MLK national park to reopen during government shutdown with help from Delta Air Lines

The National Park Service will use a grant from Delta Air Lines and fee revenues to reopen the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta despite the government shutdown.

Most sites of the park, including the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and King's birth home, have been closed since the partial government shutdown began on December 22. Travelers missed their chance to relive the civil rights leader's legacy and many others were worried they could not visit the sites during the upcoming federal holiday honoring King.

The historic park will open Saturday for 16 days to ensure people in Atlanta can celebrate King's legacy in advance of the holiday on Monday and travelers attending the Super Bowl game on February 3 have a chance to visit the sites, the park service said.

An $83,500 grant from the Delta Air Lines Foundation will cover the cleanup, administration, maintenance and operating costs of employees not covered under recreation fee funds.

In a statement, Delta CEO and trustee of the Delta Air Lines Foundation Ed Bastian said the group "felt it was important we do our part to ensure that the historical landmarks be accessible to the public."

The Atlanta site includes the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was co-pastor for years, a visitors' center and the home where King was born in 1929.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Michigan man charged for threatening to shoot Sen. Cory Booker

A Michigan man has been charged with leaving a threatening, expletive-laden voicemail for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker last year, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday.

Ricky Lynn Simmons faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 after a federal grand jury sitting in Grand Rapids handed up a single-count indictment on a charge of interstate communication with threat to injure earlier this month, according to court papers.

Simmons was in Kent County, Michigan on Oct. 26, 2018 when he used a cell phone to call Booker’s Camden office and on multiple occasions referenced putting a 9mm gun in the face of the senator, authorities said. Simmons also used several racial slurs in the message, authorities said.

“I’m just doin’ my guns a blazin’ pal. I got a nine millimeter I’ll put in your (expletive) face, you (expletive). You wanna, you wanna challenge me?,” Simmons said, according to a copy of the indictment.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]

Louisville is renaming its airport after Muhammad Ali

Louisville city officials announced Wednesday that Louisville International Airport will be renamed after the boxer and humanitarian often called "the Greatest."

The new name: Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

"Muhammad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown, and fortunately, that is our great city of Louisville," Mayor Greg Fischer said. "Muhammad became one of the most well-known people to ever walk the Earth and has left a legacy of humanitarianism and athleticism that has inspired billions of people.

"It is important that we, as a city, further champion The Champ's legacy," Fischer continued. "And the airport renaming is a wonderful next step."

The Louisville Regional Airport Authority board approved Fischer's motion that the airport be renamed. But the SDF code will not change, officials said.

Read more: Louisville is renaming its airport after Muhammad Ali

Elizabeth A. Thomas is missing

Police in Fayetteville North Carolina are asking for the public's help to locate a missing woman who was last seen in December, authorities said.

Elizabeth A. Thomas, 37, was reported missing on Jan. 9, according to a statement by Fayetteville police. She was last seen on Dec. 26 in the 500 block of North McPherson Church Road.

Investigators said she is 5-feet-3-inches tall, weighs 130 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts was asked to call 911 or contact.

Rep. Jim Clyburn says shutdown looks like it will continue

South Carolina Congressional Democrat Jim Clyburn, S.C. 6th, is calling for an end to the government shutdown and said it's unfair to federal workers in the state.

As House Majority Whip, Clyburn said it's been frustrating debating the border wall with the President for more than a year.

“We give him another $1.6 billion for his wall, and he rejected. And, a year or so ago, we gave him $25 billion in exchange for taking care of the DREAMERs, he rejected that,” Clyburn said.

As the partial government shutdown is in its 25th day, Clyburn said he's frustrated for federal workers like one federal prison employee in Hampton County.

“She has three children, she's a single mom. And, she's going to work every day trying to protect society, against, in many instances, hardened criminals. But, she's not being paid. There's something about that, that's not right,” Clyburn said.

“We're not going to end this fight until we get more border security, and that's not an unreasonable request,” Graham said at the event.

Majority Whip Clyburn said Democrats support border security, but not the President's border wall.

And when it came to the shutdown ending, Clyburn was not optimistic.

“I live by our state's motto 'As I breathe, I hope.' So, I am hopeful something can be done and done quickly. Do I see it? No, I don't see it at the moment,” Clyburn said.

[SOURCE: WLTX]