Illinois Senate budget plan unlikely to make it to governor

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

The Illinois Senate is poised to go it alone in outlining a solution to the nation’s longest-running state budget standoff but leaders acknowledge they won’t have time to push it through to the governor in the final two days of the current session. A bipartisan Senate deal began to emerge late last week with a goal of breaking the nearly two-year deadlock between Democrats who control the Legislature and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. It was positioned for a floor vote by late Monday, but since the session ends Tuesday, there’s no time to push the plan to the House. It would have to be reintroduced after a new General Assembly is seated Wednesday. The package includes an increase in the personal income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent, borrowing money to pay off $11 billion in overdue bills, expanding legalized riverboat casino gambling, raising the minimum wage and eliminating pensions for retired lawmakers. Please read the rest of the AP story from John O’ Conner that appeared in the Springfield Journal-Register

Planned Parenthood on the ropes as Republicans move in for knockout punch

Speaker of the house Paul Ryan says that in the repeal of Obama Care bill there will be a slash in Planned Parenthood funding (AP photo)

Speaker of the house Paul Ryan says that in the repeal of Obama Care bill there will be a slash in Planned Parenthood funding (AP photo)

A unified Republican government is poised to slash hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from Planned Parenthood’s annual budget — the culmination of a public relations nightmare 18 months in the making that has left the nation’s largest abortion provider more vulnerable than ever to pro-life advances. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, said Thursday that the budget reconciliation legislation to repeal Obamacare will include a provision to remove Planned Parenthood from the taxpayer dole. Mr. Ryan issued his statement one day after a House committee released a 418-page report detailing Planned Parenthood’s complicity in the illicit sale of body parts from abortions for profit. Please read the rest of the story from Bradford Richardson of the Washington Times

Ford bringing back Ranger – Bronco

2011 Ranger XLT (NADA photo)

2011 Ranger XLT (NADA photo)

This has been a blurb in several media sources and I could not find a full story.  Ford Motor Company is bringing back the mid size pickup the Ford Ranger in 2019, and the original SUV the Bronco in 2020.

The Ranger was produced from 1983-2011.  The resale value on them as well as the Chevy S 10 and GMC Somoma has been high because of consumer demand for the smaller truck.

1979 Bronco. My personal favorite body style of Ford Trucks in general

1979 Bronco. My personal favorite body style of Ford Trucks in general

 

The Bronco was produced from 1966-1996.  It had a smaller counterpart the Bronco II in the 1980’s-90’s.  The full size  Bronco was replaced by the Excursion in 1997.

It is noteworthy the Bronco was slated to be produced in Mexico. Now, it will be produced in Michigan.-sd

Oklahoma’s Gatorade player of the year commits to SIU football

Salukis getting ready to take the field against ISU last fall. (Southern Illinoisan file photo)

Salukis getting ready to take the field against ISU last fall. (Southern Illinoisan file photo)

CARBONDALE — Brandon George, a 6-foot-2 quarterback at Jones (Oklahoma) High School that won that state’s Gatorade Player of the Year Award, verbally committed to the SIU football team Sunday. George will be a true freshman for the Salukis this fall if he signs a national letter of intent, which he can do in February as part of National Signing Day. The senior right-hander threw for 4,035 yards and 44 touchdowns last season, leading the Class 3A Longhorns to the state championship, according to The Oklahoman newspaper. George also rushed for 1,305 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is ranked a three-star prospect by 247sports.com and Scout.com. Pause Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 0:00 Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00 Fullscreen 00:00 Mute “Thank you to the people that supported and cheered me on through thick and thin, and last but not least, thank you to the people that doubted me,” George said on a Twitter post on Sunday. “I’m not the biggest or fastest kid, but I have been fortunate enough to receive an offer from a school with a great coaching staff that will mold me into a better football player/QB and an even better young man.” Please click on the link to read the article from Todd Hefferman of the Southern Illnoisan….

‘View from the Cheap Seats’ Cardinals blog returns

birds-on-the-batNOTE: I have read this article daily before Scott Wuerz took a job at Lindenwood University. He used to have a 20 minute segment on Saturday Morning Talking Sports on Q106. Since he is not employed by the organization, or the Post Dispatch, (which the Cardinals are minority owners) he can tell things the way it is sometimes. I agree with what he has to say 99% of the times. He has Franklin County ties too. Click to read today’s article.

Harrisburg women avoid Fort Lauderdale Airport shooting

The two Harrisburg women who escaped the Fort Lauderdale shooting (WSIL TV Photo)

The two Harrisburg women who escaped the Fort Lauderdale shooting (WSIL TV Photo)

HARRISBURG – Two Harrisburg women traveling from Florida to St. Louis had just become airborne when a man began shooting in the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday afternoon, one of the women said. Celia Roark and her grandmother Patty Peterson had just departed the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when a man reportedly from an incoming Canadian flight allegedly claimed a checked bag containing a firearm, took the firearm into a bathroom to load it and emerged shooting. Five people are dead and 8 injured as a result, according to multiple news outlets. The shooting happened in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2 at the airport. Roark, the daughter of former Daily Register sports editor John Roark of Princeton, Ind. and Amy Peterson of Marion, said they were in Terminal 1 prior to departure. Please click and read the story from Travis DeNeal of the Harrisburg Daliy-Register.

South Main in Benton/East Main in WF closed for crossing repair this week

road-closedThe furthest south railroad crossing on South Main Street (Route 37) in Benton is closed for repairs.  The road will open back up around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

The railroad crossing on East Main street (Route 149) will be closed on Wednesday morning around 7 a.m. on  and reopen around 7 pm on Thursday for repairs also.

This is weather pending.  If rescheduled, franklincounty-news.com will pass along an alternate date.

Rain all this week-small chance of wintry precipitation on Friday/Saturday

Image from WSIL TV Meteorologist Ashley Smith

Image from WSIL TV Meteorologist Ashley Smith

Good Morning!!!! It is going to be a windy Monday.  It will be Sunny with a high of 39 degrees today.  There is a 40% chance of rain tonight with rising temperatures throughout the night.

Highs will be in the 50’s to around 60 Tuesday through Thursday until a cold front goes through the region on Friday and a wintry mix is forecasted. Temperatures will yo-yo throughout the weekend.

Here is the Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service in Paducah KY:

SOUTH WINDS WILL START PICKING UP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. SOME AREAS MAY SEE WINDS INCREASE TO AS HIGH AS 20 TO 25 MPH SUSTAINED…WITH GUSTS INTO THE 30 TO 35 MPH RANGE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL POSE A HAZARD TO AREA TRAVEL…ESPECIALLY TO HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. SECURE ANY LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS THAT MAY BE STREWN ABOUT BY THE WIND. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS ENTER THE FORECAST TUESDAY NIGHT ACROSS MAINLY WESTERN KENTUCKY, AND AREA WIDE WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS RETURN AGAIN TO THE FORECAST FOR SOME LOCATIONS THURSDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THUNDERSTORM RELATED HAZARD. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTHWESTERN TIER OF COUNTIES. THE SAME EVENT IS POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT ALSO, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. HEAVY RAINFALL RATES ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND INUNDATION OF LOW LANDS AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS EXPECTED.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?map.x=176&map.y=89&site=pah&zmx=1&zmy=1#.WHN1oNQrJxA

We Must Stay on Guard

Franklin Graham at George W. Bush's innaguration

Franklin Graham at George W. Bush’s innaguration

In just a few weeks, Donald Trump will stand on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol, put his hand on the Bible, swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and become the 45th president of our great and storied nation. This extraordinary occasion certainly wasn’t anticipated by very many. Just a few months ago, even days before the Nov. 8 election, virtually every poll showed Hillary Clinton with what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. The mainstream media were clearly forecasting her triumph, even to the extent that Newsweek magazine had already put together and printed an election edition with a picture of Clinton and the title, “Madam President.” A social media image surfaced showing Clinton autographing a copy of the issue on her plane. Please read the rest from Franklin Graham from Decision Magazine

Illinois Senate hopes to stake out own budget position

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

SPRINGFIELD – A plan to end a two-year Illinois budget standoff negotiated in the Senate – which likely includes an income tax increase as well as items on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda – could get a vote in Springfield as early as Monday, a leading Republican senator said Sunday. The deal was still shaping up over the weekend after weeks of talks between Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and GOP Leader Christine Radogno, said Sen. Pamela Althoff, a Republican from McHenry. Please click on the link to read the story from AP that ran in the Peoria Journal-Star

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News