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NAPA, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for the part of the state hit by a 6.0 earthquake overnight. The governor issued a proclamation directing state agencies to help respond to the quake that struck about 6 miles from the city of Napa. Fire officials say the city has exhausted its own resources while extinguishing six fires, transporting injured residents, searching homes for anyone who might be trapped and answering calls about gas leaks, water main breaks and downed power lines.
ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A Mass is being held this hour in New Hampshire for the American journalist killed by Islamic militants after being held captive for nearly two years. James Foley was kidnapped on Thanksgiving Day 2012 while covering the Syrian uprising. The Islamic State posted a Web video Tuesday showing his murder and said it was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah woman who nearly died after unknowingly drinking iced tea mixed with chemicals has been released from a Salt Lake City hospital. Jan Harding has been slowly improving since Aug. 10, when she drank a single sip of sweetened iced tea at Dickey's Barbecue in a Salt Lake City suburb, causing deep burns to her esophagus. Authorities have said a restaurant employee unintentionally put the heavy-duty cleaner in a sugar bag that got mixed it into the iced tea dispenser.
SEATTLE (AP) — As wildfires burn homes and thousands of square miles across the West, fire experts say simple actions like clearing brush around a home or removing pine needles from decks could make the difference in whether a house survives or burns to the ground. Fire science research over the last decade has produced strategies that can help reduce a home's chances of igniting. Fire officials are trying to spread the word in fire-prone areas that these little things are hugely important.
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — With California facing a historic drought, residents are tearing out thirsty lawns to cut down on water use. Water agencies across the state have been offering thousands of dollars in rebates to help homeowners make the switch to a drought-friendly landscape with better odds of surviving dry spells common to the local climate. Officials hope the shift marks the beginning of a transformation in the way residents view neighborhood landscapes.
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