WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — Brush fires that appeared to be the work of arsonists burned out of control Sunday along the coast of Hawaii’s largest island, sending hundreds of people fleeing inland, officials said.
No homes were damaged and no one was injured, but officials on the Big Island worried the fires could approach residential areas with a slight change in Hawaii’s temperamental breezes, said Duane Hosaka, staff officer for Hawaii County Civil Defense.
Nine fires appear to have been set in dry grasses along coastal roads early Sunday, Hosaka said. The evacuation order affected an estimated 400 people.
The blazes covered more than 2,000 acres, or more than three square miles, near the northwestern tip of the island and were not contained, Hosaka said.
Florida: Space station damage
Spacewalking astronauts outside the international space station Sunday made a disturbing discovery: what appear to be metal shavings inside a joint needed to turn a set of solar power panels. Space station managers were hoping a thermal cover or bolt might be hanging up the rotary joint, which would have been relatively easy to fix. An astronaut used tape to dab up some of the shavings, which will be returned to Earth aboard Discovery next week for analysis. NASA is uncertain whether the flecks are actually metallic.
Nevada: Killing over dance floor
A shoving match that began over dancers colliding at a Halloween party in Reno escalated into gunfire early Sunday, killing three men and sending costumed revelers fleeing from the house, police said. About 75 young people, some wearing costumes, were at the party at the quiet, upscale Reno neighborhood, investigators said.
Illinois: Autism screening urged
The country’s leading pediatricians group is making its strongest push yet to have all children screened for autism twice by age 2, warning of symptoms such as babies who don’t babble at 9 months and 1-year-olds who don’t point to toys. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice is meant to help both parents and doctors spot autism sooner. There is no cure for the disorder, but experts say that early therapy can lessen autism’s severity. Experts say one in 150 U.S. children have the troubling developmental disorder.
Iowa: Democrat primary moves up
Iowa Democrats voted Sunday to move their leadoff precinct caucuses to Jan. 3, the same date Republicans picked earlier this month, letting both parties continue the tradition of meeting on the same night. The move means the major remaining question about the calendar is the New Hampshire primary, originally scheduled for Jan. 22.
D.C.: Stop executions, lawyers say
Serious problems in state death penalty systems compromise fairness and accuracy in capital punishment cases and justify a nationwide freeze on executions, the American Bar Association said Sunday. The ABA, which takes no position on capital punishment, did not study lethal injection procedures that are under challenge across the nation.
AG nominee’s torture views sought
A Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday he might consider opposing Michael Mukasey’s nomination for attorney general if the former judge says waterboarding is not torture. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joined two top Senate Democrats in urging Mukasey to disclose his views. Mukasey so far has refused to say explicitly what his position is on the lawfulness of the interrogation technique, which simulates drowning.
Argentina: First lady claims victory
First lady Cristina Fernandez claimed victory in Argentina’s presidential election Sunday, with early results and exit polls suggesting she had avoided a runoff and become the first woman elected to the post. Much of Fernandez’s support is due to the popularity of her husband, President Nestor Kirchner.
Israel: Gaza fuel shipments cut
Israel began cutting vital fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, following through on a promise to step up pressure on the area’s Hamas rulers in response to months of Palestinian rocket attacks. Gaza relies on Israel for almost all its fuel and gasoline and more than half of its electricity.
Vatican: Pope beatifies martyrs
The Vatican staged its largest mass beatification ceremony ever Sunday, putting 498 victims of religious persecution before and during Spain’s civil war on the path to possible sainthood. The ceremony has drawn criticism from some in Spain who see it as criticism of the current Socialist government as it takes a look at the country’s civil war past and the fascist dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, which was supported by the Roman Catholic Church.
From Herald news services
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