Breaking News Archives - Page 265 of 292 - Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News

Obamas throwing themselves a big White House farewell party

January 6, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

White House file photo

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are throwing themselves a big A-list party Friday night — their last White House blowout before leaving office. Among the expected celebrity guests are Paul McCartney, Beyonce and husband Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, David Letterman, Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, director George Lucas, actor Bradley Cooper and Chance the Rapper from Chicago. White House press secretary Josh Earnest confirmed the party. Typically, the White House says the Obamas pay for their own private events…..Click and read the rest of the story from Dave Boyer of the Washington Times

Filed Under: Breaking News, National News

Intel chiefs call for tougher fight against Russia

January 6, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

Director of intellegence James Clapper (AP file photo)

The nation’s top intelligence chiefs said Thursday that the government needed to conduct a far more aggressive information war push to counter foreign cyberespionage while strongly defending their conclusion that top Russian officials authorized efforts to hack the presidential election in an effort to influence the vote. Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the CIA and other agencies are increasingly confident that Russia used hacking, propaganda and misinformation in an effort to influence the U.S. election. He dismissed President-elect Donald Trump’s skepticism and said the U.S. has to fight an information war more aggressively. Mr. Trump is to get a private briefing on the controversy Friday. Mr. Clapper told lawmakers that the U.S. has fallen far short in efforts to counter such hacking and tell its story in the face of foreign criticism. He recommended reviving the U.S. Information Agency, the Cold War-era office that oversaw an aggressive public diplomacy campaign. Please click to read the rest of the story from Carlos Munoz of the Washington Times

Filed Under: Breaking News, National News, Slider

Rivian completes purchase of Mitsubishi plant

January 6, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

The former Mitsubishi plant in Bloomington (Pantagraph file photo)

NORMAL — The former Mitsubishi plant officially has a new owner. Rivian Automotive, which plans to employ 1,000 and invest $175 million in making electric vehicles in Normal, has purchased the plant, the company announced Thursday. “We couldn’t be more excited to purchase this tremendous facility in the town of Normal,” said founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in a release. “This location will be crucial to bringing our products to market, and we look forward to being an active part of this vibrant community.” Rivian operates research facilities near Detroit and San Francisco, but hopes the vacant 2.6 million-square-foot plant will be the manufacturing core of its upcoming line of cars — the first of which could be unveiled this year. Please click to read the full story from Derek Beigh of the Bloomington Pantagraph

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, State News

Trump on border wall: Mexico will pay us back

January 6, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

President elect Donald Trump with the future first lady blasting mayor Emanuel for the violence in Chicago (Daily Mail photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday tweeted that Mexico will reimburse American taxpayers for a new border wall and that U.S. money spent will be for the “sake of speed.” His tweet came as congressional Republicans and his top aides consider a plan to ask Congress to ensure money is available in U.S. coffers for the wall without passing any new legislation. Instead, they would rely on existing law that already authorizes fencing and other technology along the southern border. The potential approach was disclosed Thursday by two congressional officials and a senior transition official with knowledge of the discussions; all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Click to read the rest of the story from Associated Press

Filed Under: Breaking News, National News

Brrrrrrr……

January 6, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

Forecasted wind chills for this morning.

Flurries are falling here in West Frankfort as I write this. We have a couple of cold days in front of us . Highs today and tomorrow will be around 20 degrees, with lows around 10. A warming trend will take place early next week, with chances of rain back in the forecast.

Here is a link to the seven day forecast for Franklin County.

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

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Snowy weather leads to two crashes within minutes on I-57 in Williamson County

January 5, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

Illinois State Police responded to two traffic crashes that happened within a couple minutes Thursday morning in the northbound lanes of Interstate 57 in Williamson County, according to a news release from Illinois State Police. A 2011 Ford Ranger driven by Shane G. Halvorsen, 39, of Grand Chain, was northbound on I-57 in Williamson County at 6:10 a.m. Thursday, when Robert M. Davis, 25, of Creal Springs, was following and attempted to pass near Mile Post 49. Davis then lost control of his truck on snow-covered roadways, and the Ford F-250 slid into the right rear corner of the Ranger, and both vehicles slid off the roadway. The Ranger struck a tree off the right shoulder, and the F-250 came to rest in the median. Please read the press release from the Illinois State police ran by The Southern.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Southern Illinois News

West Frankfort K-Mart survives another round of store closings

January 5, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

A snapshot that someone took of WF K-mart on Flickr.com

In addition Sears in Marion makes the cut. Click on the highlited part to read the moves by Sears today.-store chain Sears Holdings is seeking to stem its bleeding by closing another 150 stores, including 108 Kmart locations, and selling its Craftsman brand to raise cash. The ailing retailer said Thursday that it had reached a deal to sell the tools brand to Stanley Black & Decker for a net present value of about $900 million, including future royalty payments. The move came several months after Sears put the Craftsman, Kenmore and DieHard brands up for sale as it seeks an elusive turnaround. The company said late Wednesday that it would close 108 Kmart stores and 42 Sears stores, calling it “a difficult but necessary step as we take actions to strengthen the company’s operations and fund its transformation.” Please click to read the rest of the story from Nathan Bomey of USA Today.

Filed Under: Breaking News

Fox News Taps Tucker Carlson to Replace Megyn Kelly

January 5, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

Salon photo

Fox News tapped veteran journalist and commentator Tucker Carlson to replace Megyn Kelly in one of its most prominent time slots, underscoring that the cable news network has no intention of moving away from its conservative roots. Mr. Carlson, who had recently begun hosting a 7 p.m. show on Fox News, will take over the 9 p.m. time slot from Ms. Kelly, a star anchor who announced this week that she is leaving for NBC News after a 12-year career at Fox. Mr. Carlson takes over on Monday. The 47-year-old rose to national prominence as the co-host of the CNN show “Crossfire,” where he represented the political right until the show’s cancellation in 2005. He has written for a variety of media outlets over the years and co-founded the conservative site the Daily Caller….please click to read the rest of the article from Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal.

Filed Under: Breaking News, National News

Hate crime, kidnapping charges filed in West Side attack streamed on Facebook Live

January 5, 2017 By Jim Muir Leave a Comment

The four individuals charged with a hate crime. It is unreal in my view Facebook leaving this video up several hours.

The four individuals charged with a hate crime in abusing the disabled teen for voting for Donald Trump. It is unreal in my view Facebook leaving this video up several hours.

NOTE- I have been keeping an eye on this story for a couple of days. The attached video is disturbing. Most opened up automatically. It broke my heart….Hate crime charges have been filed against four people shown in a Facebook video attacking a mentally disabled man, cutting his scalp with a knife and punching him while yelling obscenities about Donald Trump and “white people.” Jordan Hill, 18, of Carpentersville, Tesfaye Cooper, 18, of Chicago, Brittany Covington, 18, of Chicago, and Tanishia Covington, 24, of Chicago were charged with aggravated kidnapping, hate crime, aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon….Please click on the story to follow the links updating this story from the Chicago Tribune…

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, State News