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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Firefighters progress in L.A.-area wildfire

From Wire Reports

GLENDORA, Calif. – Firefighters said Sunday they continued their steady progress in surrounding a wildfire near Los Angeles that destroyed several homes.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire was 78 percent contained, with full containment expected Wednesday.

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents who fled the blaze in suburbs about 25 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles returned home Saturday evening as red-flag warnings of extremely dangerous fire conditions expired. Five homes were destroyed and 17 other houses, garages and other structures were damaged, according to early assessments.

Mom claims she killed kids due to evil spirits

GERMANTOWN, Md. – A Maryland woman charged with killing two of her children has told investigators that she thought an exorcism was necessary to remove the presence of the devil and evil spirits, a police captain said Sunday.

Zakieya Latrice Avery, 28, of Germantown, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of the children, ages 1 and 2. Montgomery County police responded to Avery’s home Friday morning following a neighbor’s 911 call. Police said they found the two children dead and two other siblings, ages 5 and 8, injured with stabbing wounds.

Another woman charged in the killings, Monifa Denise Sanford, 21, made similar statements during questioning, police said.

Philanthropists pick up ‘Batkid’ costs

SAN FRANCISCO – The city of San Francisco is being rescued from paying the cost of staging the “Batkid” fantasy that captured the nation’s imagination.

Philanthropists John and Marcia Goldman are picking up the city’s $105,000 tab for allowing Miles Scott, a 5-year-old Northern California boy with leukemia, to fight villains and rescue a damsel in distress as a caped crusader on Nov. 15.

Maria Kong of the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation confirmed a San Francisco Chronicle report Sunday about the gift.

City officials say most of the $105,000 in public funds went toward renting a sound system, video screens and other equipment to accommodate the crowds that turned out to see “Batkid.” The elaborate fantasy was arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.