Abner Mikva, a former Illinois congressman, state legislator, federal appellate judge and presidential adviser, has died. The head of Mikva Challenge, a leadership organization Mikva founded, says Mikva died Monday in hospice care at Rush University Medical Center.

The Republican told WLS Radio in Chicago Friday that the Senate should he Senate should "man up and cast a vote.''  President Obama nominated U.S. appeals court Judge Merrick Garland on Wednesday.  Kirk is the first GOP Senator to break with party leaders, who say there won't be a hearing for him.

President Barack Obama's U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland was born in Chicago. While attending Niles West High School in nearby Skokie, he was involved with student government, drama and debating.