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Lightning sparks wildfires
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Fire crews joined aircraft from neighboring states today to battle hundreds of lightning-caused wildfires across Northern California. One of the fires started by weekend thunderstorms had already blackened more than 10,000 acres -- nearly 16 square miles -- in a rural area of Lake County, about 120 miles north of San Francisco. No homes had been destroyed, but officials said voluntary evacuations were in place for reside...
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices today
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices today. Aluminum -$1.4200 per lb., N.Y. Merc spot Mon. Copper -$3.8095 Cathode full plate, U.S. destinations. Copper $3.8140 N.Y. Merc spot Mon. Lead - $1894.00 metric ton, London Metal Exch. Zinc - $0.8930 per lb., delivered. Gold - $889.50 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Gold - $884.80 troy oz., NY Merc spot Mon. Silver - $16.820 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Silver - $1...
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Local food pantry is receiving donations
PITTSBURG (AP) -- When the Wesley House began a program of providing an extra bag of food for families for each child, they began the day with 200 bags of food. Within the first hour, 30 families stopped in. By 3 p.m., less than half of the bags remained. "It's been pretty wild," said Ellie Foster, Wesley House pastor and executive director. "So many families are choosing between gas in their car for work or food on the table. People don't...
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Study shows charity remains stable in '07
NEW YORK (AP) -- Americans gave to charities last year at about the same rate they did the previous year, holding steady on their donations in the face of a housing-market meltdown and a crisis in credit, a study released Monday showed. But soaring gasoline and food prices have been added to the economic worries this year, which may lead to a drop in giving, nonprofit groups and fundraisers say. Donations by Americans to charities remained at...
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Housing rescue measure passes key test
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A massive foreclosure rescue bill overwhelmingly cleared a key Senate test today, drawing broad support from Democrats and Republicans alike. The Senate voted 83-9 to speed up work on the $300 billion mortgage aid plan, putting it on track for a final vote as early as the end of the day. The resounding vote reflected a keen interest in both parties in claiming election-year credit for helping homeowners amid tough economic ...
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By The Associated Press TENNIS WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Returning to his favorite stage and resuming his dominant ways on grass, Roger Federer started his bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title by sweeping Dominik Hrbaty in straight sets on a sunbathed Centre Court
By The Associated Press TENNIS WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Returning to his favorite stage and resuming his dominant ways on grass, Roger Federer started his bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title by sweeping Dominik Hrbaty in straight sets on a sunbathed Centre Court. Third-seeded Novak Djokovic, top-seeded woman Ana Ivanovic and two-time champion Serena Williams were among other winners on the opening day of the two-week tournament. In k...
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Divers find bodies in ferry SAN FERNANDO, Philippines -- A coast guard diver searching for survivors today inside a ferry that capsized in a typhoon found bodies and a bit of comfort -- a plastic rosary floating in the water
Divers find bodies in ferry SAN FERNANDO, Philippines -- A coast guard diver searching for survivors today inside a ferry that capsized in a typhoon found bodies and a bit of comfort -- a plastic rosary floating in the water. Lt. Cmdr. Inocencio Rosario slipped on the string of light blue beads for luck, and hoped that it was an omen that a miracle was still possible, that survivors would be found inside the hulking vessel. Typhoon Fengsh...
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Art League has plan for promoting art and education
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- As far as Bob Bussabarger is concerned, the local art scene's roots are in the Columbia Art League. The 86-year-old retired University of Missouri professor remembers when the arts in Columbia resided largely in the halls of academia, seemingly out of reach from the rest of the community. Imagine no downtown art galleries, festivals and shows. Consider Columbia without its creative edge, and you begin to appreciate the i...
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Kansas Cash has a winner TOPEKA (AP) -- Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the Kansas Lottery: SUPER KANSAS CASH: 4-14-15-20-30; the Cashball was 9; there was one winner of the jackpot worth an estimated $1
Kansas Cash has a winner TOPEKA (AP) -- Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the Kansas Lottery: SUPER KANSAS CASH: 4-14-15-20-30; the Cashball was 9; there was one winner of the jackpot worth an estimated $1.2 million; no players matched five of the first set, with each ticket worth $2,000; seven players matched four plus the Super Cashball, with each ticket worth $250; 120 players matched four of the first set, with each ticket...
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Hernandez's rare grand slam takes Mariners past Mets 5-2
NEW YORK (AP) -- Felix Hernandez's wild night began with one stunning swing and ended after a frustrating injury. Hernandez hit the first grand slam by an American League pitcher in 37 years, then left with a sprained ankle before he could qualify for a win Monday night in the Seattle Mariners' 5-2 victory over the New York Mets. Facing a fellow ace from Venezuela in his first plate appearance this season, King Felix connected off Johan Santa...
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Branson shows shun artists on recorded tracks
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) -- After 14 years playing in Branson's theaters, musician Bill Caldwell has had enough. He's leaving. And he's not shy to tell why. "Branson, 'The Live Entertainment Capital of the World,' isn't," said Caldwell, 45, as he sat with a group of fellow musicians in a coffee shop. Branson was built on the backs of the musicians who made its shows come alive, Caldwell said. But now he and some other musicians here say they are bei...
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Mars probe searches for signs of extreme life
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bizarre microbes flourish in the most punishing environments on Earth from the bone-dry Atacama Desert in Chile to the boiling hot springs of Yellowstone National Park to the sunless sea bottom vents in the Pacific. Could such exotic life emerge in the frigid arctic plains of Mars? NASA's Phoenix spacecraft could soon find out. Since plopping down near the Martian north pole a month ago, the three-legged lander has been bu...
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Court allows fence to stand
McALLEN, Texas (AP) -- A U.S. Supreme Court decision paving the way for a 670-mile federal fence along the U.S.-Mexico border drew swift criticism from environmentalists, who promised to make another legal stand in Texas. The justices' turned down a plea Monday to hear a lawsuit opposing a two-mile section of the fence in Arizona brought by the Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife. The section of fence in question in that case has already...
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Wilson County cracks top 10 LAWRENCE -- A new method for recovering natural gas in Southeast Kansas has helped Wilson County crack the top 10 among producers in the state
Wilson County cracks top 10 LAWRENCE -- A new method for recovering natural gas in Southeast Kansas has helped Wilson County crack the top 10 among producers in the state. According to a recent report from the Kansas Geological Survey, Wilson County rose to eighth place in 2007 with 15.3 million cubic feet of methane. The gas is being extracted from coal beds in what is known as the Cherokee Basin Coal Area. The region is the third-largest...
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Tsvangirai seeks refuge HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe's opposition leader has sought refuge at the Dutch Embassy, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said today, while police raided his party's headquarters and took about 60 people away
Tsvangirai seeks refuge HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe's opposition leader has sought refuge at the Dutch Embassy, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said today, while police raided his party's headquarters and took about 60 people away. Morgan Tsvangirai went to the embassy Sunday shortly after announcing he was withdrawing from Friday's presidential runoff against longtime leader Robert Mugabe, citing violence against opposition supporters. "He asked...
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Counterculture comic dies LOS ANGELES -- Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television
Counterculture comic dies LOS ANGELES -- Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television. Some People Are Stupid. Stuff. People I Can Do Without. George Carlin, who died of heart failure Sunday at 71, leaves behind not only a series of memorable routines, but a legal legacy: His most celebrated monologue, a frantic, informed riff on those infamous seven words, led to a Supreme Court decision on broadcasting offensive language. The counterculture ...
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Cink stays the course for title
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) -- Stewart Cink held off Tommy Armour III and defending champion Hunter Mahan to win the Travelers Championship by a stroke. With his fifth career victory, Cink was projected to go to a career-high No. 6 in the world ranking. Cink, also the 1997 winner at TPC River Highlands, shot a 3-under 67 -- following rounds of 66, 64 and 65 -- to finish at 18-under 262 for his first victory since 2004. Wegmans LPGA ROCHESTER,...
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Walk-off homer dooms Cards
BOSTON (AP) -- Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run home run off of Mike Parisi in the bottom of the 13th inning Sunday to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Mike Lowell led off the inning with a single off Parisi (0-3) before Youkilis hit Parisis 3-1 offering over the left-field wall. It was Youkilis's second homer of the game. The Red Sox avoided being swept in a series at home for the first time since losing two...
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Environmental group helps with emissions plan
TOPEKA (AP) -- An organization helping the state develop a plan to reduce carbon emissions is being criticized for what opponents say are its ties to "alarmist" environmentalist groups. Conservatives and business groups said they're afraid the Center for Climate Strategies may try to enforce an extreme agenda through its work with the Kansas Energy and Environmental Policy advisory group. People who have worked with the center in Arkansas and...
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices today
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices today. Aluminum -$1.4225 per lb., N.Y. Merc spot Fri. Copper -$3.8320 Cathode full plate, U.S. destinations. Copper $3.8320 N.Y. Merc spot Fri. Lead - $1865.00 metric ton, London Metal Exch. Zinc - $0.9030 per lb., delivered. Gold - $881.00 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Gold - $901.30 troy oz., NY Merc spot Fri. Silver - $16.805 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Silver - $1...
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