Ruiz's two-run double lifts Phillies over Braves

Ruiz's two-run double lifts Phillies over Braves

Atlanta Braves second baseman Martin Prado, left, tags out
Philadelphia Phillies' Carlos Ruiz after Ruiz tried for a double in the
fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA — Joe Blanton got just enough run support for a change.

Ruiz hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the seventh inning and Joe Blanton pitched seven strong innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.

"I was missing on the plate," he said. "You just keep plugging away and sometimes you find it, sometimes you don't. It just happened to click in today."

Blanton (9-6) allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, making it 12 straight starts he has allowed three earned runs or less.

"Anytime in our starting rotation when we get our pitchers very consistent that makes our club much better and he's definitely been that," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's been very consistent for a long time now."

Due to a lack of run support, though, the right-hander was just 4-3 in his previous 11 appearances. It looked like more of the same Sunday night until the seventh inning when Ruiz broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run double to left.

The ball glanced off the end of the glove of Braves left fielder Garret Anderson before caroming to the wall, scoring Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz. Ruiz finished 3 for 3 with two doubles for the NL-East leading Phillies.

"That seventh got crazy," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "We were playing Ruiz the other way. We almost made the catch."

Atlanta got a run back in the eighth on Chipper Jones' RBI single, but Scott Eyre came on in relief of Ryan Madson and got out of a two-on, no-out jam. Brian McCann grounded into a double play and Anderson grounded out to second.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins made a smart decision on the double play, taking the relay from second baseman Chase Utley and throwing to third to force out Martin Prado. It was a stellar defensive night for Rollins, who opened the game with a diving catch off Matt Diaz's liner and made a strong play later in the frame on a liner up the middle by Yunel Escobar.

"Jimmy knows how to play the game. He's alert and he knew exactly where the runner was at," Manuel said of the double play. "He made a couple of other really good plays."

Jair Jurrjens (10-9) made it 21 of 28 starts in which he's allowing two earned runs or less. But the Braves couldn't muster enough offense for the right-hander, who has seen that trend repeat itself this season. Jurrjens pitched seven innings, allowing three runs — two earned — on seven hits while striking out two and walking two.

"He pitched a great game in this ballpark once again," Cox said of Jurrjens, who entered Sunday 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three career starts at Citizens Bank Park. "He's turned into an ace."

Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless ninth for his 27th save.

Prior to the seventh, homers by the Braves' Prado, in the first, and the Phillies' Utley, in the fourth, accounted for the scoring.

NOTES: Philadelphia's Matt Stairs struck out pinch-hitting in the seventh, making him 0 for his last 27 at-bats. ... Braves RHP Tim Hudson is set to make his first start of the season Monday at Florida. Hudson had Tommy John surgery last Aug. 8.

Local Students Kiss Summer Goodbye as School Begins

Local Students Kiss Summer Goodbye as School Begins

by KYW's Mike DeNardo

Summer is already over for some local students who are began their new school year on Monday.

Kids don't go back to school in Philadelphia until next Tuesday. But the school year has already begun at Kennett High School, where business teacher Colleen Barber is eager to get back in front of a class:

"I think we all kind of have butterflies and are really excited, excited to get the school year off to a good start."

Maybe not everyone:

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Fumo Reports to Prison in Kentucky

Fumo Reports to Prison in Kentucky

by KYW's Tony Hanson

Former Pennsylvania state senator Vincent Fumo surrendered to authorities on Monday morning to begin serving his 55-month prison sentence for corruption.

Fumo, the once-powerful state senator, is now officially inmate number 62033-066 at the mimimum security federal prison camp near Ashland, Ky.

Prison public information officer Larry Whitman says Fumo reported to the facility about 9:30am. He says there are work and work-release programs at the facility, but they are generally reserved for inmates closer to their release dates.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Phila. Area Daycare Workers Protest Pa. Budget Delay

Phila. Area Daycare Workers Protest Pa. Budget Delay

by KYW's Al Novack

Some Philadelphia area daycare centers were closed on Monday so their staff members could participate in protests over the lack of a Pennsylvania state budget.

The demonstrators started their day in South Philadelphia before heading to Delaware County for a second protest in Chester, Pa.

About 200 demonstrators representing about 50 daycare centers in the city and suburbs were demanding that state legislators take some positive action regarding early childhood education and child care.

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Disney to buy comic book powerhouse Marvel for $4B

Disney to buy comic book powerhouse Marvel for $4B

FILE - In this July 24, 2008 file photo, Marvel Comics "Incredible Hulk" looms over attendees at the Comic-Con 2008 convention in San Diego. The Walt Disney Co. said Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, it is buying Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it is buying Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing such characters as Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E.

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Many of them, including the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, were co-created by the comic book legend Stan Lee.

Analyst David Joyce of Miller Tabak & Co. said the acquisition will help Disney appeal to young men who have flocked to theaters to see Marvel's superhero fare in recent years. That contrasts with Disney's recent successes among young women with such fare as "Hannah Montana" and the Jonas Brothers.

"It helps Disney add exposure to a young male demographic it had sort of lost some balance with," Joyce said, noting the $4 billion offer was at "full price."

Disney said Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash, plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. That values each Marvel share at $50 based on Friday's closing stock prices.

Marvel shares jumped $10.17, or 26 percent, to $48.82 shortly after the market opened. Disney shares fell 47 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $26.37.

Disney said the boards of both companies have approved the transaction, but it will require an antitrust review and the approval of Marvel shareholders.

Disney last made a big purchase in 2006 when it acquired Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the creator of the "Toy Story" franchise, for $7.4 billion in stock.

Disney CEO Robert Iger said the latest acquisition combines Marvel's "strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters" with Disney's "unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties" and ability to maximize value across multiple platforms and territories.

Marvel earned a net profit of $206 million last fiscal year, up 47 percent from a year earlier, on revenue of $676 million, as it took movie production in house instead of just cutting licensing deals.

Ga. 911 caller screams `My whole family is dead!'

Ga. 911 caller screams `My whole family is dead!'

Glynn County investigators work on the porch of the house at New Hope Mobile Home Park in Brunswick, Ga where seven people were found slain Saturday morning Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. Seven people were found slain and two critically injured Saturday at a mobile home located on a historic plantation in southeastern Georgia, police said.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) -- A frantic caller told authorities he had just come home to find several relatives apparently beaten to death and another barely breathing, according to a 911 tape released Monday from the weekend attack at a mobile home park in southeastern Georgia.

"My whole family is dead!" screamed Guy Heinze Jr., 22. "It looks like they've been beaten to death. I don't know what to do, man."

When authorities arrived Saturday morning, they found seven people dead and two clinging to life. One of the survivors died Sunday, raising the death toll to eight.

Police have refused to say how they were killed or why and have said they don't know if the killer or killers are still in the area. Heinze was arrested on drug and other charges but police have not called him a suspect in the slaying.

On the 911 call, made from a neighbor's home, Heinze said his father, uncle and cousins were among the dead. He also pleads with a 911 operator to send help for one of two survivors whose face was "smashed in" but was still breathing. Heinze says the survivor is his cousin Michael and that he has Down syndrome.

"Michael's alive, tell them to hurry!" Heinze said. "He's breathing! He needs help!"

Police on Sunday said one man rescued at the scene, 19-year-old Michael Toler, had died at a Savannah hospital. The lone remaining survivor was in critical condition, police said.

Police have said the killer was not among the dead or the last survivor. They also said they have no evidence to suggest that suicide was involved.

Neighbor Margaret Orlinski, who called 911 after Heinze came screaming to her home, told a 911 operator that a baby also lived in the mobile home where the victims were found.

"I know there's a little baby," Orlinski says on the recording. "Shoot, there's a little babe. I don't know if the baby was in there or not."

Heinze doesn't mention a baby on the 911 recording. Police have declined to give ages of the victims, but Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering has said there were "no infants" among them.

Police have arrested Heinze, the 911 caller, on suspicion of tampering with evidence, lying to police and illegal possession of prescription drugs and marijuana. He was jailed Sunday.

Asked if Heinze was involved in the slayings, Doering said: "I'm not going to rule him out, but I'm not going to characterize him as a suspect."

Police acknowledged they don't know if the killer was still out there, urging residents to be aware and cautious.

"The person or persons responsible for this still remain unknown to us," Doering said Sunday, adding the killer could have fled to another county or even another state. "I cannot tell you if they are at large. I simply do not know."

The uncertainty has created fear among some in the town.

Resident Toni Mugavin said she wonders if she needs to sleep with a gun under her pillow, afraid the killer is still on the loose. Mugavin expressed frustration with the lack of information about what happened.

"There's no manhunt, no suspect," said Mugavin, 50. "There's nothing specific they're telling us."

Earlier, Doering said it was the worst murder case he had ever encountered in his 25 years with the county that includes Brunswick, a city of about 16,000 people between Savannah and Jacksonville, Fla., along Georgia's southeastern coast.

The slayings happened in a mobile home park on the grounds of a historic plantation, nestled among centuries-old, moss-draped oak trees. The park consists of about 100 spaces and is near the center of New Hope Plantation, according to the plantation's Web site.

The 1,100-acre tract is all that remains of a Crown grant made in 1763 to Henry Laurens, who later succeeded John Hancock as president of the Continental Congress in 1777.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was conducting autopsies Sunday on four of the victims. GBI spokesman John Bankhead said Glynn County police would be in charge of releasing any results, and Doering refused to comment on them. He said autopsies on the remaining four victims were to begin Monday.

Doering defended his vague statements about the case, saying he didn't want the public to know details that might compromise what he called a "tedious" investigation.

Still, the dearth of information has frustrated residents, said Mary Strickland, who owns The Georgia Pig, a popular local barbecue place.

"We got a lot of people who panic and the more information you put out there, the better you make them feel," Strickland said

San Bernardino County fire threatens 2,000 homes

San Bernardino County fire threatens 2,000 homes

A United States Forest Service air tanker drops fire retardant next to a line of fire as the Station fire burns in the hills above a home in Acton, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The U.S. Forest Service says a wildfire has forced evacuations and is threatening 2,000 homes in a scenic farm area of San Bernardino County.

A mandatory evacuation is in force Monday for Oak Glen, about 90 minutes east of Los Angeles. The community has many apple orchards in rolling hills below the San Bernardino Mountains.

Forest Service spokeswoman Norma Bailey says the 900-acre blaze began Sunday afternoon and is burning out of control through oak and conifer woodlands.

There's only light wind but humidity is low. The high temperature is expected to top 90 degrees.

Another 2,400-acre blaze that began Thursday near Hemet is 95 percent contained.

Meanwhile, a 134-square-mile blaze continues to threaten 12,000 homes north of Los Angeles.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A massive fire in the Angeles National Forest nearly doubled in size overnight, threatening 12,000 homes Monday in a 20-mile-long swath of flame and smoke and surging toward a mountaintop broadcasting complex.

The fire that burned at least 18 homes was moving north, south and east through the rugged foothills northeast of Los Angeles. Despite the lack of wind, it surged without letup by running through steep granite canyons and feeding on brush that had not burned for 40 years to a century, fire officials said.

"It's burning everywhere," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Dianne Cahir said. "When it gets into canyons that haven't burned in numerous years, it takes off. If you have any insight into the good Lord upstairs, put in a request."

The fire had burned 134 square miles of brush and trees by early Monday and was just 5 percent contained.

About 12,000 homes, as well as communications and astronomy centers atop Mount Wilson, were threatened by fire.

At least 6,600 homes were under mandatory evacuation orders and more than 2,500 firefighters were battling the flames. On the blaze's northwestern front, two firefighters were killed Sunday when they drove off the side of a road on Mount Gleason near the city of Acton.

The victims were fire Capt. Tedmund Hall, 47, of San Bernardino County, and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, 35, of Palmdale. Hall was a 26-year veteran, and Quinones had been a county firefighter for eight years.

"Our hearts are heavy as we are tragically reminded of the sacrifices our firefighters and their families make daily to keep us safe," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

With flames about a half-mile away from the communications and astronomy centers on Mount Wilson, crews planned to set more backfires and planes dropped fire retardant around the mountaintop complex, which hold transmitters for more than 20 television stations, many radio stations and cell phone providers.

Television stations said if the antennas burn, broadcast signals would be affected but satellite and cable transmissions would not be.

Two giant telescopes and several multimillion-dollar university programs are housed in the century-old Mount Wilson Observatory. The complex of buildings is both a historic landmark and a thriving modern center for astronomy.

The sheer length of the fire meant that it threatened homes ranging from scattered ranches to multimillion-dollar estates in luxury enclaves.

Mandatory evacuations were in effect for neighborhoods in Glendale, Pasadena and other smoke-choked cities and towns north of Los Angeles.

"Our neighbors sent us photos of all the other houses that are lost," said Beth Halaas, who lost her house in Big Tujunga Canyon, one of the many communities under mandatory evacuation.

The fire was the largest of many burning up and down California after days of triple-digit temperatures and low humidity. The National Weather Service said a red flag warning for extreme fire conditions remained in effect for the mountains of Central and Southern California.

"We know what's coming this afternoon, just the sheer heat and the low humidity," Bill Peters, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told KTLA-TV.

"The fire makes its own path," Peters said. "It just flows with the terrain. It'll run very quickly uphill and because of the dynamics and the decadent vegetation being so dry, it will drive itself downhill, where normally you need a wind to do that."

Northeast of Sacramento, a fire destroyed 60 structures, many of them homes in the town of Auburn. The fire had wiped out an entire cul-de-sac, leaving only smoldering ruins, a handful of chimneys and burnt cars.

Rick Lund, whose house is nearby but escaped the fire, stood at the end of the cul-de-sac of about 10 homes, watching firefighters attend to what once were the homes of friends and neighbors.

"It's right there," he said, pointing to a house of his 11-year-old daughter's close friend. "Or it was."

The fire had blackened 275 acres amid high winds and was 50 percent contained Sunday night, CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant. The governor declared a state of emergency in the Sierra foothills area because of the fire, which began Sunday afternoon.

About 30 people waited anxiously at an evacuation center in the Rock Creek Elementary School, including Pam and Stephen Incerty.

"If there's nothing there when we get back, we won't rebuild," Stephen Incerty said of their home on five tree-covered acres of rolling hills. "There'd be no trees, just dirt."

In Mariposa County, a nearly 7-square-mile fire burned in Yosemite National Park and forced the evacuation of about 50 homes. The blaze was 50 percent contained Sunday, said park spokeswoman Vickie Mates. Two people suffered minor injuries, she said.

Hot, dry and windy conditions also helped fan a monthlong wildfire in rural Utah, where residents in the town of New Harmony were told to leave their homes as the blaze flared up over the weekend. The lightning-sparked fire has already destroyed three houses and blackened more than 12 square miles in the Pine Valley Wilderness area.

GPBC Member Morning Sunday-Hettleman says Good-bye to Ted Kennedy, May he finally RIP

Saturday, we said goodbye to the youngest child of Joseph and Rosemary Kennedy, the brother of John, Robert, Rosemary and Ethel . He alone of all the brothers, "lived to comb gray hair" as the Irish poet said.

Senator Ted Kennedy, a father, brother, husband, uncle and grandfather. A champion to those who had none ,the soul of the democratic party, and very, very, human.

I have told and retold the story of Chappaquiddick,…..and Mary Joe Kopechne. Usually, to buttress my theory that the Kennedy boys, trust fund baby’s, were high class whores. After reading Ted Kennedy’s explanation, I had to give him props for, explaining , a alcohol fueled, booty call attempt, resulting in a tragic loss of life, in a way that allowed him to continue his lifestyle. He didn't do it alone, he had a lot of help, the community , States Attorney, the Judge and the media.

Yes, Kennedy's law license was revoked, but he only received a suspended two-month jail sentence, had he been a Black male from a urban center it might have cost him his life, headlines, " Black man kills white woman", life or the gas chamber, that’s how it usually ends. He would have been given no chance at redemption and at the very least he would have faced a ruined life. While Chappaquiddick did cost Senator Kennedy his shot at the Presidency, he continued to enjoy a life based on privilege and class.

How could someone , with such obvious faults and frailties wind up a powerful member of Congress, a "white knight" advancing the cause of fairness ? Well, being white, rich, well connected and a member of America’s royal family, gives you a head start.

But, Senator Kennedy, turned his life around, reset his compass, he knew his stuff, mastered his material , did his work, practiced principles that afforded him respect from the American people and his colleagues.

In life, his endorsement of the Obama candidacy, bestowed a mantle of respectability, it spoke of great promise. His death pulled President Obama’s chestnuts out of the fire ( for a minute). His funeral gave President Obama a chance to remind people of his connection with that power, the love, the respect we afford the Kennedy’s, (that great soap opera family) and to be seen as heir to a legacy.

I’ll have lots of opportunities to dish on other whorish rich white men, who receive special treatment when they misbehave, there are certainly enough of them . Gov. Sanford , Sen. Larry Craig, Sen. David Vitter, Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Vito Fossella , John Edwards, ( these are some of the ones who got caught) I urge you, follow Senator Kennedy’s expansive example, redeem yourself, there is work to do, causes to espouse, hopes to keep alive and dreams that should not be allowed to die. You have confessed , acknowledged your sins, here is your chance to dedicate your life to social justice as Senator Ted Kennedy did..

Ted Kennedy, told us: 'Individual faults and frailties are no excuse to give in and no exemption from the common obligation to give of ourselves.'

Rest in peace, Ted Kennedy.

Morning Sunday Hettleman
"The Environmental Report"
GPBC Media Committee
Baltimore Maryland

HoopGurlz at Phila. Front Page News

HoopGurlz at Phila. Front Page News

The AAU Kenner Angels are part of New Orleans' post-Katrina rebuilding,
writes Mindi Rice.

NEW ORLEANS -- Nearly four years after Hurricane Katrina dismantled much of greater New Orleans, the city is still in the rebuilding process.

Emani White joined the Kenner Angels 2012 team this summer.

On the south side of Lake Pontchartrain, many residents have still not returned. Schools remain closed. The French Quarter shows signs of a slow rebuild - an abandoned storefront here, a torn-up street there.

Two months before Katrina hit, the Orleans parish had nearly half a million residents. The numbers dipped sharply and today have stabilized at around 311,000 people. Those who have returned are hopeful for a completely rebuilt future.

"The initial surge of trying to help bring the city back and do things around here was great," said Kenner Angels coach Denis Aidoo. "I know they're trying to make progress, but it's just definitely seemed to be really slow. We've never been a really well-to-do city and it's just been really tough for the recovery process because there's just so many people without the money to do it."

Aidoo is helping to rebuild his own little community of New Orleans. As coach of the young players on the program's 2012 team at the July Basketball on the Bayou tournament, he works with the girls who have come back after time spent with family in Baton Rouge, La., Houston or other outposts. The Angels' 2012 team played up in the 2011 division at the Basketball on the Bayou event.

"We have fallen onto some tough times post-Katrina," said Aidoo about the Angels' program, which has a storied history. "However, we are poised to reestablish this first-class AAU program to national prominence once again."

In a nine-year span from 1992 to 2001, the Kenner Angels won eight AAU national championships in various age groups and one Junior Olympics title. Aidoo's sister, Tiffany, now a junior guard at Tulane, spent nine years in the program. Shondra Johnson, Jamie Thomatis, Detrina White, Roneeka and Doneeka Hodges and Brooke Lassiter Stoehr are among its alumni. Its championship coaches include Alan Frey, Stephen Dares and Forrest "Bucky" Lanning.

Aidoo has been coaching with the Kenner Angels for five years now and has seen the teams shift as families have left the city in response to Katrina.

Emani White lived in Texas for a year after Hurricane Katrina before moving back to New Orleans.

"We moved to Texas for Katrina," said Emani White, a 2012 guard from New Orleans. "We moved back after, but it was a full school year later. Our house was flooded and we had to redo the whole thing."

White, a 5-foot-2 point guard from Archbishop Chapelle High School, is one of the newer additions to the Angels program. She just played her first summer with them. But most of the girls on the Kenner Angels 2012 team have been together since they were in sixth grade. In the summer of 2005 when Katrina hit, most of the players evacuated the city with their families.

"We evacuated to Covington, but the house we were in, the trees came through the roof," said Elise Hadden, a 2012 forward from St. Mary's Dominican High School. "Then we went to Baton Rouge with my cousins. But we had three families and a lot of cats and stuff, so we moved to another house.

"I know I started school here again in September, so we were gone maybe like a month."

Post-Katrina, Aidoo said basketball helped keep the teammates together.

"It definitely helped them to keep their mind off everything and keep them in good spirits," he said. "They were just all, I think, really excited and happy that the team stayed together."

As for New Orleans, some officials say the rebuilding process may take a couple of generations. For some neighborhoods, teams like the Kenner Angels may play a role in reshaping community.

"I want to be here," White said. "I know I'll probably have to move for college, but I'll come back here. I love everything about New Orleans. I've been here since I was a little girl."

Report: Michigan players allege NCAA violations

Report: Michigan players allege NCAA violations

In this Aug. 23, 2009 photo, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez waits for his players to be seated for a team photo, during the school's annual football media day at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Players from the 2008 and 2009 teams told the Detroit Free Press for a story published on the newspaper's Web site on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 that the amount of time they spend on football activities during the season and in the offseason greatly exceeds NCAA limits.

DETROIT (AP) -- Several Michigan football players claim the program regularly violates NCAA rules limiting how much time they can spend on training and practice sessions, according to a published report.

Players from the 2008 and 2009 teams told the Detroit Free Press for a story published on the newspaper's Web site on Saturday that the amount of time they spend on football activities during the season and in the offseason greatly exceeds the limits. The players spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions from coaches.

Coach Rich Rodriguez and the university's compliance director, Judy Van Horn, both denied that the football program was violating NCAA rules.

"We know the practice and offseason rules, and we stay within the guidelines. We follow the rules and have always been completely committed to being compliant with all NCAA rules," Rodriguez said in a written statement to the newspaper.

Van Horn said her department conducts "in-person spot checks of practice during the academic year and summer. We have not had any reason to self-report any violations in this area with any of our sports."

NCAA rules allow eight hours a week for mandatory workouts during the offseason. However, players told the newspaper that they spent two to three times that amount on required workouts.

The players also said the amount of time they spent on football activities during the season exceeded the weekly limit of 20 hours and often exceeded the daily limit of four hours.

They also said quality-control staff often watched seven-on-seven offseason scrimmages that are supposed to be voluntary and that only training staff are allowed to attend.

The Free Press said five of the 10 current or former players it interviewed gave similar accounts of how the program is run and a sixth player confirmed most of the descriptions. Other players gave a general idea of the program. None disputed the allegations, the newspaper said.

The players acknowledged they had signed forms stating NCAA rules had been followed and had not told the university's compliance department about their concerns. One player told the Free Press that athletes would get in trouble if they didn't sign.

Wildfire near LA heads north, threatens thousands

Wildfire near LA heads north, threatens thousands

A wildfire decends on a home in La Canada Flintridge, 20 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A growing wildfire in the mountains above Los Angeles surged north Sunday, forcing more evacuations and threatening some 10,000 homes.

Residents of the small town of Acton were urged to evacuate as the 4-day-old blaze headed into the Antelope Valley. The fire spread in all directions, leaving three people burned, destroying at least three homes and forcing thousands to flee.

"The leading edge, the one they're really focused on, is that northern edge. It's moving pretty fast up in that direction," said U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Randi Jorgenson. "But the fire's growing in all directions. All fronts are going to be areas of concern today."

A slight drop in temperatures and an influx of fire crews from around the state were expected to bring some relief Sunday. Some 2,000 firefighters were battling the blaze.

Mandatory evacuations were in effect for neighborhoods in Altadena, Glendale, Pasadena, La Crescenta and Big Tujunga Canyon.

The flames crept down the slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains despite mild winds blowing predominantly in the other direction.

"Essentially the fire burned at will; it went where it wanted to when it wanted to," said Captain Mike Dietrich, the incident commander for the Forest Service. Dietrich said he had never seen a fire grow so quickly without powerful Santa Ana winds to push it.

At least three homes deep in the Angeles National Forest were destroyed, and firefighters were searching for others, Dietrich said.

Evacuation centers were set up at two high schools and an elementary school in the area.

More than 55 square miles of the western edge of the Angeles National Forest was scorched. The blaze was only 5 percent contained. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon, was the largest and most dangerous of several burning around southern and central California and in Yosemite National Park.

At least three people were burned in the evacuation areas - two in the Big Tujunga Canyon area and one off Highway 2 near Mount Wilson, Jorgenson said. They were airlifted to local hospitals. Jorgenson had no further details on their injuries.

A massive plume of smoke could be seen for miles and bits of ash descended on cars as far away as downtown Los Angeles. The air quality for cities surrounding the San Gabriel Mountains was deemed unhealthful by the regional air-quality agency.

Air crews waged a fierce battle against the southeast corner of the fire, burning dangerously close to canyon homes. Spotter planes and tankers dove well below ridge then pulled up dramatically over neighborhoods.

The fire was burning in steep wooded hills next to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in northern Pasadena.

In La Vina, a gated community of luxury homes in the Altadena area, a small group of residents stood at the end of a cul-de-sac on the lip of a canyon and watched aircraft battle flames trying to cross the ridge on the far side.

At one point, the flying circus of relatively small propellor-driven tankers gave way to the sight of a giant DC-10 jumbo jet unleashing a rain of red retardant.

"We see a drop, we give a big cheer," said Gary Blackwood, who works on telescope technology at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "We've watched it now for two days hop one ridge at a time and now it's like we're the next ridge."

A major goal was to keep the fire from spreading up Mount Wilson, where many of the region's broadcast and communications antennas and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory are located, officials said. Flames were within 5 miles of the towers early Sunday, fire officials said.

A second fire in the Angeles National Forest was burning several miles to the east in a canyon above the city of Azusa. The 3.4-square-mile blaze, which started Tuesday afternoon, was 95 percent contained Sunday. No homes were threatened, and full containment was expected by Monday.

A wildfire on the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the south Los Angeles County coast was 100 percent contained, according to county fire officials.

Southeast of Los Angeles in Riverside County, a 3.6-square-mile fire in a rural area of the San Bernardino National Forest was 30 percent contained as it burned in steep, rocky terrain in Beeb Canyon. No structures were threatened.

To the north, in the state's coastal midsection, a 9.4-square-mile fire threatening Pinnacles National Monument kept 100 homes under evacuation orders near the Monterey County town of Soledad. The blaze, 60 percent contained, was started by agricultural fireworks used to scare animals away from crops. The fire destroyed one home.

In Mariposa County, a nearly 6.8-square-mile fire burned in Yosemite National Park. The blaze was 50 percent contained Sunday, said park spokesperson Vickie Mates. Two people sustained minor injuries, she said.

Park officials closed a campground and a portion of Highway 120, anticipating that the fire would spread north toward Tioga Road, the highest elevation route through the Sierra.

About 100 residents from the towns of El Portal and Foresta were under evacuation orders, said Brad Aborn, chairman of Mariposa's Board of Supervisors.

Police arrest man who reported 7 dead in Ga. home

Police arrest man who reported 7 dead in Ga. home

Brunswick Police Capt. Jack Boyet comforts a distraught woman at the scene where seven people were found dead at New Hope Mobile Park off U.S. 17 near the McIntosh County line, Saturday, Aug, 29, 2009 in Brunswick, Ga. Seven people were found slain and two critically injured Saturday at a mobile home located on a historic plantation in southeastern Georgia, police said.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) -- The man who called 911 to report finding seven people slain in a dingy mobile home on a historic Georgia plantation was arrested on drug-related charges, though police refused to say Sunday whether he was a suspect in the killings.

Two people survived the attack, with brutal injuries.

Police have not detailed what they found at the mobile home nestled among centuries-old, moss-draped oak trees in coastal southeast Georgia. Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering has only said "it's not a scene that I would want anybody to see."

Guy Heinze Jr., 22, was arrested late Saturday and charged with illegal possession of prescription drugs and marijuana, tampering with evidence and making false statements to police, Doering said. Doering did not know whether he had an attorney.

"He was a family member who came home and discovered (the victims), at least that's what he told us," Doering told reporters. "He was the one who called 911."

Asked if police believe Heinze was involved in the slayings, Doering said: "I'm not going to characterize him as a suspect."

The chief also said police didn't know whether more than one person was involved.

Police have released few details about the mass slaying in this coastal Georgia county. Seven people were found dead along with two critically injured survivors Saturday morning at the trailer park on the grounds of a historic plantation.

Autopsies were being conducted Sunday by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The two surviving victims remained in critical condition at a hospital in Savannah, 60 miles north of the crime scene, Doering said.

Police have not released the victims' names or said how they died, but Doering said neither the dead nor the injured committed the killings.

"We're comfortable that none of those nine were involved with this assault," he said.

Investigators were talking to neighbors about whether they saw or heard anything unusual at the home, where an old boat sat in the front yard. Police had not been able to speak with the survivors, who may be the only witnesses.

All seven bodies were tentatively identified and Doering said families of the victims had been notified, but he would not release names or ages before receiving the autopsy results. Earlier, he said some of the victims were in their teens.

The 1,100-acre mobile home park is all that remains of a Crown grant made in 1763 to Henry Laurens, who later succeeded John Hancock as president of the Continental Congress in 1777.

Laurens obtained control of the South Altamaha river lands and named it New Hope Plantation, according to the plantation's Web site.

Lisa Vizcaino, who has lived at New Hope for three years, said the management works hard to keep troublemakers out of the mobile home park and that it tends to be quiet.

"New Hope isn't rundown or trashy at all," Vizcaino said Saturday. "It's the kind of place where you can actually leave your keys in the car and not worry about anything."

Vizcaino said she didn't know the victims and heard nothing unusual when she woke up at 7 a.m. Saturday morning. After word of the slayings spread, she said, the park was quieter than usual.

"Everybody had pretty much stayed in their houses," Vizcaino said. "Normally you would see kids outside, but everybody's been pretty much on lockdown."

Japanese election upends long-ruling party

Japanese election upends long-ruling party

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, listens to a TV interview while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's ruling party conceded a crushing defeat Sunday after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule as voters were poised to hand the opposition a landslide victory in nationwide elections, driven by economic anxiety and a powerful desire for change.

The left-of-center Democratic Party of Japan was set to win 300 or more of the 480 seats in the lower house of parliament, ousting the Liberal Democrats, who have governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955, according to exit polls by all major Japanese TV networks.

"These results are very severe," Prime Minister Taro Aso said in a news conference at party headquarters, conceding his party was headed for a big loss. "There has been a deep dissatisfaction with our party."

Aso said he would have to accept responsibility for the results, suggesting that he would resign as party president. Other LDP leaders also said they would step down, though official results were not to be released until early Monday morning.

The loss by the Liberal Democrats - traditionally a pro-business, conservative party - would open the way for the Democratic Party, headed by Yukio Hatoyama, to replace Aso and establish a new Cabinet, possibly within the next few weeks.

The vote was seen as a barometer of frustrations over Japan's worst economic slump since World War II and a loss of confidence in the ruling Liberal Democrats' ability to tackle tough problems such as the rising national debt and rapidly aging population.

The Democrats have embraced a more populist platform, promising handouts for families with children and farmers, a higher minimum wage, and to rebuild the economy.

"The nation is very angry with the ruling party, and we are grateful for their deep support," Hatoyama said after the polls closed. "We will not be arrogant and we will listen to the people."

The Democrats have also said they will seek a more independent relationship with Washington, while forging closer ties with Japan's Asian neighbors, including China. But Hatoyama, who holds a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University, insists he will not seek dramatic change in Japan's foreign policy, saying the U.S.-Japan alliance would "continue to be the cornerstone of Japanese diplomatic policy."

National broadcaster NHK, using projections based on exit polls of roughly 400,000 voters, said the Democratic Party was set to win 300 seats and the Liberal Democrats only about 100 - a third of its strength before the vote.

TV Asahi, another major network, said the Democratic Party would win 315 seats, up from the 112 seats it held before parliament was dissolved in July.

As voting closed Sunday night, officials said turnout was high, despite an approaching typhoon, indicating the intense level of public interest in the hotly contested campaigns.

Even before the vote was over, the Democrats pounded the ruling party for driving the country into a ditch.

Japan's unemployment has spiked to record 5.7 percent while deflation has intensified and families have cut spending because they are insecure about the future.

Making the situation more dire is Japan's aging demographic - which means more people are on pensions and there is a shrinking pool of taxpayers to support them and other government programs.

Many voters said that although the Democrats are largely untested in power and doubts remain about whether they will be able to deliver on their promises, the country needs a change.

"We don't know if the Democrats can really make a difference, but we want to give them a chance," Junko Shinoda, 59, a government employee, said after voting at a crowded polling center in downtown Tokyo.

The Democratic Party would only need to win a simple majority of 241 seats in the lower house to assure that it can name the next prime minister. The 300-plus level would allow it and its two smaller allies the two-thirds majority they need in the lower house to pass bills.

Having the Democrats in power would smooth policy debates in parliament, which has been deadlocked since the Democrats and their allies took over the less powerful upper house in 2007.

To ease parenting costs and encourage more women to have babies, the Democrats propose giving families 26,000 yen ($275) a month per child through junior high. Japan's population of 127.6 millionpeaked in 2006, and is expected to decline to 115 million in 2030 and fall below 100 million by the middle of the century.

The party is also proposing toll-free highways, free high schools, income support for farmers, monthly allowances for job seekers in training, a higher minimum wage and tax cuts. The estimated bill comes to 16.8 trillion yen ($179 billion) if fully implemented starting in fiscal year 2013 - and critics say the plans would further bloat Japan's massive public debt.

The Democrats will likely face resistance from Japan's powerful bureaucrats, who favor the status quo and hold a great deal of influence in shaping policy.

Aso - whose own support ratings have sagged to a dismal 20 percent - repeatedly stressed his party led Japan's rise from the ashes of World War II into one of the world's biggest economic powers and are best equipped to get it out of its current morass.

In the end, voter worries about the economy and disenchantment with the LDP's long grip on power proved too much to overcome.

"It's revolutionary," said Tomoaki Iwai, a political science professor at Tokyo's Nihon University. "It's the first real change of government" Japan has had in six decades.

HoopGurlz at Phila. Front Page News

HoopGurlz at Phila. Front Page News

Jaime Nared, a 6-1 eighth-grader, gained national attention last year when she was banned from a boys' team. This summer, she found her place with a team of 2010 elite girls.

aime Nared has been around basketball most of her young life, playing wherever a basketball and a hoop were available.

Eighth-grader Jaime Nared drew national attention playing on a boys' team.

A rising eighth grader at Stoller Middle School in Beaverton, Ore., Nared attracts attention for her long 6-foot-1 frame and her basketball skills. A year ago, she made her national news debut, but not entirely for her game.

In her second year playing on a boys' spring-league team, Nared's coach, Michael Abraham, was asked to remove her from the team by the facility that hosted the league, The Hoop in Beaverton. It sparked a media firestorm that eventually led to a change of ownership and management at The Hoop as well as a move for Nared to join the top girls' team in Abraham's program.

"This is a much calmer summer," Abraham said in July. "Now she gets to reap the reward of all that negative stuff last year."

Nared spent her first days of basketball following around her older sister, Jackie, a 4-year-old watching a 10-year-old work on her game.

Soon, Nared was right on sister Jackie's heels. As Nared developed her game, her skills and height grew faster than her age. So her father, Greg Nared, and Abraham sought new challenges. Putting Nared on a girls' team her own age wasn't helping her or her teammates and her father didn't want his young daughter to be traveling to major tournaments with a team full of high school girls.

But a same-age boys' team wouldn't have the travel-heavy schedule and would have a higher level of competition, so Abraham, the Team Concept director, had Nared join the boys. No one blinked twice the first year.

However, one spring day as a sixth grader, playing with the boys' team for the second year, Nared scored 30 in a spring-league game. Shortly after, Abraham received a call from The Hoop, the Beaverton facility that hosted the league, reminding him about the rarely enforced rule that didn't allow mixed-gender play. Abraham believes it was pressure from parents, while Hoop staff at the time denied that.

At first, as neither Abraham nor Hoop management at the time would back down, the story caught a spark of media attention that grew into a wildfire.

"It was sad because Jaime got thrown in this maelstrom of adult arguments, but it was really a maturing process for her," Abraham said. "She reacted like a champion, like the mature young adult that she is. Her family handled it with dignity but with fierceness."

After national publicity, including the local news channels, an ESPN E:60 interview and all the way up to "Good Morning America," Nared went to one of the older girls' teams in the Team Concept program. The management at The Hoop changed hands.

Jaime Nared, a 2014 prospect, played this summer with a team of 2010s.

Now, at home on the Team Concept top girls' team during the summers, Nared is starting to get more attention for her play than for her experience gone bad with The Hoop in Beaverton and the boys' team.

"I'm a huge advocate of women's sports, and a huge fan of sports in general," Greg Nared said. "I played the game for a long time. To me, it was unacceptable at that level. Different levels, it's a little bit different, but at that level, it shouldn't be an issue."

Nared comes from a family rich in basketball blood. Her father, who was recently hired as the Westview High School coach in Beaverton, played at Maryland, where Jackie, a 2008 Westview graduate, is starting her redshirt freshman season.

When Nared first joined the boys' team, a full year before any issues arose, it was almost out of necessity more than anything.

"She was so much physically bigger than kids her own age, it was almost difficult for her to play with kids her own age," Abraham said. "And early, we didn't have any problems whatsoever with her, at The Hoop facility or anywhere else."

And Nared enjoyed it. She had no qualms switching it up to play with the boys in her age group.

"I didn't really even feel a difference [playing with the boys team]," Nared said. "I just got used to it and I liked it a lot. There was no tension with my teammates."

Now, the attention Nared gets is for her game. A 2014 prospect, she played with a team of mostly 2010s during the summer, drawing college coaches to her courts to get a head start on their future recruiting.

"She's always been great, it's just taken people a while," Abraham said. "Sometimes people miss the really great kids. It's not that we try to [push them onto the spotlight] at the seventh grade, but she deserves it."

More Philadelphia Schools Added to Pennsylvania's ''Dangerous'' List

More Philadelphia Schools Added to Pennsylvania's ''Dangerous'' List

by KYW's Pat Loeb

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has put out the newest list of schools classified as "persistently dangerous."

All 25 of them are in Philadelphia.

The state has been releasing the list since 2003, when federal law gave students the right to transfer out of dangerous schools. Every year since then, every school on the list has been a Philadelphia public school and, in recent years, the list has been growing.

This year there are five more Philadelphia schools listed as "persistently dangerous" than there were last year.

For full story go to:

http://www.kyw1060.com/

Comcast Wins Court Battle with the FCC

Comcast Wins Court Battle with the FCC

by KYW’s Paul Kurtz

Comcast has won a court battle with the FCC over the number of subscribers a cable company is allowed to serve.

In throwing out the 30 percent cap on subscribers, The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit calls the FCC's rule arbitrary and capricious and notes that the agency did not take into account the impact of satellite TV and phone companies.

Comcast has released a statement saying the decision “affirms that rules must reflect the changing realities of the dynamic video marketplace where today consumers have more choice in video providers and channels than ever before.”

For full story go to: http://www.kyw1060.com/

Vick to play in Eagles' final preseason game

Vick to play in Eagles' final preseason game


Michael Vick

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Michael Vick will play in the Eagles' final preseason game, and might even take some snaps as a conventional quarterback.

How much Vick plays Thursday night against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands has yet to be determined.

Vick was in for six wildcat plays in Thursday's game against Jacksonville, throwing four times, running once and handing the ball off to rookie running back LeSean McCoy once. He came onto the field for what would have been a seventh play, but called time out, and then was not on the field after the break in action.

It was his first time Vick had played in over two years. He served 18 months in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring.

This week will be his first road game with the Eagles. It could also mark his first time under center in the West Coast offense of Eagles head coach Andy Reid.

"We'll see how that goes," Reid said. "There's a chance of that."

During the 33-32 win over Jacksonville at Lincoln Financial Field, Vick came in and out of the game. In all but one of his six plays, starting quarterback Donovan McNabb stayed on the field and lined up as a wide receiver.

In seemed to cause a disruption to the offensive rhythm and the plan was shelved midway through the second quarter.

"I think that's all part of this, just kind of getting used to it and working through it," Reid said. "I think, from a coaching standpoint, from a player's standpoint and so on, there was a lot of hoopla around him getting into the game. I think that will settle down once we get playing in season games and everybody will just play."

Reid rarely uses his starters in the fourth preseason game, which means McNabb in all likelihood will get the night off. That leaves backups Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley and Vick to split up the four quarters against the Jets.

"Again, I'm just going to see how he does this week," Reid said of Vick. "How he progresses. He didn't have any setbacks in the game. So I just want to see how he does this week."

Reid liked what he saw of Vick against the Jaguars.

"I thought he did well," the coach said. "He threw the ball well when he threw it. When he ran, he outran the defensive end, which was good to see.

"I thought it was good to get him back out there just for the speed of the game. He came out healthy. You always worry about that the first game back. I thought he handled himself well. He seemed poised, made some good reads. That's a start."

Thursday could be the last time the Eagles see Vick in uniform for a while. Commissioner Roger Goodell can wait until Week Six to reinstate him to the team's roster.

DJ AM, who battled drug habit, found dead in NYC

DJ AM, who battled drug habit, found dead in NYC

In this March 18, 2006 photo, celebrity disc jockey Adam Goldstein, also known as DJ AM, spins records at the Moody Blues clothing store opening in Scottsdale, Ariz. A law enforcement official says the celebrity disc jockey known as DJ AM has been found dead in a New York City apartment.

NEW YORK (AP) -- DJ AM, the celebrity disc jockey who publicly acknowledged his history of drug addiction and had filmed a reality show in which he offered to help other addicts, was found dead in his apartment. He was 36.

Police found a crack pipe and prescription pills in the Manhattan apartment, said a law enforcement official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. Paramedics had to break down the door before they found him, shirtless and wearing sweatpants, in his bed around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, the official said.

A friend had called police to say he was unable to get into the home in the trendy SoHo neighborhood. There was no evidence of foul play, and a medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

Last year, he was badly hurt in a South Carolina plane crash that killed four people and seriously injured rock musician Travis Barker.

DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, had openly discussed past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs, addictions so bad he once tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head - but the gun jammed. However, he claimed he had been drug-free for years, even swearing off cigarettes.

His spokeswoman, Jenni Weinman, said the circumstances surrounding his death were unclear. She pleaded for privacy for his family.

In October, MTV was to debut his reality show, "Gone Too Far," in which he and concerned families staged interventions for drug abusers. In a recent AP interview, he talked about holding a crack pipe for the first time in years for the show and said he felt as though he had an angel on his shoulder for surviving so much turmoil.

"There's no better way to remember what it was like when I was at my bottom than to see someone at their bottom," he told the AP.

MTV did not have an immediate comment on whether Goldstein's show would air, but said in a statement that it "was honored to support him as he helped young people battle their own addictions."

Goldstein was a deejay for hire who performed at Hollywood's most exclusive parties and was admired by music aficionados. He also was famous for relationships with reality TV star Nicole Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie, and with actress-singer Mandy Moore.

Goldstein was critically injured last September when a Learjet crashed on takeoff in Columbia, S.C. The plane was transporting Goldstein and Barker, a drummer for the pop punk band Blink-182, after a performance; the pair had formed the duo TRVSDJ-AM.

Barker and Goldstein were burned, though Barker was injured more severely. Goldstein had to get skin graft surgery, but about a month later he was performing again, joining Jay-Z on stage.

At the time, he told People magazine he was grateful to survive.

"I can't believe I made it," he said. "I've prayed every night for the past 10 years. There's a lot more to thank God for now. ... I was saved for a reason. Maybe I'm going to help someone else. I don't question it. All I know is I'm thankful to be here."

Goldstein rose to fame several years ago as highly sought-after DJ whose beats kept the dance floor packed and clubgoers hypnotized. He was known for his deft mashups, a blend of at least two songs, and performed not only in clubs but on grand stages, appearing earlier this year at the Coachella music festival in Indio, Calif.

He was to be one of the playable characters in Activision's "DJ Hero," a rhythm video game from the makers of "Guitar Hero" that uses a turntable-shaped controller. The game is set for release Oct. 27.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM," said Tim Riley, vice president of music affairs for Activision. "We hope that his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent."

Representatives for Moore and Barker didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment on the DJ's death, but other celebrities and fans instantly shared their reactions on Twitter, where "RIP DJ AM" was the No. 1 topic Friday.

"I'm stunned. Rest in peace Adam," singer-songwriter Josh Groban posted.

"I'm sorry to loved ones," musician and video director Pete Wentz wrote. "So unexpected."

Singer John Mayer wrote: "We're supposed to lose our friends to time, at an age when we're ready to agree to the terms of having lived a long life. Not now."

Goldstein was on Twitter just three days ago. He said he had just wrapped filming of the MTV series in Connecticut and was on his way to Atlantic City, N.J., to DJ. He also posted a lyric from the hip-hop legends Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five: "New York, New York. Big city of dreams, but everything in New York ain't always what it seems."

Media and onlookers flocked to his apartment, creating a frenzied scene; flowers had been placed outside the entrance.

Fellow DJ Scott Schroer, known as Scotty Boy, said he went to the apartment after he heard the news to check for himself. He said he had known Goldstein for 10 years and had worked the turntables with him last week at the Palm in Las Vegas.

"He was the first to really be eclectic in the mashup scene," Schroer said. "He mixed rock and roll with hip-hop. He was a pioneer."

Schroer said Goldstein had been sober since he met him. When asked about the prescription pills, he said: "If you were just in a plane crash a year ago, I'm sure you would have prescription pills, too."

Calif. firefighters wage fierce wildfire battles

Calif. firefighters wage fierce wildfire battles

A firefighter looks on as they battle the Station fire burning in the Angeles National Forest northeast of downtown Los Angeles on Firday, Aug. 28, 2009. The Los Angles Sheriff's Department says a voluntary evacuation is being urged for nearly 900 homes in the La Canada Flintridge area.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A growing wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles spread over nearly 9 square miles of bone-dry forest, forcing evacuations and sending up massive billows of smoke that were hampering air operations, officials said.

"It's difficult for water-dropping aircraft to get in there, but they're still trying," said Forest Service spokesperson Jessica Luna.

The blaze in the steep San Gabriel Mountains above La Canada Flintridge continued to move out in all directions overnight, the most active flanks to the north, deeper into the forest, and east, Luna said. The fire was creeping slowly toward the city of Altadena, but no homes were immediately threatened, Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea said. The fire was 5 percent contained.

Hot, dry weather was expected all day Saturday, but crews were hopeful that winds would remain light, Luna said.

A major goal was to keep the fire from spreading up Mount Wilson, where many of the region's broadcast and communications antennas and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory are located, officials said.

Authorities issued a mandatory evacuation notice early Saturday for 150 homes located within a half-square-mile area and on the slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. An evacuation center was set up at La Canada High School.

Hundreds more residents were packed and ready to move on a moment's notice.

"We're boxed up and ready to go," said La Canada Flintridge resident Steve Buntich, watching helicopters line up to siphon water from a golf course reservoir. He said his wife and children had evacuated to a friend's house for several hours, but had since returned home.

A second fire in the Angeles National Forest was burning several miles to the east in a canyon above the city of Azusa. The 3.4-square-mile blaze, which started Tuesday afternoon, was 85 percent contained Saturday. No homes were threatened, and full containment was expected by Monday.

A wildfire on the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the south Los Angeles County coast was 90 percent contained Saturday morning, according to County Fire Captain Mike Brown. As many as 1,500 people were forced to flee at the height of the fire Thursday night. Six homes received minor exterior damage, but the only structures destroyed were an outbuilding and gazebo. No injuries were reported.

Southeast of Los Angeles in Riverside County, a 3 1/2-square-mile fire in a rural area of the San Bernardino National Forest was 10 percent contained. Crews aided by aircraft were working to build a line around the fire, which was burning in steep, rocky terrain in Beeb Canyon, according to Forest Service spokesperson Norma Bailey. No structures were threatened. Temperatures were expected to top 100 degrees in the region, but winds remained light.

To the north, in the state's coastal midsection, a 9.4-square-mile fire threatening Pinnacles National Monument kept 100 homes under evacuation orders near the Monterey County town of Soledad. The blaze, 60 percent contained, was started by agricultural fireworks used to scare animals away from crops. The fire destroyed one home.

In the southern part of Monterey County, firefighters had 100 percent containment of a 5 1/4-square-mile fire that had threatened 20 ranch homes.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday in Los Angeles and Monterey counties.

"It's fire season, clearly," he said. "There's tremendous amount of heat all over the state."

A nearly 4.1-square-mile fire in Yosemite National Park was 15 percent contained Saturday morning, said park spokesman Scott Gediman. No structures were threatened.

Park officials closed a campground and a portion of Highway 120, anticipating that the fire would spread north toward Tioga Road, the highest elevation route through the Sierra. The number of firefighters was expected to double over the weekend to 1,000.

The Mariposa County Sheriff's Office ordered guests and staff at the Yosemite View Lodge, just outside the park's western gate, to evacuate Friday due to the fire. People without lodging were offered beds in a shelter in Mariposa staffed by the Red Cross.

Kennedy remembered for 'the dream he kept alive'

Kennedy remembered for 'the dream he kept alive'

An honor guard carries the casket from the church after a Roman Catholic Funeral Mass for Sen. Edward Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Basilica in Boston, Saturday, Aug., 29, 2009.

BOSTON (AP) -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was celebrated Saturday for "the good he did, the dream he kept alive," his funeral inside a soaring Catholic church a memorial to one man's life and a remarkable political era now ended.

Row upon row of mourners sat facing the casket bearing Kennedy's mortal remains, President Barack Obama as well as previous occupants of the White House, enough senators to make up a quorum and dozens of members of the most famous political family in the land.

One son, Patrick, wept quietly as another son, Teddy Jr., spoke from the pulpit of the day years ago, shortly after losing a leg to cancer, that he slipped walking up an icy driveway as he headed out to go sledding. "I started to cry and I said, `I'll never be able to climb up that hill,'" said Teddy Jr.

"And he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something I will never forget, he said, `I know you can do it. There is nothing that you can't do.'"

Rain beat down steadily as Kennedy's coffin was borne by a military honor guard into the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and again when it was brought back out to the hearse for the trip to his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington.

In life, the senator had visited the burial ground often to mourn his brothers, John and Robert, killed in their 40s, more than a generation ago, by assassins' bullets.

"He was given a gift of time that his brothers were not. And he used that time to touch as many lives and right as many wrongs as the years would allow," Obama said in a eulogy that also gently made mention of Kennedy's "personal failings and setbacks."

As a member of the Senate, Kennedy was a "veritable force of nature," the president said. But more than that, the "baby of the family who became its patriarch, the restless dreamer who became its rock."

Those left behind to mourn "grieve his passing with the memories he gave, the good he did, the dream he kept alive" Obama said inside the packed church.

Hundreds lined nearby sidewalks, ignoring the rain, as the funeral procession passed.

"I said to myself this morning, 'No matter what the weather, I'm going, I don't care if I have to swim," said Lillian Bennett, 59, who added she was a longtime Kennedy supporter and determined to get as close as she could to the invitation-only funeral.

"The Mass of Christian burial weaves together memory and hope," said the Rev. Mark R. Hession, parish priest at the church in a working class neighborhood of Boston.

There was plenty of both in a two-hour service filled with references to Kennedy's political accomplishments and personal recollections of his private life. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and tenor Placido Domingo provided musical grace notes.

Kennedy's widow, Vicki, his sole surviving sibling, Jean, and Robert Kennedy's widow, Ethel, carefully arranged the cloth funeral pall atop the coffin.

Like others, Teddy Jr., touched on his father's legacy.

"He answered Uncle Joe's call to patriotism, Uncle Jack's call to public service and Bobby's determination to seek a newer world. Unlike them, he lived to be a grandfather," he said.

Joseph Kennedy Jr. died in World War II, John F. Kennedy was the nation's 35th president when he was assassinated in 1963 and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was killed five years later as he campaigned for the presidency.

Kennedy died Tuesday at 77, more than a year after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Saturday's events marked the end of four days of public and private mourning meant to emphasize Kennedy's 47 years in the Senate from Massachusetts, his standing as the foremost liberal Democrat of the late 20th century yet a legislator who courted compromise with Republicans, a family man and last heir to a dynasty that began in the years after World War II.

Thousands of mourners filed past his flag-draped coffin earlier in the week when Kennedy lay in repose at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. Republicans and Democrats alike recalled his political career in a bipartisan evening of laughter-filled speechmaking on Friday.

Even the church had special meaning for the family. Kennedy prayed there daily several years ago during his daughter Kara's successful battle with lung cancer.

Funeral Homes: Powell Funeral Home Directory Opinion; Jerry Mondesire, NAACP head is a camera hog in the Mike Vick Eagle Issue by Janet Powell

Funeral Homes: Powell Funeral Home Directory Opinion; Jerry Mondesire, NAACP head is a camera hog in the Mike Vick Eagle Issue by Janet Powell (215) 868-9221


Powell Funeral Home, Phila., PA

I read with trepidation the Friday, August 28, 2009 Philadelphia Daily News article this morning. I am not in sync with your comments about there being more fuel than fire. I agree that Jerry Mondesire, NAACP head is a camera hog. I further agree that he knows how to get media attention and that there's little substantial work done to satisfy his purpose. In my opinion, He rarely knows his mission, but he gets the call to speak for the community. He, by the way is rarely ask by the community to represent community concerns. He heads an organization that is nearly defunct.

The missing piece in your article and in the statements not rendered by Mondesire is, radio. Media and the public are more directed by talk radio than the actual processes of the activities that the hosts and listeners discuss.

The Mike Vick saga has been fueled by them and they have fueled print media. Many of the hosts who have access to radio tend to speak and report their personal feelings. They get responses from those who think like them. The numbers of callers don't jell with public opinion. I listened to 950 Am after the game last night. The host, nameless for me, stated his surprise at how the fans welcomed Vick upon his entry into the game. He further stated that he expected boos and more protesters. He further stated that he was shocked at the positive response. That talk continued throughout his show. His callers continued the diatribe.

Michael Vick

The listeners of color, have been maligned on white talk radio by those who simply miss the cultural folkways of forgiveness. There is a collective of citizens who happen to be the ethnicity of Michael Vick who's comments are dismissed as non substantial. When this happens, emotion creates rhetoric. Since the signing of Michael Vick to the Eagles organization, It was the press that centered its reporting on animal rights groups, leaving the feeling of abandonment and isolation for Vick. The intent for Vic's supporters last night was to show Vick support as those who continually have access to a mike are non supportive.

Sports talk radio listenership is huge. That community includes the voiceless. Jerry missed that. Secaree Rhoads, the actual organizer of supporters initiated the attempt to fill the void for the voiceless. It was she who sat for hours until well after the game and well after the cameras were gone. It was she who engaged the fans of all races about wanting Vick to be welcomed to Philadelphia for his rebirth and to have those fans sign a banner of support as a gift to the Eagles new quarterback, not Mondesire.

Mondesire wasn't prepared for the press. Mondesire however was selected by the media as the go to person. That's not Jerry's fault. The media needs to know that their are others to go to. The media chooses its spokespersons, not the public.

Janet Powell

WNWR 1540 am Monday 2-4 pm

janetshouse.tv

wnwr.com

www.frontpagenews.us

215-868-9221

Vick debuts with Eagles in victory over Jaguars

Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick(notes) runs a route as a receiver in first quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 33-32.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—All eyes were on Michael Vick(notes)—for all of six plays.

Playing his first NFL game since his release from prison, the Eagles quarterback got a standing ovation in a half-empty stadium, avoided any ugly protests and completed four passes for 19 yards.

“It’s been a long journey for me,” Vick said. “I just want to do it right this time around.”

Though his minutes were limited Thursday night, Vick was ready to take on any assignment. He played quarterback, ran the wildcat formation, even lined up at wide receiver and completed a pass right-handed.

Philadelphia even won the game, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-32 on David Akers’(notes) 34-yard field goal in the final minute. Vick’s return overshadowed a somewhat sloppy effort by an Eagles team that has Super Bowl aspirations.

It was Vick and only Vick who captured fans’ attention—whether he was on the field, on the sideline or sitting on the bench.

“Everything he was asked to do, he did it well,” Donovan McNabb(notes) said.

Eagles coach Andy Reid didn’t wait long to use Vick. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback jogged onto the field for the second play from scrimmage and got a hearty welcome from the notoriously tough Philly fans.

“It was awesome. When I was running out onto the field I was listening to see what the reaction was going to be,” Vick said. “I was very pleased. I really didn’t expect that reaction, but I was very thankful.”

So much for all those protesters and anti-Vick factions. Some fans even chanted “We want Vick!” after he left the game.

Vick was on the field for six plays—all in the opening 18 minutes—and completed all four of his passes, ran for 1 yard and lined up in the slot for one play.

“I just want to help this football team win, whatever I have to do,” Vick said. “I just want to be able to make plays and say that I contributed. … I want to sit back and learn as much as I can and polish my skills as a quarterback.”

Vick acknowledged he’s still working on his fitness, saying he was at about 70 percent.

“Once I get myself into tiptop shape, the sky’s the limit,” he said. “When I was younger I did it all. I can do it all now. Down the road, I’ll be back at the quarterback position full time. As of right now, I have to do what I can to win.”

Vick hadn’t played in an NFL game since Dec. 31, 2006, with the Atlanta Falcons. He was released from federal custody July 20 after serving 18 months of a 23-month sentence for his role in running a dogfighting ring. He signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Eagles, who hold a $5.2 million option for a second season.

It was a long day for Vick. He traveled to Virginia early Thursday, where a federal judge approved his six-year plan to repay creditors $20 million and emerge from bankruptcy, and then hustled out of court to return to Philadelphia for the game.

“It was mentally draining,” Vick said.

Though he showed little emotion at first, Vick loosened up as the game wore on.

Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick(notes) lines up as a receiver in first quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 33-32.

“I think it’s good for him,” McNabb said, “I thought for him to get out there, get some plays and get his feet under him.”

With Vick, the Eagles managed 3 points. Without him, they moved the ball far more efficiently, and McNabb made it clear he would’ve rather waited until the offense was in a rhythm before Vick debuted.

“It’s important if you show different looks, make sure it’s the right time,” he said.

McNabb completed 21 of 36 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown, although he also threw an interception and his fumble on a backward pass was returned 92 yards for a score by Brian Iwuh(notes).

Jaguars QB David Garrard(notes) was 8 for 14 for 93 yards and one interception while leading Jacksonville on one touchdown drive. Backup Todd Bouman(notes) also was 8 for 14 for 59 yards and a TD.

After missing a few plays, Garrard returned and tossed a 3-yard pass to Nate Hughes(notes), who fumbled at the 1 after a hard hit by Asante Samuel(notes). Torry Holt(notes) picked up the ball and stepped into the end zone for a touchdown, giving Jacksonville a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. Hughes sustained a concussion on the play and didn’t return.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick(notes) smiles on the sidelines in the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 33-32.

The Eagles finally got going once they went to a traditional offense without Vick. Following an interception by Samuel, McNabb drove Philadelphia 57 yards to the Jaguars 1. But rookie LeSean McCoy(notes) dropped McNabb’s backward pass, Iwuh picked it up and ran it back for a 14-3 lead.

McNabb and the rest of the starters came out for the second half and put up 14 points. McCoy ran in from the 4 to cut it to 17-13. McNabb later tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Marcus Mailei.

“The (starters) still have a lot of work to do,” Reid said.

Josh Scobee(notes) kicked a pair of 49-yard field goals for the Jaguars.

Vick completed a 4-yard shovel pass to McCoy on his first play, ran for 1 yard on his second play and was a decoy as a wideout on his third play. With McNabb standing on the sideline, Vick then completed a 13-yard pass to Hank Baskett(notes) to the Jaguars 11.

Akers kicked a 31-yard field goal a few plays later.

Kevin Kolb(notes), playing his first game of the preseason after missing the first two with a knee injury, rallied the Eagles in the fourth quarter. He was 10 for 18 for 102 yards and one TD.

The game finally ended after the Jaguars lateraled about a dozen times on the last play.