Salt Lake-area wildfire 50 percent contained; crews hope to continue gaining ground

Crews hope to continue gaining ground on Utah fire

HERRIMAN, Utah – Firefighters looked to maintain their momentum Wednesday on a Utah wildfire ignited by Army National Guard members during weekend machine-gun training.
Nearly half the evacuation orders still in effect for the Salt Lake City suburb of Herriman were lifted Tuesday evening after fire officials reported …. Original source  : Salt Lake-area wildfire 50 percent contained; crews hope to continue gaining ground.

Man threatened to kill priest over church bells

Lucca (Italy), Sep 22 (IANS/AKI) A 63-year-old man in Italy has been booked for stalking after he repeatedly threatened to kill a priest for making “noise” with church bells.

The man reportedly became incensed by the sound of churches’ bells in the Tuscan city. He began telephoning the church to complain about the constant chimes and … Read more >>>.

Dominican kills men who stole his dog

Santo Domingo, Sep 22 (IANS/EFE) A resident of the eastern Dominican town of La Romana shot and killed two men who stole his dog and demanded money for the animal’s safe return, a media report said.

Frank Brauer, 46, was arrested for homicide after killing Francisco Reyes Nu??ez, 20, and Miguel Francisco Castilla, 31, El Nacional … Read : Dominican kills men who stole his dog.

Five dismembered bodies found in Mexico

Mexico City, Sep 22 (IANS/EFE) Five dismembered bodies were found on a highway near Tanhuato, a city in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, police said.

The trunks of the bodies were piled up on the road that leads to the Villanueva ranch and the heads and other body parts were packed in trash bags, a …. Original source  : Five dismembered bodies found in Mexico.

Finish duty early, British cops told

LONDON – Police officials on patrolling duty at a London borough were told to clock off an hour early to save money.

The Sun reported Wednesday that beat bobbies were called back to the base at 5 a.m. even though their shift finished at 6 a.m. by police inspectors.
This was done so that the …. Original source  : Finish duty early, British cops told.

Bank manager found dead at home

LUCKNOW – A 38-year-old manager of a bank was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, police said Wednesday.

Tej Bahadur Singh, manager of Punjab National Bank’s (PNB) branch in the Tamkuhi area in Kushinagar, was found dead late Tuesday inside his house in Sevrahi town, some 300 km from …. Source  : Bank manager found dead at home.

Prosecutors say they’ll seek death penalty for 2 in suburban Chicago fire that killed 7

Prosecutors to seek death for 2 in fatal Ill. fire

CHICAGO – Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for two men accused of killing seven people in a suburban Chicago apartment house they allegedly set on fire for the insurance money.
The Chicago Tribune reports that lawyers for 60-year-old building owner Lawrence Myers and 47-year-old building …. Original article  : Prosecutors say they’ll seek death penalty for 2 in suburban Chicago fire that killed 7.

Spanish priest suspended over abuse allegations

Valencia (Spain), Sep 22 (IANS/EFE) The Catholic hierarchy in this eastern Spanish city has suspended a priest accused of sexually abusing adolescents.

From the “very moment the facts were known”, the accused cleric had “all pastoral functions” taken away from him and “was asked to get out of the community he was serving”, the Archdiocese of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

The `secret’ blunder that sank the Titanic

LONDON – A steering blunder sank the Titanic on her maiden voyage as a helmsman panicked and turned the wrong way, says a new book that claims the error was kept secret for almost 100 years.

Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday that the new book revealed the ship’s crew spotted the iceberg well in advance but still … Original article on : The `secret’ blunder that sank the Titanic.

Some Salt Lake-area fire evacuees allowed to go home; blaze 50 percent contained

Some Salt Lake-area fire evacuees allowed home

HERRIMAN, Utah – Authorities say a Utah wildfire ignited by Army National Guard members during weekend machine-gun training is 50 percent contained, and some evacuation orders have been lifted.
Fire officials said Tuesday evening that residents of about 200 homes in the Salt Lake City suburb of Herriman are being … Read : Some Salt Lake-area fire evacuees allowed to go home; blaze 50 percent contained.

Massey chief accuses federal mine safety officials of lying in W.Va. mine blast investigation

Massey chief accuses feds of lying in W.Va. probe

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The embattled chief executive of Massey Energy accused federal regulators Tuesday of not making a genuine effort to investigate the explosion that killed 29 miners and injured two at the company’s Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia.
Instead, the Mine Safety and Health Administration … Read more »».

Wildfire evacuation enters 3rd night for more than 450 homes in parts of Salt Lake suburb

Salt Lake-area fire evacuees to be out 3rd night

HERRIMAN, Utah – Police in Utah told hundreds of families Tuesday they would be kept out their homes for a third night while firefighters and the Army National Guard battled a wildfire ignited by guard members during weekend machine-gun training.
With the 6-square-mile fire just 25 percent contained …. Original article  : Wildfire evacuation enters 3rd night for more than 450 homes in parts of Salt Lake suburb.

Flooding and landslides from typhoon kill 13 in China, dozens still missing

Typhoon flooding kills 13 in China, dozens missing

BEIJING – An official in southern China says flooding and landslides from Typhoon Fanapi have killed 13 people and left at least 33 missing.
The typhoon hit Guangdong province after making a direct hit on the island of Taiwan on Sunday and killing two there.
China’s national meteorological center says …. Source  : Flooding and landslides from typhoon kill 13 in China, dozens still missing.

Bleaching of Caribbean corals could surpass record loss of color set in 2005, experts say

Experts: Caribbean corals could face record bleach

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Caribbean corals are being exposed to water temperatures higher than those reported during a record bleaching period five years ago and could start dying in the coming weeks, scientists said Tuesday.
The warning comes after islands entered the warmest month of the year for water … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bleaching of Caribbean corals could surpass record loss of color set in 2005, experts say.

Bridge collapse, construction woes, disease fears put New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games at risk

Commonwealth Games at risk with under 2 weeks left

NEW DELHI – Less than two weeks before it begins, one of the world’s biggest sports events is in jeopardy as organizers struggle to cope with unfinished buildings, a filthy athletes’ village called “unfit for human habitation,” a bridge collapse, concerns over security and corruption, and an … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bridge collapse, construction woes, disease fears put New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games at risk.

Conn. committee recommends banning ‘gas blows’ at plants, more training for inspectors

Conn. committee seeks to ban ‘gas blows’ at plants

HARTFORD, Conn. – A state commission on Tuesday recommended that “gas blows,” the process blamed for a deadly power plant explosion in Middletown, be banned in Connecticut until new national standards are put in place.
A panel created by Gov. M. Jodi Rell approved seven recommendations it will … Read : Conn. committee recommends banning ‘gas blows’ at plants, more training for inspectors.

Mine safety agency chief announces emergency coal dust rule in response to W.Va. explosion

Mine safety agency has new rule after W.Va. blast

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The federal government is implementing an emergency rule that will require underground mines to do more to control explosive coal dust following an explosion in West Virginia in April.
Mine Safety and Health Administration director Joe Main announced the change at an industry conference Tuesday. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mine safety agency chief announces emergency coal dust rule in response to W.Va. explosion.

9 NATO troops die in chopper crash in southern Afghanistan; no reports of enemy fire

Afghanistan helicopter crash kills 9 NATO troops

KABUL, Afghanistan – A helicopter carrying international troops crashed in a rugged section of southern Afghanistan, killing nine service members in the deadliest such incident in four years for coalition forces.
A “large number” of Americans were among the dead, according to a senior military official in Washington, who spoke … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 9 NATO troops die in chopper crash in southern Afghanistan; no reports of enemy fire.

Corpus Christi police recover body of missing driver as rain along Texas coast finally eases

Body of Texas man recovered as rain finally eases

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Storms partly fueled by Hurricane Karl finally began weakening along the Texas coast on Tuesday after dumping more than 10 inches of rain, and authorities found the body of driver who had been swept away by floods.
Widespread flooding closed schools and forced families … Original source on Gaea Times at : Corpus Christi police recover body of missing driver as rain along Texas coast finally eases.

Optimism grows in Chile as drills advance and capsule is prepared for October miner rescue

Chileans optimistic for early October miner rescue

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean rescuers are growing increasingly optimistic about pulling the 33 trapped miners out far sooner than originally estimated, and with drilling quickly advancing on three narrow escape chutes, they raced Tuesday to decide on a design for the capsule that will lift the men to safety.
President …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Optimism grows in Chile as drills advance and capsule is prepared for October miner rescue.