Navistar plant closing next month

WEST POINT, Miss. -- Navistar Defense will suspend production at the plant it opened five years ago that assembled mine resistant vehicles. The 80 workers were told last week that the plant will be idled July 5. The company said the decision came in response to across-the-board federal budget reductions known as the sequester that went into effect on March 1. The plant also produced other related vehicles like armored tow trucks and ambulances for the military. Navistar is headquartered in Warrenville, Ill. (Sources: multiple, including Clarion-Ledger, 06/20/13, Zacks, 06/25/13)