220,000 Acre Rim Fire 35% Contained

Nearly five thousand firefighters and two dozen aircraft have battled the Rim Fire to thirty-five percent containment.

The fire has burnt over two hundred and twenty thousand acres in California, including forty-nine thousand in Yosemite National Park.

One hundred and eleven buildings, including thirty-one homes, have been lost to the flames.

Forty-five hundred homes and a thousand other buildings lie with a mandatory evacuation area, that is threatened by the blaze.

Winds continue to help the fire expand and drown nearby towns in smoke, making breathing difficult.

However, lower temperatures and higher humidity have aided in battling the fire.

Yosemite National Park has remained opened, the main part of the park lies more than twenty miles away and authorities say that it is not in any danger.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames.

2 Car Bombs Kill 13 in Iraq

A car bomb struck a busy part of Ramadi, Iraq, on Saturday.

Twelve people were killed and at least twenty were injured, by the blast.

Officials believe that a police check point was the target of the attack.

Another car bomb struck southeast Baghdad, killing one and injuring seven.

No one has claimed responsibility for either bombing.

Kandahar Car Bombing Kills 6 in Afghanistan

A car bomb blew up outside a bank as police officers were picking up their pay in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Six people were killed and twenty were injured in the blast.

About half of the victims were police.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, however the government is blaming the Taliban.

Deadly Quake Strikes China

Five people were killed and twenty-one injured when a 5.8 earthquake struck south western China, on Saturday.

Centered in Yunnan province the quake shook nearby provinces as well.

The quake caused rock slides, which cut off some areas to emergency personnel.

It also collapsed six hundred homes and damaged some fifty-five hundred more.

Chemical Leak Kills 15 in Shanghai

Fifteen people were killed when a liquid ammonia leak occurred in Shanghai.

Another twenty-six people required medical treatment after Saturday's accident.

Officials are investigating the cause of the leak.

It is likely the cause of ignored safety regulations, a common issue for China as it pushes growth.

7.0 Quake Shakes Alaska's Aleutian Islands

A 7.0 earthquake struck off the Aleutian Islands, Friday morning.

The quake struck just south of Alaska's island chain, in the Pacific Ocean.

No tsunami occurred as a result of the quake, nor was any damage reported.

Scientists say that the depth of the quake, more than twenty-one miles down, kept it from causing any issues.

5,000 Firefighters Battling 200,000 Acre Rim Fire in California

Nearly five thousand firefighters and two dozen aircraft are now battling the Rim Fire.

The fire has burnt over two hundred thousand acres in California, including forty-seven thousand in Yosemite National Park.

One hundred and eleven buildings, including thirty-one homes, have now been lost to the flames.

Forty-five hundred homes and a thousand other buildings lie with a mandatory evacuation area, that is threatened by the blaze.

Winds continue to help the fire expand and drown nearby towns in smoke, making breathing difficult.

However, lower temperatures and higher humidity have aided in battling the fire.

Yosemite National Park has remained opened, the main part of the park lies more than twenty miles away and authorities say that it is not in any danger.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames.

Robber Survives 200 Foot Fall

A robber survived a two hundred foot fall in Syracruse, New York, on Friday.

The man had robbed a Chase bank and ran to the Clinton Plaza Apartments to hide.

He climbed into the garbage chute, figuring police would not look there.

Unfortunately for him, he fell down the chute from the twenty-first floor.

The fall caused extensive injuries and he was found in the basement in critical condition.

Medical treatment was in time to save his life.

Police believe that he only survived the fall by using his arms and legs to slow his descent and by landing on garbage.

Colombia's Military Begins Patrolling Bogota

Colombian military troops began openly patrolling Bogota, on Friday.

President Juan Manuel Santos announced that the troops were necessary due to violent protests, that took place on Thursday.

Two people were killed as striking farmers clashed with police.

Fifty thousand soldiers have been deployed in and around the capital to enforce peace and security.

Leaders of the strike have agreed to return to talks with the government.

6 Killed in Renewed Protests in Egypt

Friday saw the renewing of protests demanding that Mohamed Morsi be returned to power.

Six people were killed as thousands of Egyptians took to the streets, in Cairo, Alexandria, and other cities.

Fifty more were injured and at least twenty were arrested when parts of the protest turned to riot.

Police responded to violence with tear gas and ordered the protesters to disperse.

Protesters remained anyways until the time of the curfew neared, as it approached they left for their homes.

US Preparing For Strike Against Syria With Backing From France

A strike against Syria is back at the forefront of the Obama administration's concerns.

US Secretary of State John Kerry outlined the evidence that the US has, on Friday.

Kerry, Obama, and others stated Syria must be punished for supposedly killing more than a thousand people with a chemical weapon.

They pledge that an retaliation will be very specific and not an all out war, just a simple punishment for the use of chemicals to kill people.

France quickly came back to demanding swift action against the Syrian regime, a day after backing down from calling for an immediate response.

It still remains unclear if the regime was responsible, whether rebel forces committed the act, or even if a third party was the perpetrator of the atrocity.

The UN is still awaiting the findings of the investigative team that they sent to Syria, to attempt to determine who was responsible for the attack.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis

Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, twenty-four of Staten Island, New York, died on August 28.

He was killed in combat in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

It was his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, following one in Iraq.

Ollis was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York.

Among his completed courses were Airborne School, Ranger Course, Infantry School, Special Operations Senior Site Exploitation Course, Air Assault School, Combat Life Savers Course, Command Language Program German Head Start Course, Medium Tactical Vehicle Course.

His decorations include: Bronze Star, four Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver Wheeled Vehicles and Tracked Vehicles.

US Army: Sergeant First Class Ricardo D. Young

Sergeant First Class Ricardo D. Young, thirty-four of Rosston, Arkansas, died on August 28.

He was killed in combat in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

Young was assigned to the 307th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Colorado Schools Closed Due to Hot Weather

Denver Public Schools has announced that several of their schools will be closed, on Friday.

Poudre School District has announced that all of their schools will be closed.

Hot weather brought about the decision.

Thursday already was an option school day for Denver.

Several of their buildings and all of the Poudre District's buildings are without air conditioning.

Afternoon temperatures were reading in the mid to high nineties inside the classrooms.

Both districts felt that for the safety of their students they should not have class in such temperatures.

Instead of completely closing, some of the Denver schools will be having half days, allowing students to be gone by the time the afternoon heat comes.

Protesters Demand Montana Judge Resign

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings, Montana, on Thursday.

They are demanding that District Judge G. Todd Baugh resign after he sentenced a teacher who raped a student to just thirty days in jail.

Protesters are also demanding that the former teacher be resentenced.

Attorney General Tim Fox is reportedly reviewing the situation.

US Government Won't Sue Colorado and Washington Over Legalized Weed

On Thursday, US Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government will not be suing states over their legalization of weed.

Last year, both Colorado and Washington voted to legalize marijuana, despite it being banned by the federal government.

Holder issued new guidelines and emphasized things that he and the Obama administration want to see worked on.

He did say that the government will look at suing if the states are unable to match federal expectations on the regulation of the drug.

Bus Crash Kills 41 in Kenya

Forty-one people were killed early Thursday morning, in a bus accident, in Kenya.

Twenty-seven others were injured as the bus was traveling from Nairobi to Lake Victoria.

The bus lost control, went off the road, and flipped several times as it went down a hill before coming to a stop in a valley.

Police are trying to determine what caused the bus to veer off the road.

They believe that the bus may have been traveling at excessive speeds and stated that it was definitely over loaded.

Western Nations Lean Away From Syria Attack

Prime Minister Cameron at Parliament

A western attack on Syria has at least been delayed, if not put off completely.

Britain's Parliament voted by thirteen votes not to have military action against Syria. Prime Minister Cameron does not require Parliament to vote, before going to war, but without their backing he would likely lose his government.

Within hours of the British vote, France announced that they would be waiting for the UN to come to a conclusive decision on the matter. However, both countries continue to move military assets into position, in case a strike is ordered.

The UN is waiting for the inspectors to finish their investigation and then return to give their findings to the Security Council. Such a presentation might not take place until late next week.

Bolstered by Britain and France backing down, Russia and Iran reiterated that they will standby their Syrian ally. Towards this, Russia continued moving naval forces into the Mediterranean.

By Thursday evening, the US had backed down from their stance of complete surety that Assad was behind the deadly chemical attack, which killed around a thousand Syrians. Now the US says that Assad may not have been behind the attack, that a local commander could have made the decision on his own.

2 Car Bombings Kill 24 in Baghdad

Twenty-four people were killed in two car bombings in different areas of Baghdad, on Thursday.

A truck bomb stuck a market, in the Sunni neighborhood of Samarra, killing eighteen and wounding thirty-two.

Six people were killed and fifteen injured when a car bomb struck in Abu Gharib.

No one claimed responsibility for either attack.

Over four thousand people have now been killed in Iraq, since April.

Project Red Leaf: Growing Conservative Voters on US College Campuses

Project Red Leaf’s objective is to grow a conservative voter base on college campuses across the United States. It is based on the belief that increasing the number of registered conservative voters on college campuses will positively impact local, state, and national elections, giving conservatives a better chance of winning or retaining seats.

Project Red Leaf (PRL) is a national network of certified Third Party Voter Registration Organization’s (3PVRO’s). For example, Project Red Leaf – University of Tampa is a 3PVRO registered in the State of Florida (ID#13-1). So, PRL has been legally approved and is acknowledged by the state’s Supervisor of Elections. This is what provides the permission needed to register people to vote in local, state, and federal elections.

PRL’s motto is: “One student at a time will make all the difference.” The organization continues its work with college conservative groups and College Republican organizations, which allows for the leveraging of national resources. The project follows a two-step process:

1) The college conservative / College Republican organization participates in local activities to promote conservatism.

2) After receiving an education on the key differences between conservatism and liberalism, they are urged to register to vote.

A movement like PRL is needed because:

• During his political campaigns, Barack Obama was on college campuses 1 out of every 10 days.
• Liberal students dominate college campuses at a ratio greater than 2:1.
• The Millennial Generation makes up about 1/5 of the electorate. By 2015, they will account for 1/3.
• Overall, 28% of young voters identify as Republicans, with 30% of young men categorizing themselves as Republican, compared with 26% of young women.
• The majority of young voters identify themselves as Democrat (47%), with 55% of young women classified as Democrats, compared to 38% of men.

Project Red Leaf is busy at work, attempting to become the largest national, conservative voter registration organization. Traditionally a bastion of liberal politics, PRL aims to take a chunk of the college campus electorate by increasing conservative voter registration year-round.

So, how does Project Red Leaf work? PRL works in conjunction with conservative groups on any given campus. Once affiliation is made between PRL and the campus organization, the organization appoints a Campus Director who works closely with PRL. This individual is the liaison between the organization and Project Red Leaf’s national team. Depending on the university, it is recommended that a minimum of 1-4 hours per month be dedicated to registering individuals to vote.

PRL, though still only in its first year, is currently established on 8 campuses. Already making an impact, at the University of Tampa, with PRL’s assistance, there was an almost 50% increase in student votes, from 2008 to 2012, for Republican candidates. I asked PRL president and co-founder, John Publicover, how many college campuses the organization plans to have expanded to by election time in 2014 and 2016. He estimates approximately 40 campuses by the 2014 election and 100 by 2016.

Publicover, originally from New Hampshire, is a student at the University of Tampa and began working on Project Red Leaf during the 2012 general election when he was helping to organize voter registration efforts in Tampa Bay. Now a sophomore, he reflects on the fact that his parents encouraged him to develop his own political viewpoints independent of theirs. His enthusiastic embrace of conservative politics was just the momentum needed to propel Publicover to take his passion to a national level, developing Project Red Leaf.

If you are interested in learning more about Project Red Leaf or would like to pass this information on to a college student or college campus, please visit the website at ProjectRedLeaf.com. A representative from PRL will assist the school with voter registration. Alternatively, you can reach the organization by phone at (813) 501-LEAF or send me an email to John@ProjectRedLeaf.com.
You can also fill out the form at this link. To help PRL get the word out, follow them on Twitter and Like them on Facebook.

US Army: First Lieutenant Jason Togi

First Lieutenant Jason Togi, twenty-four of Pago Pago, American Samoa, died on August 26.

He was killed when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Hasan Karez, Afghanistan.

Togi was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.

Scientists Successfully Test Mind Control

Scientists at the University of Washington have successfully tested mind control.

One professor thought about moving a finger to type on a keyboard to play a computer game he could see.

Across campus, another professor had his hand resting on a keyboard, but was unable to see the computer game.

Using an EEG skullcap set to monitor the left motor cortex of the brain and a transcranial magnetic stimulation coil the first professor's thoughts were transmitted to the second.

The transmitted thoughts were enough to move the hand of the second professor, without his deciding to do so, and play the game.

During a series of four separate tests, they achieved a ninety percent success rate.

4,200 Firefighters Gain 23% Containment on The Rim Fire

Forty-two hundred firefighters and two dozen aircraft have battled the Rim Fire to twenty-three percent containment.

The fire has burnt one hundred and eighty-eight thousand acres in California, including forty-three thousand in Yosemite National Park.

One hundred and eleven buildings, including thirty-one homes, have now been lost to the flames.

Forty-five hundred homes and a thousand other buildings lie with a mandatory evacuation area, that is threatened by the blaze.

Winds continue to help the fire expand and drown nearby towns in smoke, making breathing difficult.

Yosemite National Park has remained opened, the main part of the park lies more than twenty miles away and authorities say that it is not in any danger.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames.

Hasan Sentenced to Die by Lethal Injection

After being found guilty, on Friday, Nidal Malik Hasan was sentenced on Wednesday to death by lethal injection.

He was found guilty of the November 5, 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in which thirteen people were killed.

Hasan will now be taken to Fore Leavenworth, Kansas to await his execution.

It may be several years til that can take place, as there are several automatic appeals which must be gone through first.

SEIU Calls for Fast Food Strike Across the US

The SEIU has called for all fast food workers to join them in a strike, across the US, on Monday.

While they did call for a general strike, they have singled out McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway, and Taco Bell.

They are demanding that fast food workers be paid a minimum of fifteen dollars an hour, from now on.

That is nearly double the average.

In a statement, the SEIU said that such an increase would boost the economy.

However, they had no comment when asked what the increase in costs to companies would do to the economy.

Iraq's Government Increases Alert Level After 80 are Killed in Baghdad Bombings

Eighty people were killed in Baghdad, on Wednesday, in a series of bombings.

Most of the bombs went off within moments of each other, showing that the attacks were carefully coordinated.

During the day, the bombs targeted busy Shiite parts of town.

Restaurants, markets, and mosques were all hit, leaving hundreds injured.

In the evening retaliation came as Sunni neighborhoods were struck at.

Al Qaeda is being blamed for the attacks in Shiite areas.

The Iraqi government raised alert levels, but it is unclear what more they can do to stop the violence.

US Soldier Among 29 Killed in Afghanistan

Three separate attacks killed twenty-nine people in Afghanistan, on Wednesday.

A car bomb struck a joint NATO Afghan base, in Ghazni. The explosion was followed by a militant attack on the base, which lasted several hours.

Between the bomb and the attack, ten militants, four policemen, three civilians, and a US soldier were killed. Ten Polish soldiers were wounded during the firefight.

In Farrah province, six truck drivers were killed and ten wounded when their convoy came under attack. Forty trucks, filled with fuel, caught fire and exploded.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for both of those attacks.

Four civilians were killed and fifteen wounded when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle in Lashkar Gah.

No one has claimed responsibility for that attack.

Bubonic Plague Kills 15 Year Old in Kyrgyzstan

A fifteen year old boy died in Kyrgyzstan from the bubonic plague.

Officials believe that he was bitten by an infected flea.

The plague is often carried by wild rodents and can be transmitted to humans if they are bitten by an infected rodent or flea.

As a herder, the boy was quite often out in brush lands where wild rodents live.

Over one hundred people have now been quarantined, as a precaution, and two thousand have been tested.

The government has placed a ban on livestock travel and set up check points in the area, to further ensure nothing can be spread.

Rim Fire Burns Over 100 Buildings as it Reaches 180,000 Acres

One hundred and one buildings, including thirty homes, have now been lost to the Rim Fire.

Forty-five hundred homes and a thousand other buildings lie with a mandatory evacuation area, that is threatened by the blaze.

The fire has burnt one hundred and eighty thousand acres in California, including forty thousand in Yosemite National Park.

Nearly four thousand firefighters and two dozen aircraft have battled the flames to twenty percent containment.

Winds continue to help the fire expand and drown nearby towns in smoke, making breathing difficult.

Yosemite National Park has remained opened, the main part of the park lies more than twenty miles away and authorities say that it is not in any danger.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames. 

Montana Teacher Given 30 Days in Jail for Raping 14 Year Old Student

A Montana judge sentenced a former teacher to just thirty days in jail, after the teacher plead guilty to raping a fourteen year old student, who later committed suicide.

District Judge G. Todd Baugh stated that the victim had been "older than her chronological age" and "as much in control of the situation" as the teacher.

The full sentence was fifteen years, however the judge suspended all but thirty-one days, and then gave Stacey Dean Rambold credit for one day served.

The courtroom broke into mayhem as the sentence was announced, with most completely appalled that the fifty-four year old is being given such a light sentence for his crimes.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/27/4440584/former-mont-teacher-gets-30-days.html#storylink=cpy

Sao Paulo Building Collapse Leaves 11 Missing in Brazil

A two story commercial building collapsed in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Tuesday morning.

Authorities believe that thirty-five people were in the building.

Thirteen escaped and eleven have been rescued.

The search is ongoing for the remaining eleven.

Surrounding buildings were also damaged, when the one collapsed.

Those buildings have been evacuated and are being investigated for any structural issues.

US, UK, and NATO Prepare for Likely Strike on Syria

As the world blames the Syrian regime for using chemical weapons on it's own people, they also decide what to do about it.

The US, UK, and NATO all have brought up the use of military force to punish Syria's government.

US and UK military forces have said that they are ready to go and could strike as early as Thursday.

Russia is demanding that no strikes happen and that any decisions be made in the UN, where they have vetoed any strict measures against the Syrian regime.

The Arab League strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons and demanded that the UN intervene, but did not specify how they should do so.

It is unclear if foreign military intervention would be limited to strikes on Syria's known chemical weapon sites or if the western governments are seeking to force the removal of Assad's government.

Syria's rebel forces have asked the west to strike at the country's air power, which has given the government a significant advantage in the civil war.

Any attempt to force regime change could very well see the war spread fully to Iran and Lebanon as Iran's government would likely back their ally and Hezbollah in Lebanon is already fighting on the side of the regime.

Iran and Syria have also made it clear that any strike could see them retaliate against Israel.

Israel has warned them against doing so, and on Tuesday began military exercises near the border with Syria.

Western involvement is also complicated by the fact their enemy Al Qaeda is an active participant in the civil war.

Al Qaeda is a possible suspect in the chemical weapons attack, but western governments seem very purposeful in their lack of discussing that possibility.

McDonalds to Spread Mighty Wings Across the US

For a few weeks, McDonald's has been testing a new menu item in the Atlanta area.

Now, with the success it has met, they are planning to spread it across the country, beginning September 9.

By September 24, all of the US will have mighty wings available.

Yes, McDonald's has entered the wing market.

They come in packs of three, five, or ten, and start at three dollars.

Nine different sauce choices are to come with them.

At this point, they are only supposed to be on menus through November, but they likely will be extended at least through football season.

Pikes Peak Highway Closing for Fast & Furious 7

Parts of Pikes Peak Highway will be closing for a week in September.

From Glen Cove to the summit will be closed in September 3 and 4.

The entire road, including the North Slope Recreation area will be closed September 5 through 10.

On those days filming will be underway for the latest Fast & Furious movie.

Fast & Furious 7; starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Tyrese Gibson; is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2014.

Nearly 4,000 Firefighters Battling California's Rim Fire

Nearly four thousand firefighters are now battling California's Rim Fire, which is up to fifteen percent contained.

The fire is closing in on one hundred and fifty thousand acres and has burnt twenty-three buildings, including four homes.

Forty-five hundred more homes have been ordered evacuated due to the threat they are under.

Twenty-two thousand of the burning acreage is in Yosemite National Park, but authorities say that the main part of the park is not in any danger as it lies more than twenty miles away.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames.

13 Killed by Landslides in Mexico After Fernand Makes Landfall

Tropical Storm Fernand struck central Mexico, on Monday, killing thirteen people.

Heavy rains caused landslides, killing people in three different towns in Veracruz.

Fernand is continuing up Mexico, as it moves north towards the US.

Since landfall, it has been downgraded to a tropical depression, as it's winds lose their strength.

3 Killed in the West Bank When Mob Attacked Police From Israel

Protesters carry the bodies of the dead

Hundreds of Palestinians marched through streets in the West Bank, on Monday.

They were protesting the deaths of three people killed in a clash with Israeli police and soldiers.

Israeli police had been conducting a raid to make an arrest, early Monday morning, when they came under attack from a mob.

They fired tear gas and rubber bullets in self defense, as they were pounded with rocks, concrete, and fire bombs.

Soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces heard the commotion and came to the aid of the police.

Seeing that the police were in serious danger the IDF fired a volley.

The volley left three dead and twelve injured, but backed the crowd off, saving the lives of the police officers.

Peace talks, between Israel and the leaders of the PLO, had been supposed to begin, on Monday, but the PLO leaders boycotted them in protest of the violence.

It is unclear if they will begin on Tuesday or be delayed indefinitely.

US Army: Specialist Kenneth Clifford Alvarez

Specialist Kenneth Clifford Alvarez, twenty-three of Santa Maria, California, died on August 23.

He and another soldier were killed by an improvised explosive device in Haft Asiab, Afghanistan.

Alvarez was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade out of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

US Army: Private Jonathon Michael Dean Hostetter

Private Jonathon Michael Dean Hostetter, twenty of Humphreys, Missouri, died on August 23.

He and another soldier were killed by an improvised explosive device in Haft Asiab, Afghanistan.

Hostetter was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade out of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

California's Rim Fire Over 134,000 Acres

California's Rim Fire has now burned more than one hundred and thirty-four thousand acres.

Officials are taking it as a good sign that it's rapid grown has slowed.

Twenty-three buildings, including four homes, have been lost to the flames.

Around forty-five hundred homes have been evacuated due to the threat level.

Almost three thousand firefighters have battled to gain seven percent containment.

Hopes are that the weather will continue to cooperate and that they will be able to increase containment while the fire continues to slow down.

Train Derailment Kills 5 in Mexico

Five people were killed and twenty-two injured when a train derailed in Tabasco, Mexico.

Eight of the train's twelve cars ended up leaving the tracks and falling to their sides.

At least two hundred and fifty people were aboard the train when it left the tracks.

The military has joined rescuers in searching for more victims.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the derailment.

Firefighters Battling 7 Fires Burning in Portugal

Over a thousand fire fighters are battling blazes in Portugal.

Seven fires are burning through out the country.

Winds have been pushing the flames, making fighting them extremely difficult and even more dangerous.

Portuguese authorities say that they now have control of one of the six fires.

That fire killed one firefighter and injured six others, on Thursday.

Three other firefighters have been injured battling the other blazes.

Fighting Between Government and Rebels Leaves 82 Dead in Congo

Eighty-two people died in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congo's military.

According to the government twenty-three of the dead were soldiers, while the rest were rebels.

Fighting has been going for five days now, after a the two sides seemed to be nearing a permanent cease fire.

Government forces were hoping to dislodge the rebels from the hills over looking Goma, but have only made a mile of progress.

UN forces are working in cooperation with the government forces, defending the town and using their helicopters to attack rebel lines.

Attack on Yemen Air Force Bus Kills 3 Injures 23

Three people were killed and twenty-three injured when an explosion ripped through a bus in Yemen.

Five of the wounded were listed in critical condition.

The bus had been carrying high ranking air force personnel.

Officials believe that the bomb had been somehow placed on the bottom of the bus.

Al Qaeda quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.

46 Killed in Iraq Violence

Twelve separate attacks left forty-six dead in Iraq, on Sunday.

A car bomb struck a market in al-Ameen killing three and wounding thirteen.

In Balad a car bomb exploded killing four and injuring thirteen.

Three separate blasts struck Baqouba killing twelve and injuring sixty-two. Two of them were in residential areas, while the third struck a wedding party.

Ghazaliya saw two people die and seven injured by a car bomb blast.

Four people were killed and twelve wounded when a car bomb exploded in Madain. Another four were killed and thirteen wounded when a bomb struck a youth soccer game, in the town.

North of Mosul militants set up a fake check point and killed five soldiers who stopped at it. Inside the city a man was killed in a drive by shooting.

Eight were killed and twenty-seven injured when a blast hit a popular cafe in Shaab.

Another car bomb hit Zayona killing three and wounding six.

Over four hundred have been killed in August's violence.

57 Buildings Burnt Down in Myanmar Riot

Over a thousand Buddhists rampaged through Htan Gone, Myanmar, over Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

It began Saturday afternoon when a Muslim man was arrested for attempting to sexually assault a young woman.

A mob gathered and demanded that the police give the man to them.

When the police refused, the mob began burning Muslim buildings.

They continued through the night, until security forces showed up, fired shots into the air, and dispersed the mob.

In the wake of the riot forty-two homes and fifteen shops had burnt down.

Luckily, no injuries were reported due to the events.

3 UN Peacekeepers Wounded in Congo

Three UN peacekeepers have been injured in the latest fighting in Congo.

M23 rebels renewed the fighting on Wednesday.

Since then UN and Congo forces have exchanged artillery fire with the rebels.

UN helicopters have also gone on the offensive against rebel positions near Goma.

The fighting has killed six civilians and an unknown number of rebels.

Congo accuses Rwanda of aiding the rebels, not just financially, but this time with actual troops.

Rwanda denies the accusations of sending troops.

Over 1000 Dead, 3600 Suffering After Chemical Weapon Attack in Syria

There is no doubt that a chemical weapons attack occurred in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday. Even Iran now admits that it happened.

Over one thousand people died from the use of some sort of chemical weapons, while more than thirty-six hundred have been treated for symptoms.

What is in question is who committed the atrocity.

Rebel forces blame the government, who in turn accuse the rebels of the act.

Syria's government is known to have a stock pile of the weapons, while the rebels terrorist members likely have them available as well.

It is also possible that weapons belonging to the government fell into the hands of rebel forces.

The UN is attempting to investigate the area, but is very unlikely that any conclusive proof will be found.

Both sides will be doing all they can not to seem guilty, but also working to make the other look responsible.

Bales Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole

Robert Bales, who murdered twenty-two people, in an Afghanistan village, on March 11, 2012, was sentenced on Friday.

He was given the maximum sentence of life in prison with a chance for parole.

In June he plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.

Bales showed no emotion while the verdict was read at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Family members, of those who had been killed, had flown from Afghanistan for the trial and sentencing.

They were severely disappointed in the lack of a death sentence, saying that it was not justice.

Washington Police Issue Manhunt for Murderer of 88 Year Old Veteran

Police in Spokane, Washington are looking for sixteen year old Kenan Adams-Kinard, on charges of first degree murder.

He and another youth were caught, on surveillance tape, beating an eighty-eight year old WWI vet to death.

The other sixteen year old was arrested on Thursday, but has not been cooperating with police.

Authorities do not normally release information when the suspects are below eighteen, but felt the severity of the crime warranted the release.

No description, beyond the photo, has been released.

Anyone with information should call the Spokane Police Department at 509-755-2677.

He was found and arrested early in the morning on August 26.