Illinois governor clears way for library

CHICAGO – One of the remaining obstacles to building Barack Obama’s presidential library in his hometown of Chicago fell away when Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation Friday strengthening the city’s legal ability to build the project on public park land.

The decision to locate the legacy project where Obama started his political career wasn’t a surprise. But it hit snags when the University of Chicago initially failed to secure park land and when an advocacy group objected and threatened a lawsuit such as the one it filed to stop lake-front construction on “Star Wars” creator George Lucas’ proposed museum.

The measure, which Rauner said would benefit the city and state, changes Illinois law to let Chicago build museums on park or “formerly submerged” land, such as the Lake Michigan-adjacent property where Lucas wants to build.

Poll: most Americans back drone program

WASHINGTON – Nearly three-quarters of Americans say it’s acceptable for the U.S. to use an unmanned aerial drone to kill an American citizen abroad if that person has joined a terror organization, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.

A majority, 6 in 10, supports the use of drones to target terrorists in general. Only 13 percent oppose the use of drones, the poll said, and another 24 percent don’t feel strongly either way.

The AP-GfK Poll was conducted April 23-27, in the days after President Barack Obama publicly apologized for a CIA drone strike in Pakistan that inadvertently killed American hostage Warren Weinstein and Italian hostage Giovanni Lo Porto.

Navy to help ships transit Hormuz Strait

WASHINGTON – The Navy accompanied four American-flagged ships and a British vessel moving through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf on Thursday, and officials said the U.S. will offer that aid to any other nation concerned about interference from Iranian vessels.

Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the four U.S. ships belonged to the Navy’s Military Sealift Command or were contract vessels. Those ships have civilian crews and are used to carry cargo or re-supply Navy ships.

Air Force Col. Pat Ryder, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said that any U.S.-flagged ship can ask to be accompanied by Navy warships through the narrow strait, which includes Iranian territorial waters.

Associated Press