Today's News: Tuesday July 6, 2010

TODAY'S NEWS: TUESDAY JULY 6TH

LOCAL NEWS

SUICIDE RATE INCREASE

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THE STATE’S MIDDLE AGED SUICIDE RATE IS CLIMBING. THE JUMP HAS OCCURRED IN PEOPLE AGES 45-54 WITH MEN MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE THAN WOMEN. JOB LOSSES, HIGHER RATES OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SUBSEQUENT RELATIONSHIP STRESS AREA ALL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS LEAVING THIS AGE GROUP FEELING ISOLATED AND DEPRESSED. THE OVERALL RATE OF SUICIDE DEATHS IN PENNSYLVANIA IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WITH MORE THAN 1400 RESIDENT DEATHS EACH YEAR. MEN ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO SEEK HELP FOR THEIR DEPRESSION OVER WOMEN.

TWO VEHICLE CRASH 1-81 PINE GROVE TWP

THERE WAS A TWO VEHICLE CRASH THAT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF BACKED UP TRAFFIC FROM AN EARLIER FATAL CRASH ON I-81 YESTERDAY IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP. CHRISTINE KAUFFMAN, 31 OF WILLIAMSTOWN, FAILED TO NOTICE STOPPED TRAFFIC WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON 81 AND HER 1998 FORD WINDSTAR STRUCK THE REAR OF JOHN L SHERWOOD’S 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER.
KAUFFMAN’S PASSENGER, FAY DEITRICH, WAS TAKEN TO THE GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL IN POTTSVILLE FOR EVALUATION. SHERWOOD, 52 FROM ROSCOE, NY, AND KAUFFMAN’S VEHICLE WERE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. KAUFFMAN WAS CITED FOR CARELESS DRIVING.

RINGTOWN MAN CHARGED

RICHARD LUDWIG JR., 37 OF 527 W MAIN STREET IN RINGTOWN, VIOLATED A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER FROM RHONDA LUDWIG OVER THE WEEKEND. RHONDA REPORTED TO THE PSP FRACKVILLE THAT WHILE SHE WAS AT RICHARD LUDWIG JR’S RESIDENCE HE GRABBED HER ARM CAUSING PHYSICAL BRUISING. LUDWIG JR WAS ARRAIGNED ON A CHARGE OF INDIRECT CRIMINAL CONTEMPT.

VANDALIZATION AND OBSTRUCTION OF ROADWAY

TWO UNKNOWN MALES WERE REPORTED REMOVING PIECES OF EVELYN GEIGER’S CEMENT WALL AND THROWING THEM ONTO THE ROADWAY LATE LAST WEEK. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 3:45 LAST FRIDAY MORNING AT 216 RAILROAD AVE IN NEW RINGOLD. THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL CONTINUING AND ARRESTS ARE PENDING.

ACCU OLD PLASTICS VANDALIZED

ACCU MOLD PLASTICS IN HALIFAX TOWNSHIP HAD THEIR FRONT DOOR WINDOW VANDALIZED SOMETIME OVER THE WEEKEND. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 18 POWELLS VALLEY ROAD IN DAUPHIN COUNTY SOMETIME BETWEEN SATURDAY AND MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE PSP OF LYKENS ARE SEEKING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT.

CONN. MAN KILLED ON I-81 CRASH

A CONNECTICUT MAN WAS KILLED IN A 2 VEHICLE CRASH ON INTERSTATE 81 MONDAY MORNING IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP. GARY LOFTUS, 58, WAS DRIVING HIS 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN NORTHBOUND IN THE PASSING LANE AND AS HE MOVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE COLLIDED WITH MELINDA BROWN, 31 OF LYKENS. BROWN, WHO WAS DRIVING A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM, WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE WHILE LOFTUS, AFTER COLLIDING WITH BROWN, SWERVED INTO THE MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER 1.5 TIMES LANDING ON IT’S ROOF. LOFTUS WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WHILE HIS 9 YEAR OLD MALE PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

POWER OUTAGES IN THE COUNTY

THE INTENSE HEAT CAUSED SEVERAL POWER OUTAGES ACROSS THE COUNTY YESTERDAY. AN OUTAGE IN POTTSVILLE AFFECTED MORE THAN 4000 PEOPLE AND ONE IN SAINT CLAIR AFFECTED ABOUT 100 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. PROBLEMS WITH PPL SUBSTATION BREAKER WERE TO BLAME WITH AN ADDITIONAL OUTAGE THEN IN POTTSVILLE’S DOWNTOWN AROUND 6PM LAST NIGHT. ALL POWER WAS RETURNED TO THESE AREAS BY 8:30 LAST NIGHT. THERE IS ANOTHER HEAT ADVISORY WARNING FOR TODAY, CONTINUING TO PUT STRAIN ON THE UTILITY COMPANIES.

STATE NEWS

HEAT WAVE-HYDRANTS
MOST PHILLY FIRE HYDRANTS OFF LIMITS AS SPRINKLERS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIANS WILL NO DOUBT BE TRYING TO
BEAT THE HEAT AS TEMPERATURES FLIRT WITH THE 100-DEGREE MARK THIS
WEEK.
BUT CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY SHOULDN'T LOOK TO THEIR NEARBY FIRE
HYDRANTS FOR RELIEF.
ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF HYDRANTS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A
RECREATIONAL SPRINKLER CAP. TO GET ONE, A NEIGHBORHOOD
REPRESENTATIVE MUST APPLY FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND PLEDGE TO MAKE SURE
THE HYDRANTS IS USED PROPERLY.
FIRE COMMISSIONER LLOYD AYERS SAYS IT'S ILLEGAL TO CRACK OPEN A
HYDRANT.
HE SUGGESTS THAT SUN-DRENCHED CITY RESIDENTS BREAK OUT THEIR
GARDEN HOSES AND SPRINKLERS INSTEAD.
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INFORMATION FROM: KYW-AM, HTTP://WWW.KYW1060.COM

FIREWORKS-SPECTATORS BURNED
11 INJURED AT FIREWORKS ACCIDENT IN CENTRAL PA.

PALMYRA, PA. (AP) - TWO PEOPLE REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AFTER A
FIREWORKS ACCIDENT INJURED 11 PEOPLE GATHERED FOR A BOROUGH
FIREWORKS DISPLAY NEAR HARRISBURG.
PALMYRA BOROUGH POLICE SAY A FIREWORK MISFIRED, CAUSING AN
EXPLOSION THAT SENT FIREWORK MATERIAL INTO THE NEARBY CROWD AT
PALMYRA MIDDLE SCHOOL. THEY SAY THE ACCIDENT ALSO PROPELLED OTHER
FIREWORKS MATERIAL ACROSS THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE VICTIMS SUFFERED BURNS, CONTUSIONS AND
ABRASIONS. THEY INCLUDE FOUR MINORS BETWEEN 11 AND 17 AND ONE
FIREWORKS EMPLOYEE.
THE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION WAS ALSO COMMEMORATING PALMYRA'S
250TH ANNIVERSARY.
ONE ADULT AND ONE MINOR REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AT HERSHEY MEDICAL
CENTER WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
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INFORMATION FROM: WGAL-TV, HTTP://WWW.WGAL.COM

VETERANS-STOLEN GRAVE MARKERS
PA. KAYAKER FINDS 46 STOLEN MILITARY GRAVE MARKERS

ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) - AN ALLENTOWN KAYAKER HAS SOME DETECTIVE
WORK IN STORE AFTER FINDING A CACHE OF MILITARY GRAVE MARKERS IN
THE LEHIGH RIVER.
JOE BROZOWSKI SAYS HE FOUND 46 OF THE SMALL MARKERS IN SHALLOW
WATER NEAR A CATASAUQUA BRIDGE LAST MONTH.
VETERANS GROUPS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS USUALLY PLACE THE MARKERS
TO HONOR MILITARY SERVICE. BUT IN RECENT YEARS THEY HAVE BECOME AN
ALL-TOO COMMON TARGET FOR THIEVES EYEING THE VALUE OF THEIR METAL.
BROZOWSKI HOPES TO RETURN THE MARKERS TO THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE.
BUT HIS TASK IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THEY DO NOT BEAR THE NAMES
OF INDIVIDUAL SOLDIERS.
HE SAYS SOME APPEAR TO HONOR SERVICE DATING BACK TO THE CIVIL
WAR.
THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF CORROSION, SUGGESTING THEY WERE DUMPED
RECENTLY.
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INFORMATION FROM: THE MORNING CALL, HTTP://WWW.MCALL.COM

FIREWORKS-TEENS SHOT
3 TEENS SHOT LEAVING PHILLY FIREWORKS, 1 CRITICAL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - POLICE SAY A GUNMAN FIRED INTO A CROWD
LEAVING PHILADELPHIA'S FIREWORKS DISPLAY AND STRUCK THREE TEENS,
LEAVING ONE IN 'EXTREMELY CRITICAL' CONDITION.
PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER CHRISTINE O'BRIEN SAYS THE
16-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AND THE BACK OF THE HEAD. HE IS
BEING TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
POLICE SAY A 19-YEAR-OLD SHOT IN THE SHOULDER AND A 17-YEAR-OLD
SHOT IN THE HAND HAVE BEEN TREATED AND RELEASED.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE ATTACK OCCURRED IN THE CITY'S MANTUA SECTION
AT ABOUT 11:40 P.M., AFTER THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY BY THE NEARBY
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART. THEY SAY THE GUNMAN FLED.
POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE.
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INFORMATION FROM: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
HTTP://WWW.PHILLY.COM

STIMULUS-HEALTHY STORE
PHILLY USES $25M IN STIMULUS TO FIGHT FAT, SMOKING

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIANS MAY SOON START SEEING MORE
FRESH PRODUCE AT THEIR CORNER STORES.
THE CITY IS GETTING $25 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDS TO FIGHT
OBESITY AND SMOKING.
MINI-GRANTS TO ABOUT 100 CORNER STORES WILL HELP THEM BUY
REFRIGERATORS OR SHELVING TO ACCOMMODATE FRESH PRODUCE.
STORE OWNER JUAN CARLOS ROMANO SAYS BUSINESS IS UP 40 PERCENT AT
HIS ROMANO'S GROCERY STORE IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA THANKS TO THE
ADDITION OF PRODUCE.
THE EFFORT IS BEING ORGANIZED BY THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE
FOOD TRUST AND OTHERS.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 44 COMMUNITIES ARE SHARING $372 MILLION IN
STIMULUS FUNDS TO FIGHT OBESITY AND SMOKING.
THE GOAL IS TO PREVENT HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, CANCER, AND
DIABETES, AND THEREBY LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS.

BRIDGE-FATAL FALL
PARTY-GOER, 70, DIES IN FALL AT CLOSED PA. BRIDGE

MILLERSVILLE, PA. (AP) - A 70-YEAR-OLD PARTY-GOER IS DEAD AFTER
HE FELL FROM A CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA BRIDGE THAT WAS CLOSED FOR
REPAIRS.
POLICE SAY ROBERT SMITH OF QUARRYVILLE FELL INTO THE CONESTOGA
RIVER AS HE WALKED ON THE BRIDGE CONNECTING MANOR AND CONESTOGA
TOWNSHIPS.
MANOR TOWNSHIP POLICE OFFICER BRIAN LIDDICK SAYS THE BRIDGE HAS
BEEN TAKEN DOWN TO BARE STEEL BEAMS.
POLICE SAY SMITH MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WALK HOME FROM A NEARBY
PARTY ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THEY SAY ATTEMPTS TO RESUSCITATE HIM
FAILED.
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INFORMATION FROM: INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL,
HTTP://WWW.LANCASTERONLINE.COM/PAGES/PAPER/SUNDAYNEWS/

SEASHORE DROWNINGS
2 DROWN WHILE SWIMMING AT NIGHT OFF NJ BEACHES

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - AUTHORITIES AT THE NEW JERSEY SHORE
SAY TWO MEN HAVE DROWNED IN THE SURF IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS OVER THE
HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
ATLANTIC CITY POLICE SAY A PHILADELPHIA MAN DROWNED EARLY SUNDAY
WHILE SWIMMING OFF THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THE ATLANTIC CITY HILTON
CASINO RESORT. HE WAS IDENTIFIED AS 24-YEAR-OLD MELVIN BROWN JR.
BROWN'S GIRLFRIEND FLAGGED DOWN A POLICE OFFICER AT 1:35 A.M. TO
REPORT THAT HE HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE WAVES. HIS BODY WAS
RECOVERED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER.
POLICE IN OCEAN CITY RECOVERED THE BODY OF A MAN WHO DROWNED
SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE OCEAN OFF 8TH STREET. THE BODY WAS RECOVERED
SHORTLY AFTER 10 P.M. THE MAN'S IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.
BOTH DROWNINGS OCCURRED WHEN LIFEGUARDS WERE OFF DUTY.

NATIONAL NEWS

AP-RIGHT NOW

UPDATE ON THE LATEST NEWS, SPORTS, BUSINESS AND ENTERTAINMENT:


GULF OIL SPILL
UPDATE: SKIMMERS HAMPERED; TAR BALLS IN TEXAS

TEXAS CITY, TEXAS (AP) - THE CRUDE CONTINUES TO SPILL INTO THE
GULF OF MEXICO BUT THE FLEET OF SKIMMERS TAPPED TO CLEAN THE
WORST-HIT AREAS HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY A STRING OF SMALL STORMS.
MEANTIME, TAR BALLS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN TEXAS, BUT OFFICIALS
SAY THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL IF THEY CAME OFF A SHIP OR ARRIVED SOME
OTHER WAY. ALL THE GULF STATES HAVE NOW BEEN TOUCHED BY THE SPILL.
COAST GUARD CAPT. MARCUS WORDING SAYS THE CONSISTENCY OF THE TAR
BALLS INDICATES THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPREAD TO TEXAS WATER BY SHIPS
THAT HAVE WORKED OUT IN THE SPILL.
HURRICANE ALEX, WHICH BLEW THROUGH THE GULF LAST WEEK AND MADE
LANDFALL ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN TEXAS AND MEXICO, MAY HAVE PLAYED
A SMALL ROLE.
THE SPILL IS ALSO REACHING DEEPER INTO LOUISIANA.

HOT WEATHER
SOARING TEMPS MIGHT PRESS UTILITIES IN EASTERN US

NEW YORK (AP) - A REAL SUMMER SIZZLE IS WASHING OVER PARTS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
TEMPERATURES INCHED INTO AT LEAST THE 90S FROM MAINE TO TEXAS
AND INTO THE SOUTHWEST AND DEATH VALLEY OVER THE EXTENDED FOURTH OF
JULY WEEKEND. NOW THE MID-ATLANTIC IS EMBARKING ON A STRING OF
INTENSELY HOT DAYS.
METEOROLOGISTS SAY TEMPERATURES COULD REACH AS HIGH AS 102
DEGREES TUESDAY.
THE MASSES RETURNING TO WORK ACROSS THE NORTHEAST THREATEN TO
STRESS UTILITIES. NEW YORK'S CONSOLIDATED EDISON UTILITY SAYS IT'S
PREPARING FOR PEAK USAGE TO BREAK THE RECORD SET AUG. 2, 2006. NEW
YORK CITY PLANS TO OPEN HUNDREDS OF COOLING CENTERS TODAY.
TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-90S HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR THE DEATH OF A
HOMELESS WOMAN IN A SUBURBAN DETROIT PARKING LOT.
AND MASSACHUSETTS LT. GOV. TIM MURRAY IS HOSPITALIZED AFTER
MARCHING IN FIVE PARADES AND FEELING ILL. HIS SPOKESMAN SAYS HE'S
IN GOOD SPIRITS.

POSTAL RATES
POST OFFICE PLANS TO ANNOUNCE NEW RATE INCREASE

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE POST OFFICE IS ANNOUNCING A NEW RATE
INCREASE IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE MASSIVE LOSSES.
THE AMOUNT OF THE INCREASE AND LIKELY DATE FOR IT TO BEGIN ARE
BEING ANNOUNCED BY POSTAL OFFICIALS TODAY. THE PLAN WILL STILL HAVE
TO BE REVIEWED BY THE INDEPENDENT POSTAL RATE COMMISSION.
THE POST OFFICE ALSO HAS PROPOSED ENDING SATURDAY DELIVERY TO
SAVE MONEY. CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THAT IF IT IS TO HAPPEN.
THE CURRENT FIRST-CLASS RATE OF 44 CENTS TOOK EFFECT IN 2009.

JAPAN-TOYOTA RECALL
NEW: TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT LEXUS PROBLEM 2 YEARS AGO

TOKYO (AP) - A COMPANY OFFICIAL SAYS TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE
ENGINE PROBLEM IN THE LEXUS AND CROWN VEHICLES TWO YEARS AGO BUT
DIDN'T THINK A RECALL WAS WARRANTED AT THE TIME.
THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE COMPANY CHANGED THE SPRING PART TO CORRECT
THE PROBLEM. A GLOBAL RECALL IS NOW UNDER WAY TO REPAIR SOME
270,000 VEHICLES TO REPLACE ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT COULD CAUSE
STALLING.
A SPOKESMAN TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT THE WORLD'S TOP
AUTOMAKER PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FOREIGN
SUBSTANCE ENTERING DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE VALVE SPRINGS, AND
BEEFED UP CHECKS SO THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE COMPLAINTS STARTED CLIMBING, AND TOYOTA
DECIDED RECENTLY THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT.
TOYOTA HAD PROMISED TO RECALL PROBLEM CARS MORE QUICKLY AFTER
ITS REPUTATION WAS TATTERED AFTER RECALLS BALLOONED TO MORE THAN
8.5 MILLION SINCE OCTOBER.

US-MIDEAST
ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER VISITS WASHINGTON AMID MIDEAST
UNCERTAINTY

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS HOSTING ISRAEL'S
PRIME MINISTER TODAY.
THE MEETING COMES A DAY AFTER ISRAEL EASED ITS BLOCKADE OF THE
GAZA STRIP -- AND FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE DEADLY ISRAELI RAID ON A
GAZA RELIEF FLOTILLA THAT CAUSED PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU
TO SCRUB HIS LAST PLANNED SESSION WITH THE PRESIDENT.
OBAMA HAS WELCOMED THE GAZA EASING. BUT PALESTINIANS NOTE MOST
TRAVEL AND EXPORTS ARE STILL BARRED, ALONG WITH THE IMPORT OF BADLY
NEEDED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
NETANYAHU SAYS IT'S TIME FOR FACE-TO-FACE PEACE TALKS BUT
PALESTINIANS HAVE BALKED OVER ISRAELI SETTLEMENT BUILDING.
U.S. OFFICIALS SAY U.S. ENVOY GEORGE MITCHELL'S EFFORTS HAVE
YIELDED A GLIMMER OF HOPE.
RABBI MARVIN HIER, FOUNDER AND DEAN OF THE SIMON WIESENTHAL
CENTER, SAYS ISRAEL IS NOT AN IMPEDIMENT TO MIDEAST PEACE AND THE
U.S. CAN IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH JERUSALEM IF IT WANTS TO.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS
ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS COVER 42 PERCENT OF WEST BANK

JERUSALEM (AP) - AN ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP SAYS SETTLEMENTS
CONTROL MORE THAN 42 PERCENT OF THE WEST BANK.
THE B'TSELEM GROUP ALSO SAYS ONE-FIFTH OF THE LAND OCCUPIED BY
SETTLEMENTS WAS SEIZED FROM PRIVATE PALESTINIAN LANDOWNERS. IT SAYS
MUCH OF THE CONFISCATION TOOK PLACE AFTER ISRAEL'S SUPREME COURT
OUTLAWED THE PRACTICE IN 1979.
B'TSELEM SAID TUESDAY ITS REPORT IS BASED ON OFFICIAL STATE
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING MILITARY MAPS AND A MILITARY SETTLEMENT
DATABASE.
B'TSELEM SAID THE BUILT-UP AREA OF SETTLEMENTS COVERS ABOUT 1
PERCENT OF THE WEST BANK'S LAND AREA, BUT THEIR MUNICIPAL
JURISDICTION AND REGIONAL COUNCILS COVERS MORE THAN 42 PERCENT.
ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENTS HAVE BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL ENTERPRISE
THROUGHOUT THE DECADES AND A MAIN OBSTACLE TO PEACEMAKING WITH THE
PALESTINIANS.

AFGHANISTAN-CASUALTIES
FIVE U.S. TROOPS AND ONE BRITISH SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN
AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) - ROADSIDE BOMBS IN AFGHANISTAN HAVE
KILLED FIVE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
NATO SAYS TWO DIED IN THE WEST, TWO IN THE SOUTH AND ONE IN THE
EAST. AND BRITAIN'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS A BRITISH SOLDIER WAS
KILLED IN A BLAST DURING A VEHICLE PATROL IN SOUTHERN HELMAND
PROVINCE. THEIR DEATHS BROUGHT TO 14 THE NUMBER OF U.S. AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL TROOPS KILLED SO FAR THIS MONTH.
A TALLY BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHOWS JUNE WAS THE DEADLIEST
MONTH OF THE WAR FOR U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL FORCES AT 103 KILLED,
INCLUDING 60 AMERICANS.
MEANWHILE, THE AFGHAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR REPORTS THAT SIX
AFGHAN CIVILIANS, INCLUDING A WOMAN, DIED AFTER THEIR VEHICLE HIT A
ROADSIDE BOMB SUNDAY. ANOTHER CIVILIAN WAS KILLED AND FOUR OTHERS
WERE WOUNDED IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT.

MEXICO-FLOODING
MEXICAN STATE HIT BY FLOODING ALONG TEXAS BORDER

CIUDAD ACUNA, MEXICO (AP) - HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
EVACUATED AND A BORDER BRIDGE CLOSED IN NORTHERN MEXICO AFTER DAYS
OF RAIN CAUSED FLOODING AND WATER TO SWELL BEHIND A DAM.
AUTHORITIES IN COAHUILA STATE HAVE CLOSED THE BORDER BRIDGE IN
CIUDAD ACUNA AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AFTER WATER RELEASED FROM
THE AMISTAD DAM RAISED THE LEVEL OF THE RIO GRANDE.
CIUDAD ACUNA LIES ACROSS THE BORDER FROM DEL RIO, TEXAS.
COAHUILA GOV. HUMBERTO MOREIRA TOLD LOCAL MEDIA MONDAY THAT
ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES OR
POSSESSIONS DUE TO THE FLOODING.
THE RELEASE OF WATER FROM THE AMISTAD DAM RAISES THE POSSIBILITY
THAT RIVER LEVELS COULD RISE DOWNSTREAM IN PIEDRAS NEGRAS, A CITY
ACROSS THE BORDER FROM EAGLE PASS, TEXAS.

PUERTO RICO-DENGUE FEVER
PUERTO RICAN OFFICIAL FEARS DENGUE FEVER CRISIS

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (AP) - PUERTO RICO'S HEALTH SECRETARY
WARNS THE ISLAND COULD FACE ITS WORST OUTBREAK OF DENGUE
(DEHN'-GAY) FEVER EVER UNLESS PEOPLE ERADICATE BUG BREEDING AREAS.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THREE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DIED FROM THE
HEMORRHAGIC FORM OF THE VIRUS SO FAR THIS YEAR. AND THEY SAY UNLESS
ACTION IS TAKEN NOW, THERE COULD BE A CATASTROPHE IN AUGUST AND
SEPTEMBER.
BESIDES ATTACKING MOSQUITO BREEDING AREAS, OFFICIALS ARE URGING
PEOPLE TO SLEEP UNDER MOSQUITO NETS AND WEAR REPELLENT. TRUCKS ARE
ALREADY BEING SENT AROUND TO SPRAY A MOSQUITO-KILLING MIST. AND
RESIDENTS ARE BEING URGED TO REPORT NEIGHBORS WHO LEAVE STAGNANT
WATER ON THEIR PROPERTY.
PUERTO RICO'S WORST DENGUE OUTBREAK WAS IN 1998, WHEN 19 PEOPLE
DIED AND 17,000 WERE SICKENED. THERE IS NO VACCINE.

MISSING OREGON BOY
MISSING OREGON BOY'S PARENTS RENEW PLEA TO STEPMOM

PORTLAND, ORE. (AP) - THE BIOLOGICAL PARENTS OF A MISSING OREGON
BOY SAY THE 7-YEAR-OLD'S STEPMOTHER HASN'T RESPONDED TO THEIR
PUBLIC PLEAS TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH INVESTIGATORS.
KYRON HORMAN'S FATHER, MOTHER AND STEPFATHER SAID IN AN E-MAIL
TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS LATE MONDAY THAT THEY BELIEVE TERRI MOULTON
HORMAN STILL HASN'T RESUMED SPEAKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
KYRON'S MOTHER AND FATHER ASKED TERRI HORMAN TO FULLY COOPERATE
WITH INVESTIGATORS IN A STATEMENT RELEASED THURSDAY.
TERRI HORMAN IS THE LAST PERSON KNOWN TO HAVE SEEN KYRON BEFORE
HE VANISHED ON JUNE 4. INVESTIGATORS HAVEN'T NAMED HER AS A SUSPECT
OR A PERSON OF INTEREST.
KYRON'S FATHER, MOTHER AND STEPFATHER SAID IN MONDAY'S E-MAIL
THAT THEY'VE ALL TAKEN POLYGRAPH TESTS AND WOULD CONTINUE MEETING
WITH INVESTIGATORS.

FLAG MURAL COVERED
COVERED-UP FLAG MURAL NEAR CALIF. FREEWAY RESTORED

SUNOL, CALIF. (AP) - THE AMERICAN FLAG MURAL PAINTED ON CONCRETE
SIDING ABOVE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FREEWAY, THEN PAINTED OVER BY
ORDER OF STATE OFFICIALS, WAS RETURNED TO ITS FORMER GLORY JUST IN
TIME FOR 4TH OF JULY.
THE 35-FOOT LONG FLAG HAD BEEN PAINTED ABOVE INTERSTATE 680 IN
SUNOL, IN CLEAR VIEW OF COMMUTERS, BY THREE MEN AFTER THE 9/11
ATTACKS ON NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON.
CALTRANS OFFICIALS DETERMINED LAST MONTH THAT IT WAS ON STATE
PROPERTY AND ORDERED IT COVERED WITH GRAY PAINT, IGNITING A PUBLIC
FUROR. TWO DAYS LATER, GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER APOLOGIZED TO THE
ARTISTS FOR THE OFFICIALS' DECISION.
ON SATURDAY, TWO MEN DECIDED TO RESTORE THE MURAL. STEVE
GIORDANO AND JIM GALLAGHER SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS RUDE OF
CALTRANS OFFICIALS TO COVER UP THE FLAG RIGHT BEFORE THE 4TH OF
JULY.

BYRD BURIAL
NEW: BYRD BURIAL SERVICE TUESDAY AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

WASHINGTON (AP) - A PRIVATE BURIAL IS PLANNED FOR THE LATE SEN.
ROBERT C. BYRD AT A SUBURBAN WASHINGTON CEMETERY.
BYRD IS TO BE BURIED TUESDAY AT A CEMETERY IN ARLINGTON, VA.,
NEXT TO HIS LATE WIFE ERMA. THE BURIAL IS THE FINAL MOMENT OF
FAREWELL FOR THE ELDER WEST VIRGINIA STATESMAN WHO SERVED HALF A
CENTURY IN THE U.S. SENATE.
BYRD DIED JUNE 28 AT THE AGE OF 92 AT A HOSPITAL IN FAIRFAX, VA.
HIS BODY LAY IN REPOSE ON THE SENATE FLOOR IN WASHINGTON LAST
WEEK AND THOUSANDS IN WEST VIRGINIA ALSO PAID THEIR RESPECTS AT A
PUBLIC VIEWING IN CHARLESTON, WHERE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ATTENDED
A MEMORIAL SERVICE.