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   St. Louis County’s Workforce Development director says he resigned under pressure after he extended a business trip for two days to attend President Barack Obama’s inauguration.  

   Gene Gordon had attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in January.  He stayed in Washington an extra three nights to attend the inaugural ceremony on Jan. 21.  

   The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Gordon initially included the additional cost on his county expense report, but by February 7th had charged the additional hotel costs to his own credit card.  He also gave the county a check to cover additional cab and airfare.  

   Gordon told the paper he quit after objections were raised over his handling of the expenses because he didn't want to "get political."

   Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., 45 years ago, on April 4, 1968.

   His death shocked a country rocked by riots, civil discord, and a controversial war.  It sparked nationwide protests, a two-month manhunt and an outpouring of grief for the slain civil rights leader who continues to stand for equal rights, peaceful protests and justice for all.

   A metro-east state senator says he'll file legislation to have the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees disbanded.

   Alton Senator Bill Haine says the governor needs to start over after board member Roger Herrin tried to have himself appointed as chairman.  

   Yesterday's board meeting in Carbondale ended early when trustee Marquita Wiley of Belleville and SIU-Edwardsville student trustee David Hamilton walked out in protest. The two objected to the election of officers, saying no chair should be chosen until Governor Quinn and the Illinois Senate fill three vacant board seats.

   The walkout effectively stopped Herrin's election, because with only five seats currently filled, Wiley and Hamilton's absences meant the board didn't have a quorum.