NEWS OF THE DAY
1 Compensation fund: President Trump on Monday signed a bill ensuring that a victims’ compensation fund helping those impacted by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks never runs out of money, ending years of legislative gridlock. Appearing with more than 60 first responders from the terrorist attacks, Trump signed an extension of the fund through 2092, essentially making it permanent. The $7.4 billion fund had been rapidly depleting, and administrators recently cut benefit payments by up to 70%. Delays by some Republicans exposed the legislative branch to brutal criticism from activists, including the comedian Jon Stewart.
2 Five killed: Shootings at two homes in northwestern Wisconsin left five people dead, including the suspected shooter, and two others injured, authorities said Monday. Deputies responded to a call about a shooting in Lake Hallie late Sunday and found a man and woman dead. Two other adults were rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Deputies then went to a residence in Lafayette, about 9 miles away, early Monday to notify the family of one of the victims in Lake Hallie. There they found a man, a woman and a boy dead of gunshot wounds. The person suspected in both shootings was among the dead.
3 Telescope protests: Protests against construction of a telescope on the Big Island of Hawaii have halted work at existing observatories. Workers at other facilities on Mauna Kea have been denied access by demonstrators opposed to the Thirty Meter Telescope. The Mauna Kea Observatories house 13 telescopes that have led to astronomical breakthroughs for more than 40 years. The lack of access also has taken a toll on the telescopes, which need continuous maintenance.
4 Child dies: The body of a missing Oregon boy whose parents died in an apparent murdersuicide is believed to have been found in a remote area near Kalispell, Mont., officials said. Police in Medford, Ore., said Montana authorities reported finding the body Sunday thought to be that of 2yearold Aiden Salcido, the son of Daniel Salcido and Hannah Janiak. The family formerly lived in Medford. The parents, who had burglary warrants for their arrest, were found dead Wednesday in Kalispell.
5 Great Lakes: Five Democratic governors of states in the Great Lakes region on Monday urged the candidates in next year’s presidential election to support a plan for safeguarding their shared waters by boosting federal spending on treatment plants and environmental cleanups. Led by Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, the governors proposed a platform dealing with longtime scourges such as invasive species and harmful algae blooms. The plan’s release was timed to draw attention to issues affecting the lakes ahead of Democratic debates scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit. The plan also drew backing from Govs. Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Tim Walz of Minnesota, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania.