Official: 95% Accounted for After Conn. Blast

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) – A Connecticut fire official says at least 95 percent of the nearly 100 workers who were at a power plant that exploded are accounted for. Middletown Deputy Fire Marshal Al Santostefano said Monday that most of the workers are accounted for, judging by conversations with contractors and labor union officials. But he says a section of the Kleen Energy Systems plant remains too unstable to see whether anyone is still trapped. Authorities say different contractors were working at the site, making it difficult to determine how many people were there during the blast. Sunday’s explosion at the nearly completed plant in Middletown, about 20 miles south of Hartford, killed at least five people and injured a dozen or more. Officials say it happened as workers were clearing a gas line of air. Local, state and federal officials are investigating.

Paradise Ponders Parcel Tax

Some Paradise residents may be asked to dig a little deeper to pay for police and fire services. A parcel tax goes before the Town Council Tuesday night. Town Manager Chuck Rough says if taxes are increased Paradise could create its own narcotics and gang task force.

Click for Audio:  paradise parcel tax 2

If the Town Council approves the idea, voters would cast their ballots for the tax in November. Because the parcel tax is a special tax under Proposition 13, it would need a two-thirds vote to pass.

Some CA Lawmakers Want to Halt Early Inmate Release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A law that took effect last month that allows the early release of inmates at state prisons and county jails is sowing confusion throughout California. Lawmakers of both parties have called for repealing and modifying parts of the law, and a county deputies’ union has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to block it. Calls for changes intensified this week after a Sacramento County inmate was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape just hours after he was released from jail. The law was designed to save money while relieving crowding in prisons and jails. Differing interpretations by the state’s 58 counties and the alleged assault prompted several lawmakers to call for an immediate halt to the law’s implementation.

Marijuana, Cocaine, and Meth Top Norcal Drug Seizure List

Northstate drug agents noticing some new trends in drug trafficking. The Cal Met team that serves 5 local counties has released its seizures and arrests for 2009. Pot, cocaine and meth were the top three drugs seized, and Task Force Commander Mike Wood many drug runners don’t discriminate…

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Wood says almost 3 million dollars in cash was seized, and there were 65 arrests in 2009.

Police in Paradise Continue to Probe Death of 8-Year-Old Girl

Paradise police continue to investigate the death of an 8 year old girl that was allegedly the result of child abuse. Police arrested the girl’s adoptive parents Saturday. Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz were booked into the Butte County Jail on charges of murder and child abuse. Police say their investigation found another adopted child, an 11 year old girl, with “significant” injuries. She was taken to a Sacramento hospital for treatment. Police say there were seven other children at the Crestwood Drive home that were placed into protective custody. Paradise Police say all of the kids were home-schooled…and there was no prior history of child abuse with the family.

GOP Lawmakers Seek to Suspend CA’s Law to Cut Greenhouse Gases

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Republican lawmakers in California are seeking a ballot initiative to suspend California’s landmark law to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The secretary of state’s office this week cleared the sponsors’ petition. They have until July 5 to collect the 433,971 signatures needed to qualify the initiative for the November ballot. If passed by voters, it would suspend the 2006 law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger until the state unemployment rate falls to 5.5 percent and stays there for a year. Republican state Assemblyman Dan Logue of Linda said Thursday it is unfair to ask businesses to comply with new regulations in such a poor economy. Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Adam Mendelsohn said the governor would fight the initiative if it qualifies.

Another Quake Hits Humboldt County Coast

PETROLIA, Calif. (AP) – The U.S. Geological Survey is trying to determine if an earthquake that hit off the Humboldt County coast Thursday was an aftershock to last month’s magnitude-6.5 quake that hit the same area. Thursday’s quake hit at 12:20 p.m. nearly 50 miles west of Eureka. The U.S.G.S. has downgraded the quake to a magnitude 5.9 after initially reporting it as a 6.0. U.S.G.S. National Earthquake Center geophysicist Rafael Abreu says scientists are analyzing data gathered by sensors and other equipment. He says they should be able to determine “within a couple of days” if Thursday’s earthquake was an aftershock to the Jan. 9 quake. Humboldt County spokesman Phil Smith-Hanes says he has not received any reports of damage or injuries from Thursday’s earthquake.

Ridge Woman Dies After Skyway Accident

A Paradise woman has died after being hit by a truck on the ridge. The accident happened at the Skyway and Jewel Road around 7 Thursday night. The Paradise Police Department says it appears Elizabeth Chamberlin tried to cross the Skyway on foot during heavy rain. Officers say because of the darkness and weather conditions, the truck’s driver was not able to see the pedestrian until it was too late. Chamberlin was taken to a local hospital, where she died.

Northstate Drug Probe Spreads Across Two Counties

Shasta County authorities say a Red Bluff man was the primary target of a drug distribution probe in Northern California. That 18 month long investigation apparently wrapped up this week. The Shasta Interagency Narcotic Task Force, or SINTF, says agents searched several locations in Corning, Red Bluff, and Redding. The search turned up nearly 3 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 21 thousand dollars. SINTF says Camerino Pureco was arrested in Corning while allegedly preparing to weigh meth in a vehicle. Two other people were arrested during the investigation, and five kids were placed into protective custody.

US to Share Anti-Bomb Equipment, Tech with NATO

ISTANBUL (AP) – The U.S. is considering a plan that would give NATO allies access to some of the equipment and expertise used by American troops to deter roadside bombs. Much of the U.S. technology and know-how regarding “improvised explosive devices” – remotely detonated bombs that have plagued military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan – has been highly classified. But U.S. officials attending NATO meetings here this week said there is a bigger push now to share technology with allies, in part because NATO members are sending more of their troops to Afghanistan in coming months. While the U.S. has not said what equipment could be shared, it has relied heavily on armored Humvees and Mine Resistant Ambush Protective vehicles to protect its troops during patrols.