Baby falls into arms of neighbor

A baby girl dangling by one hand from a third-floor balcony was unhurt after falling into the arms of a neighbor who waited underneath, police said Sunday.

The 9-month-old’s mother had left her with her 10- and 13-year-old brothers Saturday while she went to work, police said. The boys left the apartment, and the girl crawled through a door they had left open.

Mary Bussey waited under the child while her son ran upstairs, and the girl fell into her arms.

Officials said the baby was healthy and safe.

SALT LAKE CITY

Mormon leader claims good health

Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assured Mormons at their twice-yearly conference Sunday that his health is fine, despite major surgery this year.

Hinckley, 96, was hospitalized for six days last winter after a cancerous growth was removed from his colon.

“My doctors have called the results miraculous,” he told the conference. “I know that the favorable results come from your many prayers on my behalf. I am deeply grateful to you.” He went on to say that “when it is time for a successor, the transition will be smooth.”

There had been concern after he skipped presiding over the church’s April conference for the first time in his 11-year presidency.

OJAI, Calif.

Firefighters finally get upper hand

Firefighters were in the final stage Sunday of surrounding one of the biggest blazes in state history, which has burned 254 square miles of brush and timber since erupting Labor Day.

The fire was 87 percent contained, and officials expected to have it fully surrounded by today.

Scores of weary firefighters have been leaving the fire front and heading home. More than 3,300 crew members remained overnight but an additional 1,200 were scheduled to be released Sunday, fire officials said.

Firefighting costs have been estimated at more than $67 million.

NEW YORK

Detention waiting for tardy parents

A public school is requiring detention for parents who get their kids to school late.

Under the new rule at the Manhattan School for Children, parents who don’t drop off their children by 8:25 a.m. have to pick up late slips from the principal’s office and go to the auditorium to serve 20 minutes of detention with them.

“The parents need to make the breakfast, get the children dressed and get them to school on time,” principal Susan Rappaport told the New York Post for Sunday’s editions.

Some tardy parents at the school, which has 660 pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade, complained the detention made them late for work. But others approved, saying they felt humiliated and won’t show up late again.

Compiled from wire reports