor demanding pro-business reforms and Democrats in the General Assembly, who passed a budget with the help of a handful of defecting Republicans.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said that while there needs to be improvement to trading agreements, he told the visiting Japanese ambassador he’s taken concerns of a trade war directly to the White House.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Franklin County law enforcement officials are seeking information and the whereabouts of three juveniles who escaped from the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center, according to a Nixle report from Franklin County.

Here’s a link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.

CARBONDALE — The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Faculty Senate has taken a vote of no confidence in SIU President Randy Dunn and is urging the Board of Trustees to remove him as soon as possible.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

INA, Ill.  – Mt. Vernon pharmacist and business owner Eric Black stepped down from the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees tonight during the board’s regular monthly meeting. Black has served on the RLC Board for seven years.

Black was first elected to a four-year term in 2011 and was then re-elected to a six-year term in 2015. During his tenure, he served as the Board Chair for three years, from 2013-2016, and prior to his resignation, he served as the Board Secretary. His vacated seat will be temporarily filled for the remainder of his six-year term.

Black cited his desire to concentrate on his family and business as reasons for his resignation.

“After having served the college for several years now, I can wholeheartedly say it has been a pleasure,” he wrote in his resignation letter. “There has been quite a bit of work, some late nights, and some long phone calls, but I have enjoyed the experience. More importantly, I have had the pleasure of getting to know some very fine individuals, both on the board and faculty and staff. What a great team. Thank you and keep up the great work.”

Eric Black of Mt. Vernon, CENTER, was honored with a plaque for seven years of service to the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees after his resignation Tuesday night. Also pictured is RLC President Terry Wilkerson, LEFT, and Board Chair Randy Rubenacker, RIGHT.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

The President and Director of Pharmacy of The Medicine Shoppe in Mt. Vernon, also known as the Mt. Vernon Community Pharmacy Inc., Black is a second-generation pharmacist and pharmacy owner who was the first home-educated student ever to be accepted by St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

During the meeting, Board of Trustees Chair Randy Rubenacker recognized Black’s dedication to RLC and the community.

“Eric, I’d like to say … I’ve served a lot of people on different boards, and I’d have to say you’re one of the better board members I’ve served with, and probably the most prepared member I’ve ever served with. Your dedication to Rend Lake College has been very visible. Thank you,” said Rubenacker.

RLC President Terry Wilkerson also thanked Black for his service to the college.

“I appreciate the support that Eric has provided me as president, both personally and professionally, over the years. His leadership and insight as a board member has been invaluable to the college,” said Wilkerson.

Hamilton County State’s Attorney Justin Hood was elected chairman of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor during a quarterly board meeting, according to a news release from the organization.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Brian Pheasant, the man convicted in May of killing his wife, has filed a motion for a new trial, which will be heard Friday.

Here’s a link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.

After days of frenzied lobbying and speculation, President Donald Trump decided on federal appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh for his second nominee to the Supreme Court, setting up a ferocious confirmation battle with Democrats as he seeks to shift the nation’s highest court further to the right.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.