The cost of mailing a letter goes up a penny to 42 cents on Monday, the latest in what are expected to be annual price adjustments by the Postal Service. A new law regulating the post office makes it easier to raise rates as long as the agency doesn’t exceed the rate of inflation. Rates are to be adjusted each May. Read the rest of this entry »

News Gazette report: Centrue Bank plans to close its branch in the Iroquois County community of Ashkum on June 27, according to Thomas A. Daiber, president of the bank’s holding company.

Chicago Tribune: When they finally decided to close Sheldon High School in Iroquois County in 2003, the decision ended fights between neighbors and generations of families, but left an unanswered question: What do you do with the school’s stuff?’

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Medical helicopter crashes in Wisconsin, kills doctor, nurse and pilot aboard

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Sangamon County Board is not going to vote on a resolution that asks Governor Rod Blagojevich and state lawmakers to abstain from adding any more gun laws to the books in Illinois. Read the rest of this entry »

PICHER, Okla. (AP) — Many have fled this depressed, pollution-scarred mining town. Those who have chosen to stay or have not yet relocated face a new heartache.

A tornado ripped through a 20-block swath of Picher late Saturday afternoon, killing at least seven people. The same storm system then moved into southwest Missouri where tornadoes took the lives of at least 12 others, authorities said. Read the rest of this entry »

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A Red Cross boat carrying rice and drinking water for cyclone victims sank Sunday, while the death toll jumped to more than 28,000 and aid groups warned of a humanitarian catastrophe. Read the rest of this entry »

The Associated Press

PICHER, Okla. — Many have fled this depressed, pollution-scarred mining town. Those who have chosen to stay or have not yet relocated face a new heartache.

A tornado ripped through a 20-block swath of Picher late Saturday afternoon, killing at least seven people. The same storm system then moved into southwest Missouri where tornadoes took the lives of at least 12 others, authorities said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Authorities say at least 6 were killed on Saturday by a tornado in the town of Picher, Okla.

Earlier the National Weather Service had said three were killed after a tornado touched down in southwestern Missouri.

NEW YORK — Mike D’Antoni has agreed to coach the New York Knicks, bringing his entertaining offensive style from the Phoenix Suns to a team coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

The Knicks released a statement Saturday night saying they had agreed in principle with D’Antoni and that a press conference would be held once the contract had been completed. Read the rest of this entry »