Monthly Archives: <span>September 2020</span>

Desert Communities Told to Evacuate as Winds Stoke Flames

JUNIPER HILLS, Calif. — Strong winds stoked a wildfire burning for nearly two weeks in mountains northeast of Los Angeles, prompting authorities to issue new evacuation orders for desert communities that lost some homes a day earlier. Meanwhile, officials were …

Massive Damage of Rare Plants Probed at Nevada Mine Site

RENO, Nev. — State and federal authorities are investigating the mysterious loss of a significant swath of a rare desert wildflower that’s being considered for federal protection at a contentious mine site in Nevada with some of the largest untapped …

Maine Blueberry Industry Reels From Drought, Frost, Virus

PORTLAND, Maine — A late spring frost, a devastating drought and labor troubles wrought by the coronavirus pandemic conspired to make 2020 a difficult year for the wild blueberry producers who harvest the fruit in the nation’s northeastern corner. America’s …

Slow-Moving Storm Beta Set to Drench Texas, Louisiana Coasts

Beta, a slow-moving tropical storm, will bring flooding rains to Texas and Louisiana as well as raking offshore energy fields with high winds, but may not reach hurricane strength. Beta’s winds will likely hold at 50 miles (80 km) per …

N.J. Judge Clears Path for COVID-19 Business-Interruption Suit

A second judge has ruled that a policyholder’s COVID-19 business-interruption claim should proceed, marking an uncommon procedural win for business owners who have seen similar lawsuits dismissed by at least six other state and federal judges. Bergen County Superior Court …

Sri Lanka Names Captain of Oil Tanker a Suspect In Fire

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A Sri Lankan magistrate on Thursday ordered the captain of an oil tanker that caught fire off the country’s coast to appear in court as authorities seek $1.8 million from the ship’s owner for assistance provided …

No Emergency Training for Crew on Boat Where Fire Killed 34

LOS ANGELES — Crew members on a dive boat say they were never instructed on emergency procedures before a predawn fire swept through the vessel as it was anchored off the Southern California coast, killing 34 people as they slept …

Push by Feds to Investigate Violent Demonstrators Nets 300 Arrests So Far

WASHINGTON — In a private call with federal prosecutors across the country, Attorney General William Barr’s message was clear: aggressively go after demonstrators who cause violence. Barr pushed his U.S. attorneys to bring federal charges whenever they could, keeping a …

Colorado Workers Protest Covid-19 Fine Issued to Meat Plant

DENVER — A union representing workers at a Colorado meatpacking plant where six workers died of COVID-19 and hundreds more were infected will stage a protest Wednesday, claiming that federal officials should have fined the company more for its alleged …

More Than 20 Workers Hurt in Crane Accident In Austin, Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Two cranes collided Wednesday at a construction site in Austin, Texas, causing one of them to partially collapse and injuring at least 22 workers who were sent scrambling for safety, authorities said. The cranes collided and got …