Rantala Rants

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear deployed 4,600 guardsmen in the state of Kentucky, the largest number in the history of the state, in order to help combat the ice storm, The Associated Press reports.
Over half a million homes and businesses in Kentucky are without power, the largest number on record in Kentucky history.
"With the length of this disaster and what we're expecting to be a multi-day process here, we're concerned about the lives and the safety of our people in their own homes," the Governor said.
The storm has been blamed for causing 42 deaths, with 11 of them from Kentucky.
Fuel shortages is also a problem, however Kentucky residents in need of fuel have been able to cross the boarder into Tenessee where power has been restored.
"I'd pray awhile and I'd cry awhile. "It's the worst I've ever seen." Said Doris Hemingway, 78, who spent several days bundled in blankets in his mobile home.

Posted by rant0036 at 8:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Months after his Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia signed a peace deal, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president, Al Jazeera reports.
Ahmed defeated Maslah Mohamed Siad by a vote of 293 to 126. At his swearing in ceremony in Djibouti, Ahmed promised to form a broad government and also to reach out to former government leaders like the former armed wing of the Islamic Courts movement, al-Shabab.
"Very soon, I will form a government which represents the people of Somalia," Ahmed said.
The election of Ahmed is seen as a stark contrast from the previous president, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, who was known for his warlike manner. Ahmed is said to be more scholarly and temporate.
Somalis numbering in the thousands could be seen singing and whistling as they celebrated their new president, The New York Times reported.
While the election of Ahmed appears optomistic, Somalis have reason to be skeptical, as 13 previous attempts at forming an effective transitional government have all failed, The New York Times said.

Posted by rant0036 at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A small plane crashed near Menomonie, Wisc. late Friday night, killing everyone on board, the Star Tribune reports.
The Dunn County Sheriff's Office received a call around 9:45 PM stating that a small plane had crashed near Highway 25 and 770th Avenue in Tainter Township. The plane was discovered in a field and wooded area, with wreckage scattered over 5 to 10 acres.
The names and addresses of the victims will not be released until the family members have been notified and the investigation has been completed.
According to KMSP-TV, the plane was flying from Sheboygan, Wisconsin to New Richmond, Wisconsin. Both KMSP-TV and KSTP-TV have reported that there were three people who died in the crash.
KSTP also specified that the plane was a single engine SR 20.

Posted by rant0036 at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)