French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump just as he was about to greet key European Union nations and the United Kingdom at the Elysee Palace on Monday for an emergency meeting on how to react to the U.S. diplomatic blitz on Ukraine, which left the once rock-solid partner as a potential political liability.
Leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the European Union are holding talks on how to deal with Europe’s security quandary.
Harsh weather moved west on Monday as a polar vortex was expected to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 10 people, including nine victims in Kentucky who died during flooding from heavy rains.
The National Weather Service warned of “life-threatening cold” into Tuesday, with temperatures in northeastern Montana predicted to dip as low as 45 degrees below zero with wind chills down to 60 below.
Meteorologists said several states would experience the 10th and coldest polar vortex event this season. Weather forces in the Arctic are combining to push the chilly air that usually stays near the North Pole into the U.S. and Europe.
University of St. Thomas Director of Community Relations Jerome Benner said the state grant program is expected to have a shortfall of $211 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
The expected budget forecast, released in March, will give insight into the final dollar amount that legislators will work with to make sure they get the budget right, Benner said.
Cecilia Wallace can be reached at wall1238@stthomas.edu.
