CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Aug. 1, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a settlement with Elite Staffing Inc. (Elite) that resolves allegations that Elite entered into no-poach agreements and engaged in wage fixing with two other staffing agencies. The settlement (https://ilag-dev.dotcms.cloud/dA/35ec0fe4-3973-4edd-af57-0501eabfde73/fileAsset/2024.08.01%20Order%20approving%20Elite%20Settlement%20Agreement  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with six other attorneys general, announced a settlement to resolve allegations of unfair labor practices at oil change and auto services company Valvoline LLC, Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchising Inc. and VGP Holdings LLC (Valvoline). Raoul and the attorneys general allege Valvoline required its hourly employees to sign non-competition agreements that prohib  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 (TNSres) -- The University of Chicago issued the following news: By Louise Lerner Neat rows of lab benches and gently humming freezers line the laboratory walls of Joyce Chen, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Ben May Department for Cancer Research. There, her team of scientists are finding innovative ways to grow lung cells and structures inside the laboratory. This helps us understand the many tiny ch  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- City Colleges of Chicago issued the following news: With a ceremonial stroke of their pens, City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Administration Cheryl Campbell signed a mutually beneficial agreement Wednesday afternoon. City Colleges and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have reached an agreement to increase awareness and interest in public service jobs. To ach  more

ITHACA, New York, Aug. 1 -- Cornell University issued the following news: Colorado State University is the newest university affiliated with the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS), becoming the latest addition to a Science and Technology Center funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) dedicated to advancing the field of digital biology. CROPPS, led by Cornell University in collaboration with the Boyce Thompson Institute, Tuskegee University, the University of Ill  more

LAKE FOREST, Illinois, Aug. 1 (TNSres) -- Lake Forest College issued the following news: * * * As part of the DEIB Fellows Internship program, Office of Intercultural Relations Director Nevin Heard and Senior Associate Director for DEIB Marianinna Villavicencio took two students to the prestigious National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE) in Hawaii earlier this summer. * * * DeJanae Harges '26 and a student who has chosen to remain anonymous attended the 36th annu  more

LANSING, Michigan, Aug. 2 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on Aug. 1, 2024: * * * Waiver will help address supply challenges following refinery outage * * * Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer secured approval from the federal government on an action to increase the supply of stable fuel for Michiganders, protecting residents from potential fuel and gas supply disruptions following the recent outage at an oil refinery in Illinois. The Environmental Protect  more

LANSING, Michigan, Aug. 2 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on July 31, 2024: * * * Letter requests the federal government issue an emergency fuel waiver ahead of severe weather and potential supply disruptions. * * * Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer took a proactive step to protect Michigan residents from potential fuel and gas supply disruptions, following the recent outage at an oil refinery in Illinois. As a precautionary measure, the governor sent a  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on July 31, 2024, involving Regional Office of Education No. 45 covering Monroe and Randolph counties. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION Our report covers the financial audit for the period ending June 30, 2023. * * * AUDITORS' OPINION Our auditors state the Regional Office of Education #45's financial statements as of June 30, 2023 are fairly presented in all material respects. This fi  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on Aug. 1, 2024, involving the Department of Central Management Services, Community College Health Insurance Security Fund. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Financial Audit of the Schedule of Employer Allocations of the Community College Health Insurance Security Fund (Fund) as of and for the year ended June 30, 2023 and the related notes to the Schedule. In addition  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on Aug. 1, 2024, involving the Department of Central Management Services, State Employees Group Insurance Program. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Compliance Examination of the Schedule of Employer Allocations by Fund, the Schedule of University Special Funding Situations, the Schedule of Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) Amounts by Fund, and the Schedule   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on Aug. 1, 2024, involving the Department of Central Management Services, Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Financial Audit of the Schedule of Employer Allocations for the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund (Fund) as of and for the year ended June 30, 2023 and the related notes to the Schedules. In addition, the digest also   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on Aug. 1, 2024, involving the Department of Public Health. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS INADEQUATE CONTROLS OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF STATE VEHICLES The Illinois Department of Public Health (Department) did not exercise adequate internal controls over State vehicles. The Department's fleet consisted of 109 vehicles at June 30, 2022 and 98 at Jun  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on Aug. 1, 2024, involving the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's (Tollway) Financial Audit as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023. * * * AUDITOR'S OPINION The auditors stated the financial statements of the Tollway as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 is fairly stated i  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 1 -- Vanderbilt University issued the following news: Joseph J. Cunningham Joseph Cunningham, 82, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024, at his home in Lake City, Pennsylvania. Cunningham was an accomplished administrator and professor at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. Upon moving to Nashville in 1969, Cunningham joined the Peabody College faculty as an assistant professor, even before completing his education doctorate in special   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland & Ellis advised Dallas-based Arcosa, Inc. (NYSE: ACA) on a definitive agreement to acquire Stavola for $1.2 billion in cash, subject to customary adjustments. Founded in 1948, Stavola is an aggregates-led and vertically integrated construction materials company primarily serving the New York-New Jersey metro area. The transaction, announced on August 1, 2024, is expected to close during Q4  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland & Ellis advised Blackstone and Rivean Capital as well as their Dutch portfolio company Enstall on the acquisition of the German Schletter Group. The current shareholders of Schletter, Avenue Capital Group and Robus Capital Management, will become minority shareholders of the combined group. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second h  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland advised Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) on a definitive agreement to sell its intellectual property rights for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) brand to NSUS Group Inc., a leading investment group in the iGaming space known for successfully launching several groundbreaking ventures, including the innovative online poker room, GGPoker. The transaction, valued at a total of $500 mil  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release on July 31, 2024: Kirkland & Ellis represented funds advised by leading global alternative investment firm Centerbridge Partners, L.P. in the acquisition of a $400 million consumer loan portfolio from Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST), an AI lending marketplace. The portfolio consists of consumer loans that Upstart previously held on its own balance sheet. Goldman Sachs Bank USA and certain affiliates arranged a  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland & Ellis advised I Squared Capital, owner of WhiteWater's stake in the Whistler Pipeline, in connection with WhiteWater, MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX) and Enbridge Inc.'s (NYSE: ENB) partnership with an affiliate of Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP), through the WPC Joint Venture, the joint venture that owns the Whistler Pipeline, to reach final investment decision to move forward with the constructi  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland & Ellis advised Knox Lane, a growth-oriented investment firm, on the completion of its fundraising for its second institutional fund, KLC Fund II, with $1 billion in total commitments, exceeding its target of $850 million and meeting its hard cap. The oversubscribed fund received significant support from existing and new investors and saw a 46% increase in fund size over Knox Lane's first f  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland & Ellis advised healthcare services provider R1 RCM Inc. (NASDAQ: RCM) on a definitive agreement to be acquired in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of $8.9 billion by investment funds affiliated with investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners and private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). R1 is a leading provider of technology-driven solutions that   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release on July 31, 2024: Kirkland & Ellis is recognized as a leading intellectual property law firm in Managing Intellectual Property's 2024 edition of IP Stars, which assesses firms on the strength of their IP teams, workload, outcomes achieved for clients and track records. Kirkland received U.S. and UK nationwide rankings in seven practice areas. Tier 1 rankings include: Copyright ITC litigation Life   more

ROMEOVILLE, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- Lewis University issued the following news release: Lewis University will have several new academic programs for the 2024-2025 academic year aimed at enhancing its students' educational opportunities and career pathways. Graduate Programs Doctor of Physical Therapy Lewis University introduces the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the Fall. The comprehensive program is designed to prepare students for a rewarding career in physical therapy, emphasi  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- McDermott Will and Emery, a law firm, issued the following news release: McDermott Will & Emery has advised Montefiore Investment, Europe's leading SME and ETI services investment company, on its investment in the Ciela Village outdoor hotel group, with the aim of consolidating its position in the French market and creating a leading player. The deal sees Ciela Village acquire the Koawa Vacances campsite group, founded in 2018 by Eric Viriot, Carole Viriot and Jean  more

EVANSTON, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- Northwestern University issued the following news release: CHICAGO - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $3.3 million over five years to Northwestern University to study the implementation of an evidence-based secure firearm storage program. The study will focus on community health centers, which serve individuals who have limited access to health care and those who often experience health inequities. Parents at these health centers will receive cou  more

MCKINNEY, Texas, Aug. 2 -- Encore Wire, a manufacturer of wire and cable, issued the following news release: Prysmian, a world leader in the energy transition and digital transformation, alongside Encore Wire are pleased to announce our new combination of best-in-class sales representation for the US Industrial and Construction market with the following agencies: * AJB Sales: Minnesota, West Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana * Apex Electrical Sales, Inc.: Arizona * Arthur A. Boy  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, July 31 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news on July 30, 2024: AURORA, Ill. - A new measure carried by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, will create new child labor protections to keep children safe and free from exploitation in the workplace, and was signed into law today. "Our children deserve robust protections if they take part in Illinois' workforce," Hernandez said. "Exploitation and abuse are the inevitable consequences if safeguards are  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Aug. 1 -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news on July 31, 2024: Taft has been recognized by the International Finance Law Review's IFLR1000 guide, which recognizes the leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers worldwide. Taft partners Ralph Caruso and Bob Hicks are named highly regarded attorneys for M&A in Indiana, James Zimmerman is recognized as a highly regarded attorney for M&A in Ohio, and Jonathan Levy is ranked as a notable practitioner for M&  more

EVANSTON, Illinois, Aug. 1 -- Northwestern University issued the following news release: EVANSTON, Ill. As the Venezuelan crisis intensifies, researchers and policy experts have worked to understand its ramifications on the country's politics, economics, health services, water security, infrastructure and more. Now, Northwestern University computer scientists have comprehensively examined the effects of the crisis on a previously unexplored area: the Internet. In a new study, the researchers   more

MACOMB, Illinois, Aug. 2 -- Western Illinois University issued the following news release: MOLINE, IL - - "Medical Communication, Physical and Psychological Wellness," a book written by Western Illinois University Communication Assistant Professor Theodore A. Avtgis and colleagues, covers communication-related issues within healthcare that lead to thousands of deaths annually. Communication is a primary factor in most medical errors resulting in unnecessary injury, loss of patients and great fi  more