November 2012 Archives

Israeli military fired 'warning shots' into Syria, Saturday.

According to Reuters, "Israeli forces fired "warning shots" into Syria on Sunday after stray mortar fire from fighting between Syrian forces and rebels hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israel's military said."

Though Israel quickly remedied the situation, top officials did threaten to ramp up retaliation if attacks continued.

The reason for Israel's distrust of Syria is well known.

"They [Israelis] have feared that the instability in Syria over the past 19 months could spill across the border into Israel, particularly as President Bashar Assad's grip on power grows increasingly precarious," the Associated Press said.

Two people were killed and several homes were leveled in Indianapolis when a blast rocked the neighborhood.

It is not quite clear what caused the explosion.

"Deputy Fire Chief Kenny Bacon told reporters Sunday investigators haven't eliminated any possible causes for the blast," said the Washington Post. "But U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, who represents the area, said he had been told a bomb or meth lab explosion had been ruled out."

"Deputy Code Enforcement Director Adam Collins said as many as 31 homes were damaged so badly that they may have to be demolished," the New York Times said. "The explosion damaged a total of 80 homes, he said. He estimated the damage at $3.6 million."

Most evacuees are staying with family and a relief operation was set up in a nearby church.

Minnesota's Golden Gopher football team has become bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 on Saturday.

The Gopher's 17-3 win over Illinois has given the Gophers their sixth win of the season, the number of wins needed for the Gophers to enter into the bowl competition.

According to the Minnesota Daily, Gophers running back Donnell Kirkwood and his backup, Rodrick Williams, were the key to the Gophers' success.

"The duo accounted for every yard of Minnesota's first scoring drive, which ended in a game-tying field goal shortly before halftime," the Minnesota Daily said.

The Gophers's defense was also instrumental in the team securing the win.

"The Illini crossed midfield only once in the second half, getting to Minnesota's 36 in the fourth quarter before turning the ball over on downs," the Star Tribune said.

For the first time in 20 years, Minnesota state government has become completely DFL-controlled.

In Tuesday's election results, several Republican candidates lost their election bids to Democratic candidates paving the way for Gov. Mark Dayton to pursue his agenda more easily.

"I was asked many times what would happen with a DFL governor and a DFL Legislature and I said, 'Progress,' " Gov. Mark Dayton said in the Star Tribune. "That's our responsibility now."

According to the Minnesota Daily, the new Legislature has put addressing the state's budget at the top of the list. They also have plans to review taxes, the bonding bill and University of Minnesota funding.

Many DFL legislators have also stressed the importance of working with the GOP to stabilize Minnesota's economy.

"The state is pretty much split down the middle," said former DFL legislator Roger Moe in the Star Tribune. "I think it is important for the Democrats to learn from what the Republicans did, which was that they kind of over-reached, particularly in terms of these constitutional amendments."

A 2-year-old boy has died after he fell into an enclosure containing African painted dogs at a Pittsburgh zoo.

The child fell off of the railing his mother put him on and into the enclosure where the dogs mauled him.

"Zoo keepers called off most of the 11 dogs," the BBC said. "One refused to move away from the boy and was shot dead."

It is not clear if the child died from the fall or from the mauling said the Associated Press

The zoo has been closed and is under investigation by the police.

North Branch police are asking the public for help in identifying the person responsible for intentionally setting fire to an animal hospital.

According to the Star Tribune 5 dogs and a cat were rescued from the blaze, unarmed after police were called at 3:30 am, Sunday.

"Damage to one corner of the building was extensive," said Sgt. Rick Sapp via the Pioneer Press.

Authorities are offering an award of $2,500 for any information leading to an arrest in the case.

In just a day, megastorm Sandy destroyed much of New Jersey's shoreline causing many people to wonder how they could begin to repair the damage.

The damage the storm caused left New Jersey a blank slate to rebuild its famed vacation spots, however the fear of a second Sandy casts a shadow over any plans that are being made.

"Environmentalists and shoreline planners urged the state to think about how -- and if -- to redevelop the shoreline as it faces an even greater threat of extreme weather," the San Francisco Chronicle.

The damage the storm has done was not limited to properties.

According to the Associated Press via the Washington Post, the U.S. death toll from Sandy has climbed to 75 as of Thursday with the most fatalities, 30, occurring in New York.

At least 22 people have been killed after a fuel truck crashed into a overpass in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Thursday.

"The civil defense department said a gas tanker had hit a bridge in eastern Riyadh," Reuters said. "Causing a gas leak and an explosion in a nearby heavy machinery and vehicles warehouse."

The explosion toppled an industrial building and torched nearby vehicles. According to health ministry spokesman, Saad al-Qahtani, it was mostly men and some foreigners that made up the 135 people injured in the accident.

"More than 100 emergency personnel were combing the wreckage on the flyover and searching for victims in the rubble of the building," The Guardian said.