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SOMA, Turkey (AP) — "Time is working against us." That's what Turkey's energy minister is saying as rescuers race to reach more than 200 miners trapped underground after an explosion and fire at a coal mine in western Turkey. At least 201 workers are known to have been killed in the disasters, while 80 others were injured. Four are in serious condition.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Months of drought have left much of the Southern California landscape primed to burn. Now, a heat wave and gusty winds have heightened the danger. A wildfire in San Diego County quickly burned through 700 acres of canyons Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for more than 20,000 homes. Fire officials say that blaze is dying down now, and residents have begun returning. Another fire in Santa Barbara County prompted more evacuations. But winds there dropped significantly after sunset.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gay and lesbian couples in Idaho could start getting married as soon as Friday. A federal judge has ruled the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, saying it stigmatizes gay and lesbian couples and relegates their families to second-class status. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has said he'll appeal the case.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Human Rights Watch says children as young as 7 are working long hours in U.S. fields harvesting tobacco under sometimes hazardous and sweltering conditions. The group interviewed more than 140 children working on farms in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia and says they report symptoms consistent with acute nicotine poisoning from absorbing nicotine through their skin. The report acknowledges that most of what it's documented is legal under U.S. law.
DZHEZKAZGAN, Kazakhstan (AP) — Three astronauts are back on Earth after six months in space. A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying American Rick Mastracchio (muh-STRAK'-ee-oh), Russian Mikhail Tyurin (mih-hah-EEL' TYOO'-rin), and Koichi Wakata (koh-EE'-chee wah-KAH'-tah) of Japan landed Wednesday in the steppes of Kazakhstan. The landing comes a day after Russia's deputy prime minister said Moscow won't continue cooperating with the United States on the 15-nation space station past the year 2020.
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