PetersonNewsBlog

The Miami Herald's article about sea-rise in South Florida uses an interactive explore map to show sea-level rise projections.

The explore map allows the reader to select a district in South Florida and raise the sea level up to six feet. When you select the number of feet to raise the sea level, the graphic shows which parts of the state would be consumed by the water.

This interactive graphic engages the reader because it puts the problem of sea level rise into perspective. It is helpful for the reader to visualize the effects of the sea level, and it makes the problem more realistic.

In order to do this, the reporter needs to know how to make such a data set on the computer. The reporter also needs to research which parts of the state would be under water, and which parts will not be.

There is also a link to the National Oceanic and Atomspheric Administration map which allows a viewer to see sea level rise in the world, not just the state of Florida. With this map you can read about different areas and see the flood frequency and vulnerability of different places.

A fire at a Psychiatric Hospital around 2 a.m. Friday killed 38 people, the New York Times reported.

There were 41 people in Psychiatric Hosptial No. 14, and three of them escaped, Russian officials said, CNN reported.

The nearest fire station is 30 miles away from the hospital, and firefighters arrived one hour after the fire started because they had to take a detour, the New York Times reported.

According to the state-run news agency RIA Novosti, the fire may have been sparked by an electrical short, CNN reported.

Psychiatric Hospital No. 14 housed people with schizophrenia, mental retardation, and drug and alcohol addiction, and many of them took powerful meication to help them sleep, officials said, the New York Times reported.

Police said four people were stabbed during mass Sunday at a Catholic church in Albuqerque, the Huffington Post reported.

Lawrence Capener, 24, approached the choir area at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church where he stabbed the victims, police spokesman Robert Gibbs said, the Huffington Post reported.

Vanessa Lucero, 14, told The Times that Capener climbed over pews and punched then stabbed the choir's lead singer, LA Times reported.

None of the vicitims had life-threatening injuries, police said, LA Times reported.

Gibbs said Capener is now being questioned by police, and he is expected to face felony charges, the Huffington Post reported.

Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in New Hope will hold professional wrestling matches on Saturday to fund the youth group's summer mission trips., Kare 11 reported.

Profession wrestlers from Midwest Wrestling Entertainment start their matches at 6 p.m. in the church community room, and this will be the church's fifth annual wresting match, the Star Tribune reported.

Proceeds will pay for part of the youth group's summer trip to Camp Wapo in Amery, Wisc, and part of their mission trip to Denver in July, the Star Tribune reported.

The director of the youth group, Kinna Nordstrom, said the trip to Denver will cost at least $600 per person, and the money will go towards van rental, gas, food and accommodations, the Star Tribune reported.

US Olympia Chad Betts, who wrestled for team USA in London 2012 will attend the fundraiser, and there will be six matches, Kare 11 reported.

An Apple Valley man involved in a three-vehicle crash earlier this month died from injuries Monday, the Pioneer Press reported.

James Sundboom, 66, was riding in his group home's van when it crashed at the intersection of Garden View Drive and McAndrews Road in Apple Valley on April 6, the Star Tribune reported

The driver of the van, 28-year-old Amanda Schlater, ran a red light and the van was hit by a SUV, police Capt. Michael Marben said, the Pioneer Press reported.

Sundboom, Schlater, four other residents of the group home, and an attendant were hospitalized after the accident, and they were all wearing seat belts, Marben said. The accident is under investigation for possible charges, the Star Tribune reported.

The group home provides services to people with developmental disabilities, and is owned by Thomas Allen Inc. in a West St. Paul, the Pioneer Press reported

Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth were pulled over and arrested Friday after a cop saw their car weaving in and out of lanes, the Huffington Post reported.

Witherspoon, 37, is charged with disorderly conduct for being uncooperative with the police officer during Toth's arrest. Toth,42, had a blood alcohol level of .139, and he has been charged with driving while intoxicated, the Huffington Post reported

While Toth was being arrested, Witherspoon allegedly said, "Do you know my name?" to the officer. When the officer said, "No, I don't need to know your name," Witherspoon replied, "You're about to find out who I am.", TMZ reported.

The couple were in the Georgia capital working on a film. They were both released from custody at 3:30 a.m. on Friday, Huffington Post reported

The bodies of five people killed in Colorado's deadliest avalanche in more than 50 years, were recovered on Saturday, Fox News reported.

The bodies of four snowboarders and one skier were found in a backcountry area on Loveland Pass, Clear Creek County Sheriff Don Krueger said, Fox News reported.

The victims were identified Sunday as Christopher Peters, 32, Joseph Timlin, 32, Ryan Novack, 33, Ian Lanaphere, 30, and Rick Gaukel, 33, CNN reported.

Jerome Boulay, another snowboarder, survived the avalanche, and his condition has not been released, Fox News reported.

The Denver Post reported that the group of men were participating in the Rocky Mountain High country Bash, an event to raise money for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Al of them were wearing avalanche beacons and proper equipment, Fox News reported.

Authorities believe a missing college student from Minnesota fell into the Chippewa River in Wisconsin on Friday, Kare 11 reported.

Around 10:45 p.m. police received a call regarding a man who fell into the river from the, and David Rodgers, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire student was reported missing, CBS reported.

Rodgers, 20, is from Northfield Minn., and attempts to find him have been unsuccessful, CBS reported.

Roads in Bloomington, Minn. are beginning to close due to a two-year project to expand the Mall of America, the Star Tribune reported.

The plan is to reconfigure routes out of the mall's north side and create seperation form Lindau Lane, Kare 11 reported.

People who access the mall on Lindau Lane from Hwy, 77 will have to turn left toward Ikea or right into the mall, and parts of Lindau will be closed until July 2014, the Star Tribune reported.

The size of the Mall will double, and the expansion will be open in 2015, Kare 11 reported.

Watertown, Mass. is currently shut down as a manhunt is taking place for Dzhokar Tsarnaev, 19, the second suspect of the Boston Marathon bombing, the Star Tribune reported.

Mass transit, schools, and businesses have been shut down in Boston as the search for Tsarnaev, also known as Jahar, continues. Law enforcement officials said they believe he may be strapped with explosives, the Washington Post reported.

The other suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, died Friday in a shootout after the two suspects robbed a 7-eleven store and killed a MIT campus officer, the Washington Post reported.

The suspects were brothers who had been in the U.S. for about a decade, according to their uncle. They were from Dagestan, which is next to Chechnya in southern Russia, the Star Tribune reported.

Authorities in Boston have asked people to stay indoors, and SWAT teams, sharpshooters, and FBI agents surrounded buildings as helicopters search the area, the Star Tribune reported.