Severe storms damage buildings in downtown Joliet, leave thousands without power
CHICAGO — Severe weather swept through parts of Will County, causing significant damage in downtown Joliet. Power outages affected thousands, and buildings such as the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum and The Forge took a hit. The CEO of the museum expressed devastation over the situation but remained optimistic about rebuilding efforts. The storm brought strong wind gusts, thunder, and lightning, resulting in downed trees and debris cluttering the area. Witnesses shared their experiences of narrowly avoiding harm from flying debris, highlighting the force of the storm. The cleanup process is underway, but it remains uncertain how long it will take for businesses to fully recover from the incident.

King Charles III is preparing to visit Australia and Samoa in October, an itinerary that will span 12 time zones and test the monarch’s stamina as he recovers from cancer treatment.

The trip, announced on Sunday by Buckingham Palace, marks a watershed moment for the 75-year-old king, who has been slowly returning to public duties after taking a break following his cancer diagnosis in early February. The decision to undertake such a long journey will be seen as a sign of Charles’ recovery, even though the program in Australia will be limited.

The visit to Australia will be a critical moment for the king as he tries to shore up support for the monarchy at home and abroad. The trip will mark the first time since he ascended the throne that Charles will visit one of the 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state, a link that is a source of pride for some but an unwelcome reminder of Britain’s colonial dominance for others.

While he will undoubtedly be welcomed by fans waving the flag and singing God Save the King, Charles is also likely to hear anti-monarchy voices in a country where 45% of voters in a 1999 referendum supported creating an Australian republic. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labour Party supports ditching the monarchy, but the government says it isn’t a priority and there is no timeline for another referendum.

It’s clear that there’s a real re-evaluation going on there as to whether the Commonwealth, and certainly the realms, want to retain their connection to the British monarchy or not, Ed Owens, a historian and author of After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?, told The Associated Press in an interview before the trip was announced. So, you know, there are troubled waters ahead.

The palace provided few details of the tour. Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales as well as making a more formal state visit to Samoa, where the king will appear at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the palace said.

The capital territory is home to Canberra, Australia’s national capital. Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is in New South Wales.

Charles holds the symbolic title of head of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, most of which have historic ties to Britain. The annual heads of government meeting will be held Oct. 21-25.

However, the trip will not include a stop in New Zealand.

The King’s doctors have advised that a further extension to Their Majesties’ trip should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty’s continued recovery, the palace said in a statement.

The trip comes at a time when the health problems of Charles and Kate, the Princess of Wales, have highlighted the challenges faced by a slimmed-down royal family as the king pledges to cut costs.

With fewer working royals available to carry out the endless round of ribbon cuttings, awards ceremonies, and state events that make up the life of a modern royal, the remaining family members have been forced to take on more events.

Charles’ cancer diagnosis occurred at the same time that the Princess of Wales — one of the most popular royals — underwent abdominal surgery and later announced she, too, had cancer. Prince William took time off to support his wife and their young family.

That left Queen Camilla, the king’s sister, Princess Anne, and his younger brother, Prince Edward, to shoulder the load. Princess Anne was briefly hospitalized last month after an accident thought to involve a horse left her with a concussion. (AP)

Some were glued to their televisions. Others learned of it as they sat halfway around the world. As the news broke that a gunman had shot at presidential candidate Donald Trump as he stumped in a west Pennsylvania field, a rising feeling of horror gave way to words of condemnation from the lawmakers representing Western Massachusetts.

The reactions, issued in the form of press releases and statements posted to social media, all shared a similar message.

Explosive devices have been found inside a suspected gunman’s car and at his home after Donald Trump was shot and wounded at a campaign rally, according to reports.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was shot dead after firing eight shots from the roof of a building near the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, striking Trump’s right ear. A spectator was killed and two others were critically injured during the shooting.

Crooks was reportedly spotted acting suspiciously near metal detectors by local police officers prior to the shooting.

The officers alerted the Secret Service to Crooks’ presence and radioed for officers to monitor him, law enforcement sources told the network.

Bomb components were found in a vehicle that Crooks had parked near the rally and at his home in Bethel Park, according to the Associated Press.

A Trump rally spectator who was shot dead on Saturday has been named by family members as Corey Comperatore.

Comperatore, 50, was a hero who was killed while protecting his daughters from the hail of gunfire, his sister Dawn Comperatore Schafer wrote on Facebook.

Two other people were critically wounded during the shooting and are being treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

ESPN/SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic, a former collegiate offensive linemen, is optimistic about the University of Kentucky’s offensive line going into the upcoming season. Cubelic praised the return of Eric Wolford as the offensive line coach and highlighted the talent within the team. Key players such as Marques Cox at left tackle and Eli Cox at center provide a strong nucleus for the line, with promising contributors like Jager Burton and Dylan Ray. Transfer players Gerald Mincey and Jalen Farmer add depth to the roster. While depth remains a concern, Cubelic believes there are reasons for confidence in the unit’s abilities moving forward.