WEATHER
*Sunny skies today the high is 41
LOCAL
*A boil order was issued last night for Metro East Illinois American Water customers. The boil order is the result of a temporary drop in water pressure.
NATIONAL
*A slow-moving system in the South has dumped as much as 10 inches of snow in some parts and dropped temperatures as low as the single digits. Icy road conditions have caused several fatal car accidents, including one in New Orleans which killed a baby. Other weather-related deaths were reported in Houston, Atlanta, Memphis and West Virginia. States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, and people are being urged to stay off the roads. Many schools across the South were closed for a second straight day and hundreds or thousands of homes and businesses are still without power. Airports have cancelled hundreds of flights this week and more cancellations and delays are expected today.
Trump Says Russia Is Not Helping With North Korea -
President Trump is blaming Russia for helping North Korea skirt around international sanctions.
In an interview with Reuters, Trump said Russia isn't helping to pressure North Korea over its nuclear program. In fact, Russia often reverses progress made by China.
Trump also said he's not sure direct talks with North Korea would help much, though he's open to sitting down with leader Kim Jong Un.
Source: Reuters
VA Chief Gets Called Out And Apologizes For Scalpel Left In Vet’s Body -
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is accepting responsibility for a scalpel left inside a Connecticut veteran's abdomen for four years.
Secretary David Shulkin acknowledged his agency's responsibility for the first time under questioning by Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal yesterday at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
Shulkin did sort of defend his agency, noting, "While this is an extremely rare event -- it happens in the country 1,500 times a year, in the VA, it does happen, it happened 12 times in the VA --- that's a rate in the VA much less than what happens outside the VA," he said, adding, "That's no excuse, this should never happen."
The Army veteran is suing the West Haven VA Hospital for leaving the scalpel inside him during a surgery. Glenford Turner's lawsuit says he went to the hospital with abdominal pain last March and the discovery was made.
Source: CNN
Kelly: Trump The Candidate Was “Uninformed” About Wall -
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly says President Trump was uninformed about immigration issues when, as a candidate, he pledged to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
Kelly reportedly made the comment during a meeting yesterday with House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and other House Democrats, including members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He then clarified the statement on Fox News saying “I pointed out to all the members that were in the room that they all say things during the course of campaigns that may or may not be fully informed.”
Kelly also said Trump is committed to a permanent solution to replace DACA. Kelly says he persuaded Trump to give Congress time to pass a bill permanently protecting the hundreds of thousands of young immigrants known as Dreamers.
Source: Fox News
California Parents Of Tortured Children Are In Court Today -
The California parents accused of keeping their 13 children captive have a court hearing set for today.
As we told you, David and Louise Turpin were arrested Sunday after their 17 year old daughter managed to escape and called 9-1-1. Authorities say they found her 12 siblings at home in deplorable conditions. Some were reportedly shackled to beds and other furniture.
Detectives have finally finished scouring the home and are expected to turn the case over to prosecutors soon. The parents are being held on nine-million dollars bail, which will be discussed today in the court session. It’s unknown if they have a lawyer.
Meanwhile, sisters of Louise Turpin were on morning talks showsand said the couple were secretive even before having the children, so it was hard to know what was going on. They said they are devastated about what happened.
Source: CNN
SPORTS
*The Blues play tonight, it's an away game!