It is official……..Electoral College goes in favor of Trump despite protests

Angry protests fizzled and Donald Trump has now officially won enough electoral votes to claim the White House, with Texas putting him over the edge late Monday afternoon. Some activists screamed

President Elect Donald Trump and Vice President Elect Mike Pence on their victory tour over the weekend (PBS photo)

President Elect Donald Trump and Vice President Elect Mike Pence on their victory tour over the weekend (PBS photo)

and predicted violent deaths for Americans at the hands of Mr. Trump, begging electors to switch their votes to his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. But Republicans maintained ranks and officially selected the billionaire businessman the 45th president. “Today we walk through history together,” said Robert Gleason, chairman of the Pennsylvania GOP, said as he led the proceedings in his state — one of several Rust Belt and midwestern states to flip, delivering the GOP the White House once again. Claims of “dozens” of GOP electors prepared to ditch Mr. Trump didn’t materialize. Indeed, Mrs. Clinton seemed to suffer worse in the actual voting. Please click on the link to read the story from Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times.

Berlin: truck crashes into Christmas market

Several people have been killed and as many as 50 injured after a truck ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, according to localmedia reports. They suggested the vehicle ran into the market

The scene in the streets of Berlin after a terrorist attack on a Christmas market

The scene in the streets of Berlin after a terrorist attack on a Christmas market

outside the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church on Monday evening. The reports cited police at the scene who said initial indications pointed to a terror attack. A photograph posted by the Morgenpost showed damaged tables and stalls, while footage posted online by the same outlet showed a truck on the scene and police officers investigating. The Berliner Zeitung said police also believed there to be multiple injuries. Both newspapers reported it was not immediately clear whether the incident was an accident or some kind of an attack on the market. Breitscheidplatz, where the market was set up, is one of Berlin’s busiest shopping areas. Please click to read the breaking story from Kevin Rawlinson of the guardian.com

Truck crashes into market in Berlin

There has been a truck that has crashed into a market in Berlin.  One person has been killed and several injured.  This is being treated as a possible terrorist attack.  Follow franklincounty-news.com for further updates.  There will be a full news story posted as soon as one is available.

Fire destroys Sears in Mt. Vernon

MT. VERNON — An early-morning fire destroyed the Sears

The aftermath of the fire. (Register-News photo)

The aftermath of the fire. (Register-News photo)

Hometown Store and USA Mattress Monday. According to Mt. Vernon Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Sargent, the alarm company for the store contacted police that a fire alarm had gone off. When law enforcement went to check it out, they saw heavy smoke and contact the fire department. The store, located at 4700 Broadway, is a total loss, as are the inventory and contents which were inside. The amount of loss prompted MVFD to contact the Illinois State Fire Marshall to

Picture from the scene when the structure was fully involved (WSIL TV-3 photo)

Picture from the scene when the structure was fully involved (WSIL TV-3 photo)

investigate. “Due to the large dollar loss — we’re estimating at over $1 million — we call the Fire Marshall,” Sargent said. “The owners were on scene during the fire, and they have contacted their insurance company. … Right now, we are not treating it as anything suspicious, but because of the large dollar loss, we owe it to the owners to try to determine the cause of the fire. ” Please click to read the rest of the story from Tessa Glass of the Mt. Vernon Register-News

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Is Assassinated in Ankara

ISTANBUL — Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an Ankara art exhibit on Monday evening by a lone Turkish gunman shouting “God is great!” and “don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget

Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov who was assassinated in Ankara, Turkey today

Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov who was assassinated in Ankara, Turkey today

Syria!” in what Russia called a terrorist attack. The gunman, who was described by Ankara’s mayor as a policeman, also wounded at least three others in the assault, which was captured on Turkish video, before he was killed by other officers in a shootout. The assassination instantly vaulted relations between Turkey and Russia to a new level of crisis over the protracted Syria conflict on Turkey’s southern doorstep. It came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia’s support for Syria’s government in the conflict and the Russian role in the killings and destruction in Aleppo, the northern Syrian city. The envoy, Andrey G. Karlov, was shot from behind and immediately fell to the floor while speaking at an exhibition, according to multiple accounts from the scene, the Contemporary Arts Center in the Cankaya area of Ankara. Please click on the link to read this unfolding story from Rick Gladstone of the New York Times.

Electoral College meeting as we speak

In what is usually a rubber stamp, but the Electoral College is meeting as we speak in the state legislatures in the 50 states.  Here is a summary of the events that have happened over the few weeks.

Protesters in NYC that are part of the Hamilton movement . (AP photo)

Protesters in NYC that are part of the Hamilton movement . (AP photo)

Electors in states that Donald Trump won in the general election have been swayed by supporters of Democratic Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton  using a quote in the Federalist Papers by founding father Alexander Hamilton.  They are questioning Trump’s fitness to be president.  Here is the quote they cling to in Federalist Papers 68:

“Electors should be men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice.”

The “Hamilton Electors” movement has been spearheaded by electors Brett Chilafio of Colorado and Michael Bacha of Washington. Mrs. Clinton carried both of these states.

Electors from states that president elect Donald Trump carried, have been bombarded with e-mails, letters, and even harassment from the Hamilton Elector movement.

Some states in their constitutions have “faithless elector” clauses in their constitution that duty bounds electors to go with the will of the people in their states.  If they do not cast the vote in the will of the people, they can face prosecution.

FranklinCounty-news.com will update this throughout the day.

 

Power is restored-My apologies

First of all, I am glad all of you in Benton are safe and warm.  At 10:10 pm, Ameren’s website did not show an outage in the 62812 aamerenrea code.

I am very green at this.  I learned something tonight.  When something happens, talk to an official and do not rely on a website.  When I saw the inflated number, my heart went out to all of you on a cold night.

I jumped the gun, and I am sorry.

It was an isolated incident on the northeast corner of town and around the Lake Moses/Country Club area.

In any situation like this, I will do my best to provide up to the minute information, if at all possible.  Tonight, the up to the minute was overkill.  It is a mistake that I learned from.

Zsa Zsa Gabor, one of the first celebutantes, is dead at 99

Zsa Zsa Gabor, the 99-year-old former beauty queen and actress, died Sunday in Los Angeles. Her friend and former publicist, Edward

Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor

Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor

Lozzi, told USA TODAY that she died around 1 p.m. PT Sunday. The news was first reported by TMZ. She was ahead of her time. In the Hollywood Golden Age, Gabor, or simply Zsa Zsa to most, was perhaps the first celebutante. Please click on the link to read the story from Jim Cheng of USA Today.

Road conditions deteriorating across the county

franklin-county-emaThe Franklin County Emergency Management Agency issued the following statement: Road conditions will continue to deteriorate through late tonight. Motor vehicle accidents have been reported. Travel only when necessary.

Winter weather update with cancellations

Updated at 5:30 pm

channel-3-radar-530

 

 

SPORTING EVENTS CANCELLED

HS BOYS BASKETBALL

Flora at CHRISTOPHER rescheduled for Thursday, 12/22

Nashville at BENTON no make up date yet.

THOMPSONVILLE at Elverado no make up date yet

WEST FRANKFORT at Goreville rescheduled for Thursday, 12/22

Sparta at Murphysboro no make up date yet.

Herrin at Pinckneyville no make up date yet.

Hamilton County at Eldorado rescheduled for Thursday 12/22

DuQuoin at Harrisburg no make up date yet.

 

WARMING CENTERS

City Hall-Sesser…

CHURCH SERVICES

East Side Baptist Church-Mt Vernon No Sunday Services

The forecast has not changed.  Franklincounty-news.com will keep this page updated with cancellations and changing weather conditions.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News