November 27, 2006 in Nation/World

Motorcade officer for Bush dies

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A motorcycle officer injured last week while escorting President Bush in the Hawaiian Islands died Sunday, police said.

Steve Favela, 30, and two other officers crashed their cycles as the presidential motorcade was traveling across Hickam Air Force Base to meet troops for breakfast early Tuesday. The other officers were treated at The Queen’s Medical Center and released.

Favela, an eight-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department and father of four, had suffered internal injuries and had been in critical condition at the medical center.

Bush said in a statement that he and the first lady were “deeply saddened” by the death, and sent their condolences.

DANVERS, Mass.

Six families return after plant blast

Six families moved back into their houses Sunday after a pre-dawn chemical plant explosion four days earlier drove them and hundreds of other residents from their homes.

The families were allowed to return after inspectors checked their homes to make sure utility connections and chimneys were still intact and safe.

“I’m a little apprehensive. It’s a little nervous feeling,” said Kathy Parker, who returned with her family. “I still don’t feel comfortable in total darkness. Hopefully that will pass.”

The town 17 miles north of Boston probably will issue more occupancy permits today as inspectors sign off on safety checks at other houses, town manager Wayne Marquis said.

Residents closer to the obliterated building that housed CAI Inc. and Arnel Co. will have to find temporary lodging for several weeks or months until more significant repairs are completed at their homes.

The explosion early Wednesday damaged at least nine buildings beyond repair and are expected to be razed, town officials said. No one was killed or suffered any serious injuries.

RED LAKE, Minn.

Search called off for young brothers

Authorities called off a major ground search Sunday on the Red Lake Indian Reservation after they turned up no sign of two young brothers who have been missing since they went out to play Wednesday morning.

But FBI Special Agent Paul McCabe said authorities would continue pursuing leads, and the effort to find 4-year-old Tristan White and 2-year-old Avery Stately was not over.

“We will not stop looking for Tristan and Avery until they are found,” McCabe said.

McCabe said it’s still unclear whether they wandered off or were taken. “We don’t have any indication at this time that foul play is involved,” he said.

Investigators had received around 70 phone tips, McCabe said, but none led to the boys so far.

The FBI last week offered a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the boys.

Falling temperatures had dimmed hopes that the boys could have survived in the woods. By Sunday, afternoon temperatures in the area were in the 20s, and there was a chilly wind out of the northwest.

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