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According to the Miami Herald, “Two small airplanes collided in midair over the Everglades near the Broward-Palm Beach County line Saturday afternoon.� Early reports indicated no sign of survivors from the 3:40 p.m. crash. The crash occurred in a remote area about 1 ½ miles south of Lox Road, west of U.S. 441 where rescue workers could only enter by boat. They searched for survivors, but hadn’t found any by 4:30 p.m.

According to the USA Today, “Two small planes collided over the Everglades Saturday, crashing into the swamp, and authorities said there were no survivors. A Piper aircraft carrying only one person and another unknown aircraft crashed at about 3 p.m.� Rescue/ recovery efforts continued through Saturday night. “The planes collided about 14 miles northwest of Pompano Beach in southeast Florida.�

The Miami Herald article went into a little more detail about the crash itself, while the USA Today speculated more on its cause and provided more about its after effects.

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According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Armed citizens came to dump their weapons at San Francisco’s City Hall Saturday so these firearms could be “forever kept from falling into the hands of criminals� or any accidental killings. In exchange, the owners got $50 or more in holiday shopping gift certificates - and the city got safer, police said. “The 106 weapons turned in could mean one less murder in a city that so far this year has seen 94 homicides, not to mention one less injury or death from a child finding the family gun and fiddling with it, said San Francisco police Sgt. Mikail Ali.� Advocates of the gun exchange say it will decrease the chance of burglaries and domestic fights. “The deal was $200 for semiautomatic assault rifles, $150 for handguns and $100 for standard rifles. The money came in the form of gift cards - not redeemable at your local gun store.�

According to the USA Today, “For a few hours on Saturday, San Francisco police officers accepted 100 guns from about 80 people in the city's second "Gifts for Guns" event. The first event in July brought in 117 handguns and 2 shotguns.� The events was started to make the streets seem safer as the city’s murder rate has risen in recent years. “Among the 100 guns collected Saturday were 4 assault rifles and two sawed-off shotguns, said Mikail Ali, director of the mayor's office of criminal justice. Once in police custody the guns are checked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to see if they were stolen. Ali said 99% of the guns recovered are destroyed and, if the guns were stolen, they are returned to their owners, if possible.�

These two articles share much of the same information. There is some discrepancy of numbers, however. The USA Today said that they collected 100 guns, while the Chronicle said it was 106. The Chronicle article went more in depth about gun problems in the city while the USA Today talked more about the event itself.

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According to the New York Times, “In Maryland, Hundreds of parents, who had been warned that they might face fines and jail time unless they had their children immunized, brought their children to a courthouse to Upper Marlboro, Saturday for the vaccinations.� This was a request by Judge C. Philip Nichols Jr. of Prince George’s County Circuit Court, who is in charge of juvenile issues. The judge sent over 800 letters to families, strongly recommending that their children should be immunized at the courthouse or to prove that the children had been immunized in accordance with state law. “This year, the State of Maryland added the requirement that children have shots for hepatitis B and chickenpox in addition to other vaccinations including polio, mumps and measles.� Some were outraged with the letters while others knew it was best for everyone involved.

According to the Star Tribune, Parents in Prince George's County in Maryland have been ordered to appear at a special court hearing today where they will be given a choice: Get their children vaccinated on the spot or risk up to 10 days in jail and fines.� School officials say parents have been warned about the need for vaccinations over the past year. They also said the goal isn’t to throw parents in jail but to protect public health and get kids who have been barred from school back to class.

The New York Times article focuses more on what the result of the law has been and not as much on the law itself. The Times also has a better story because it uses more sources and includes quotes from both sides.

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According to USA Today and the Associated Press, “Three disabled people have sued Walt Disney World for not allowing them to use their Segways to move around its theme parks. The plaintiffs are each able to stand but cannot walk far, and they have been denied permission to use their two-wheel vehicles at Disney World, according to the federal court lawsuit.� The suit filed says there’s an estimated 4,000 to 7,000 people with similar disabilities who use Segways for mobility. Disney said it fears Segways could endanger other guess because they can go faster than 12 mph, and that their primary concern is safety.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Three disabled people who use Segways to get around, sued Walt Disney World Friday, for not allowing disabled visitors to ride the motorized, upright scooters in their theme parks. The three individuals, suffering different ailments, can stand but can’t walk far. They’re among an estimated 4,000 to 7,000 with similar disabilities who benefit from Segways for mobility. The lawsuit states that Disney violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires businesses to make "reasonable modifications in policies, practices or procedures" to accommodate disabled customers. Disney suggests that they use conventional scooters or wheelchairs, but the plaintiffs say Segways are more dignified.

The Orlando Sentinel article had a little more detail about the plaintiffs and the lawsuit itself. An interesting side note on this topic is that the first time I ever saw a Segway in-person was in 2003, at Epcot Center which is part of Disney World.

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According to the New York Times, “Ryan Shay, a 28-year-old veteran marathoner, collapsed during the U.S. Olympic trial marathon in Central Park and was pronounced dead at Lenox Hill Hospital.� Shay’s cause of death is unknown. The winner of the race, Ryan Hall was good friends with Shay. Shay was a world-class athlete, that many thought had a good chance at qualifying for the Olympics. Hall was not informed of Shay’s death until about an hour after he completed the race. Shay had no known health problems, and the weather conditions for the race weren’t dangerous.

According to the Star Tribune, “Top distance runner Ryan Shay died during the U.S. men's Olympic marathon trials Saturday after collapsing about 5 1/2 miles into the race. He was 28.� Shay was a four-time national champion. His death strongly impacted the distance running community. Ryan Hall, the winner of the race, was a college teammate of Shay’s wife, and sent his condolences to Shay’s family.

These two articles provided the necessary information but the Times article was more personal, using quotes and going more in-depth on Shay himself. The Star Tribune had very little about Shay and Hall’s friendship, which is a more interesting story angle.

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According to the USA Today, “An American Airlines flight from Orlando, to Dallas-Fort Worth was diverted to Houston on Saturday night after a passenger tried to open an emergency door.� The passenger, a woman, was unable to get the door open and no one was injured. She was detained by Houston authorities. “Six passengers got off the plane, since Houston was their destination, and the rest continued to Dallas-Fort Worth on the same plane.�

According to the Dallas Morning News, “An American Airlines flight bound for Dallas on Saturday night had to land in Houston after a female passenger tried to open an emergency exit door in mid flight.� The woman was immediately restrained after she tried to open the door, said American Airlines spokesman Billy Sanez. “The captain decided to divert the flight to Houston, the closest airport. The plane, carrying 176 passengers and six crewmembers, landed at 8:55 p.m. and the woman was arrested, Mr. Sanez said. He said it’s rare for a passenger to try to open an emergency door in mid flight.�

These two articles were basically the same, although they used a different source. It was interesting how the Dallas Morning News said the plane landed “mid-flight� when it had almost reached its destination, far from the flight’s half-way point. The USA Today included a couple more minor details.

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According to USA Today, “The body of an 11-month-old girl in North Carolina reported missing after her father returned from deployment to Iraq was found in the attic of her Harnett County home Saturday.� According to authorities, the remains of Harmony Creech were found Saturday afternoon. Her mother, Johni Heuser, told investigators she found the girl dead in her crib several weeks ago, and concealed it out of fear. An autopsy will be performed as investigations continue. “Harmony’s father, Ronald Creech, returned from deployment in Iraq Friday hoping to see his daughter, who was born overseas. Creech was picked up at Pope Air Force Base on Friday by his mother and was driven to his daughter’s home near Spring Lake. They awakened the baby’s mother and the baby was missing.�

According to the Fayetteville Observer, “The remains of an 11-month-old girl reported missing after her father returned from a deployment to Iraq were found in the attic of her home, Harnett County authorities said Saturday.� The body of Harmony Creech was found Saturday afternoon. Harmony’s father, Ronald Earl Creech II, returned from a deployment to Iraq on Friday hoping to see his daughter, who was born while he was overseas, police said. Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said he was fearful of the outcome of the case, but praised the assistance his investigators received from the FBI.

These two articles were almost the same, except for a few extra quotes in the Fayettville Observer’s story, and some wording differences. I would expect that there will be more developments and follow-up stories in the next couple of days.

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According to the L.A. Times, “A 15-truck pile-up on a rain-slicked Southern California freeway left 10 people injured and at least one missing, Friday that sent flames shooting out of a tunnel and blocked a key link between Los Angeles and San Francisco.� The wreckage began when two trucks collided and started a chain reaction in Interstate 5’s truck-only tunnels. Flames shot out of both ends while 20 people evacuated on foot, including the 10 injured. One driver was unaccounted for and authorities worried more may be missing. “Officials said passenger cars may also use the tunnel, raising concerns that some may be trapped inside. Firefighters also worried that the damage could cause parts of the tunnel to collapse. The tunnel is expected to remain closed throughout the day and perhaps longer.

According to the Star Tribune, “Smoke leaked from both ends of a tunnel early today after a 15-truck pileup on a rain-slicked Southern California freeway left 10 people injured and at least one missing, authorities said. Twenty people evacuated the fiery tunnel on foot, including the 10 injured and five trucks were stuck inside. Smoke poured from both sides of the tunnel through the night.� The freeway is expected to be closed all day Saturday, officials said.

The Star Tribune article had all of the same information as the L.A. Times article, omiting a few things, and using some different wordings. The Tribune said “smoke� poured out the sides, opposed the the Times accounts of “flames� shooting out. The Star Tribune was less specific, leaving out detour routes and some quotes. It made it obvious which was the local story and which one was national. A significant part that may confuse readers was that the L.A. Times headline stated "5 trucks engulfed in flames" when it was a 15 truck pile-up. It's hard to know if it is supposed to say 15, or if only 5 trucks in the crash started on fire.

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According to the USA Today, “An apparent gas leak caused a Manhattan apartment building to explode, injuring 17 people, including four children and a firefighter, officials said.� The explosion blew out some of the Harlem building's walls just after 4 p.m. witnesses said. Residents said they heard the explosion blocks away, and then screams. With no immediate evidence of a leak, investigators waited until the building was stabilized before going into the apartment where the explosion occurred, spokeswoman D. Joy Faber said.

According to the New York Times, “An explosion at a Harlem apartment building Saturday hurt 17 people, including four children and a firefighter and spewed pieces of the building out onto the street, officials said.� The explosion was apparently caused by a gas leak although the local utility said there was no evidence of one. “‘The explosion started in a rear apartment on the first floor,’ said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.�

These two articles are almost identical with the only noticeable differences being the order of facts, and one additional quote from the fire commissioner in the New York Times.

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According to USA Today, “Two escaped killers were caught on a Wyoming highway after stealing an SUV leading police on an 11-mile chase. Danny Martin Gallegos, 49, and Juan Carlos Diaz-Arevalo, 27, who escaped from a Utah jail a week ago, had apparently stolen guns and the SUV at knifepoint from a 72-year-old retired police officer Saturday night, said Detective Dick Blust of the Sweetwater County, Wyo., sheriff's office.� A spike strip blew out the SUV’s tires, ending the chase. “Gallegos was shot in the stomach by a sheriff's deputy and taken to a hospital in critical condition, authorities said.� Diaz-Arevalo ran but was soon captured an put in Sweetwater County jail. The two had climbed a fence to escape Daggett County jail on Sunday, September 23. They were spotted in Green River, Wyoming, Saturday after the SUV was reported stolen. Diaz-Arevelo was convicted of murder and child abuse in 2006. Gallegos was convicted of aggravated murder in 1991.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Bill Johnson, a 79-year-old retired police officer, helped capture two escaped killers after they tied him up and stole his Ford Explorer. When Johnson arrived home Saturday, Danny Martin Gallegos, 49, and Juan Carlos "Blue" Diaz-Arevalo, 27, had broken into his house through a window. After having his hands and feet bound and tied with duct tape, and his vehicle stolen, Johnson freed himself enough to hobble outside to find help. Eight minutes after someone found him and called 911, the two fugitives were spotted, which started a high-speed chase. Diaz-Arevalo and Gallegos were caught after a spike strip popped the vehicle’s tires. Gallegos was shot after exiting the car with a gun, and was sent to a nearby hospital. Diaz-Arevalo was caught and sent to Sweetwater County jail. The two likely face federal charges of flight to avoid prosecution and kidnapping for apprehending Johnson. “The retired police officer, Johnson, may receive the $20,000 reward that had been offered for leading authorities to Diaz-Arevalo and Gallegos.�

The USA Today article goes less in depth and is less specific. It more closely resembles a police report. It provides the necessary information, but leaves interesting parts of the story out. A significant discrepancy between the two articles is the age of the retired police officer, with the USA Today saying he is 72, while the Salt Lake Tribune lists him as 79.

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According to the L.A. Times, “A loose bull attacked a neighbor's home, tearing off siding, ripping down part of a fence and damaging a car in Killingly, Connecticut, Friday.� Wayne Johnson watched as the bull from a nearby farm charged his house, tore off clapboards, flipped a picnic table, rammed his car and tore down part of the fence around his swimming pool. ‘He was crazy,’ Johnson said. ‘The thing was ripping my house apart.’� The bull was eventually lured back to its pasture by a bag of grain after the police, the Department of Agriculture, and the animal’s owner were notified. Johnson said he planned to talk to the owner about getting his house repaired, and that he had no idea why the bull was so aggressive.

According to the Hartford Courant, “a Killingly man is seeing red after a neighbor's raging bull went on an hour-long rampage in his yard, damaging his house, fence and car. Wayne Johnson, noticed the bull and a steer in his yard at about 8 a.m. Friday while getting ready to go to work in his landscaping business.� The bull charged his house, pulled off clapboards, and flipped a picnic table before ramming Johnson’s car and a part of his fence. When Johnson called police, they could barely hear him over the loud banging coming from the bull’s destruction, said Trooper R. J. Evangelista. Eventually the owner was found and he lured the bull down the road with a bag of grain to his farm.

The Hartford Courant article was a local story that had included all of the information in the L.A. Times story and more. The L.A. Times article was produced by the Associated Press and had less information and detail but had enough to get the story across. More than likely, the Courant was able to do more research because of their location.

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According to the Star Tribune, a Pitzer College of Southern California now offers a class based on watching videos on YouTube. “About 35 students meet in a classroom but work mostly online, where they view YouTube content and post their comments. Alexandra Juhasz, a media studies professor at the liberal arts college, said she was ‘underwhelmed'’ by the content on YouTube but set up the course, ‘Learning from YouTube,’ to explore the role of the popular site. The class is encouraged to post their own videos, and class lessons are posted as well. the class's website is http://www.youtube.com/group/learningfromyoutube
This story, written by the Associated Press, was posted by other organizations such as the Dallas Morning News, CBS News, ABC News, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and The Charlotte Observer among many others. It shows that often times the AP story is sufficient for just about any publication, if it provides the necessary information. One might think that some news organizations may want to go a little more in depth, or edit some information, however, here, that is not the case.

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