NEW YORK, NY – A small fire broke out on the roof of Trump Tower on Monday morning, officials said.

Smoke was seen billowing off the top of the Manhattan skyscraper, carrying for several blocks.

Firefighters were called to the Fifth Ave. skyscraper, located at East 56thSt., at about 7:20 Monday morning.

Please click on this link the link for the developing story from the New York Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/fire-breaks-trump-tower-roof-article-1.3744249

 

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) today released the following statement after the House passed the final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the biggest reform of America’s tax code in 31 years:

“There were two major things that I wanted to accomplish for Southern Illinois through tax reform: growing jobs and growing paychecks. This tax reform bill paves the way for both. We’ve reformed the tax code to let working families keep more of their paycheck to spend as they see fit. Whether that be saving for college, raising a family, or preparing for a rainy day, I trust the taxpayers to keep a closer eye on their hard-earned dollars than any Washington bureaucrat ever will. We’ve also taken steps to encourage businesses large and small to expand operations at home and invest in the American worker.”

For individuals and families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

• Lowers individual taxes and sets the rates so people can keep more of their hard-earned money.
• Doubles the standard deduction from $6,500 to $13,000 for individuals and $12,000 to $24,000 for married couples.
• Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes – up to $10,000.
• Doubles the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000.
• Provides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes.
• Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
• Preserves the mortgage interest deduction.
• Provides relief for Americans with expensive medical bills by expanding the medical expense deduction.

For job creators of all sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

• Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21%– down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world.
• Allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers.

• Establishes strong safeguards to distinguish between individual wage income and “pass-through” business income so Main Street tax relief goes to the local job creators it was designed to help most.
• Prevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas by eliminating incentives that now reward companies for shifting jobs, profits, and manufacturing plants abroad.

For media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, the future of the industry is news and sports, that’s why he is selling Disney (DIS) the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox (FOXA) for $52.4 billion.

“There’s only must-see Fox News and must see FOX Business,” said Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox during an interview on FOX Business’ “Mornings with Maria.”

Please click on the link below from Fox Business Channel.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/12/14/rupert-murdoch-new-fox-is-news-and-sports.html

Democrat Doug Jones has defeated Roy Moore in Alabama’s Senate election, according to a projection from the Fox News Decision Desk.

Jones’ competitiveness is a remarkable development in a deep red state that reflects just how badly Moore has been hurt by a sex scandal.

Moore, the former chief justice of Alabama’s Supreme Court, has faced multiple allegations he pursued romantic relationships with teenage girls while he was in his thirties — accusations that have dramatically shaken up the race. He has denied the claims.

Please click on the link below from Alex Pappas of Fox News.

www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/12/alabama-senate-election-doug-jones-defeats-roy-moore-fox-news-projects.html

 

 

 

NEW YORK, NY –  Several media sources are reporting there has been some type of explosion in mid town Manhattan near times square.

Please check this link throughout the day for updates.

 

https://www.ksat.com/news/shooting-sutherland-springs-church-gunfire-mass-shooting-airlife

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TX – (KSAT-TV, San Antonio.  Please click on the link above to follow this developing story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

– A man who opened fire in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Sunday morning is dead, police say.

A witness reported seeing a man walk into First Baptist Church and began shooting around 11:30 a.m.

Police said there are at least 20 victims in the church.

The church is located in the 500 block of 4th Street in the small, south Texas town about 40 miles east of San Antonio.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/31/nyregion/police-shooting-lower-manhattan.html

 

NEW YORK, NY, (by Benjeman Mueller and William Rashbaum, New York Times.  Please click on the link to follow the full story, or a local major network station.)

A man on Tuesday afternoon drove a pickup truck down a lengthy stretch of bike path next to the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan, striking numerous people. The vehicle collided with a school bus from Stuyvesant High School.

There were some reports the man fired gunshots from the truck, but officials could not immediately confirm that. The police said a suspect had been taken into custody.

Officials said as many as six people had been killed and 11 injured.