In brief: Saudi Arabia to buy dozens of F-15 jets

Washington – The Obama administration is poised to announce the sale of nearly $30 billion worth of F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The deal will send 84 new fighter jets and upgrades for 70 more, for a total of $29.4 billion, according to the officials.

The agreement boosts the military strength of Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, at a time when the Obama administration is looking to counter Iranian threats in the region.

Miners rescued after being trapped by fire

New Market, Tenn. – A fire broke out inside a zinc mine in Tennessee on Wednesday, trapping three miners inside for about three hours before they were rescued, authorities said. Two other miners below ground were injured by smoke inhalation.

The three miners were trapped by smoke and needed respirators before they could leave the mine. A rescue team helped them out and they appeared unharmed, though they were taken to a hospital as a precaution.

There were 54 miners underground at the time of the fire. It was not clear yet how the fire started on a drill rig about 800 feet below ground.

Arrest for stolen ring spoils engagement

Burlington, Vt. – A diamond engagement ring didn’t have the outcome a Vermont man had hoped for. His girlfriend said yes, but the ring landed him in jail.

Burlington police said Ryan Jarvis, 25, was charged with stealing the $3,200 ring from a Zales jewelry store.

Jarvis was looking at jewelry in the store for about an hour when he asked to see the 1-carat white gold solitaire ring Monday and then took off with it, WCAX-TV reported.

Police said they received tips that led to a posting on Facebook by Jarvis’ girlfriend in which she showed off the ring. The woman didn’t know the ring was stolen, according to police.