Syrian Forces Recaptured Palmyra; Merrick Garland To Meet Senator Mark Kirk; Recall Petition For Michigan Governor
COSTELLO: Checking some top stories, 58 minutes past. The newly recapture city of Palmyra, Syria's antiquities chief says it could take five years to restore ancient ruins damaged by ISIS. Work could start as early as next year. Syrian forces retook the city over the weekend. The victory coming 10 months after the terrorist group gained control of the city and started destroying those ancient ruins. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland meets with two Democratic senators today to discuss his chances of getting a hearing and a vote by the Senate. Senate Republicans have already said they will not consider any Supreme Court nominee until after the November election. But at least one Republican is breaking ranks. The White House says Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois has agreed to meet with Garland tomorrow. Organizers of a campaign to recall the Michigan Governor Rick Snyder from office have now started gathering signatures. According to CNN affiliate "WDIV", the petition is being circulated by an activist in Flint. It says the governor failed citizens in his response to the water crisis. They'll need 800,000 signatures to get the petition on the November ballot -- or to get the issue rather on the November ballot. Lawmakers and union leaders strike a deal in California raising the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour next year. And then it will gradually rise to $15 an hour over the next six years. The "L.A. Times" says the move will prevent a costly political battle in the fall. All right. I want to head back out to the White House to the South Lawn. You see the president and the first lady. They're reading "Where The Wild Things Are" to a group of children. Thanks for joining me today.