【整理】2008-07-06
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger （阿诺·施瓦辛格）says that thousands of firefighters battling wildfires in the state are stretched thin and many are exhausted. "(We have) 520, 000 acres burned so far, 67 structures have been destroyed. More than 20, 000 personnel is(are) out there fighting the fires. We have 1,608 fire trucks,er,
statewide, more than 100 helicopters and the fixed-wing aircraft(s). " The top priority for the fire crews is a blaze in Santa Barbara County that has forced the evacuation of more than 2,500 homes in and around the town of Goleta. The northern end of the Los Padres National Forest is also burning. That blaze has destroyed 20 homes in Big Sur.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama urged members of one of the largest African-American Christian denominations today to be active rather than passive in their faith, and to help address challenges ranging from poverty to homelessness. Obama was speaking in St. Louis to thousands of members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. From member station KWMU, Matt Sepic has the story.
Obama told AME Church members about his own conversion to Christianity and how his faith directed his early work as a community organizer in Chicago. The Democrat said issues including war, poverty and violence are moral problems. And he said religious groups should get help from the government to provide social services as long as they work within the Constitution. "Right now, in communities all across this country, there are faith-based initiatives that are making sure ex-offenders don't return to a life of crime, that are feeding the hunger, and clothing the naked. " Obama got a thunderous round of applause when he said that billions of dollars being spent in Iraq could be better used in America's cities. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepic in St. Louis.
The Food and Drug Administration says tomatoes remain the main suspect in the ongoing salmonella outbreak, but not the only one. More than 940 people have been sickened so far. FDA investigators are now looking into other possible sources as Pat Duggins of member station WMFE reports.
The Centers for Disease Control is reportedly looking at jalapeno peppers from Mexico as the source of salmonella. Interviews with victims who got sick showed that many of them ate jalapenoes or salsa containing the spicy peppers before becoming ill. The number of salmonella cases jumped by 160 over just last week. Federal investigators have not officially cleared tomatoes as the source of the outbreak. Farmers across the country are still adding up the damage as tomatoes are left to rot in the fields and in packing houses. Growers from California, South Carolina and Florida were among those reporting up to 100 million dollars in losses. Only now are fast-food chains like McDonald's beginning to offer tomatoes confirmed as safe on burgers and salads. For NPR News, I'm Pat Duggins in Orlando.
Tens of thousands of South Koreans took part in a demonstration to protest US beef imports today. But a counter demonstration occurred, calling for an end to the violent protest.
This is NPR News from Washington.
The only survivor of the mid-air crash of two medical helicopters last weekend in Arizona has died. From member station KNAU in Flagstaff, Mark Herz has the story.
Thirty-six-year-old James Taylor of Salt Lake City died yesterday according to the Flagstaff Police Department. He had been in critical condition since being evacuated to Flagstaff Medical Center last Sunday. Taylor was a nurse on a flight coming from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The crash claimed the lives of seven people : two pilots, two nurses, a medic and two patients. The National Transportation Safety Board completed the field portion of its investigation in Flagstaff on Thursday. NTSB's lead investigating official Aaron Sauer says he'll have an initial report sometime next week. For NPR News, I'm Mark Herz in Flagstaff.
Venus Williams defeated her younger sister Serena in straight sets today to win her fifth women's singles title at Wimbledon. The outcome was different than when the two played in 2002 and 2003 for the championship. And Venus Williams said she knew her sister would be a formidable foe. "At no point am I ever able to forget that it's Serena. Because I have the ultimate respect for her game.I've a lot of respect for her serve. And if I was playing anyone else, then I wouldn't have to, like, face what I had to face today". Later, the two sisters were playing on the same side of the net as they won the women's doubles title. It was their seventh Grand Slam doubles championship.
US sprinting star Tyson Gay tumbled to the ground during the qualifying 200-meter race at the Olympic trials today,
costing him a spot on the team at that distance. Gay's trainer said he had a severe hamstring cramp. Gay had already qualified for the Summer Games in the 100 meters.
I'm Craig Windham, NPR News in Washington.
