Nation in brief: Weather helps wildfire fight
Improved weather on Sunday helped crews tamp down several Northern California wildfires that destroyed dozens of homes and prompted thousands of residents to evacuate.
Evacuation centers began shutting their doors as many of the 9,000 residents who fled from in and around the town of Paradise returned Sunday to see the damage.
At least 74 homes were destroyed and 20 others damaged in the Paradise area, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The blaze had charred about 36 square miles, said Scott Upton, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The wildfire was 50 percent contained Sunday morning and Upton said crews expected to have it fully surrounded today.
NEW YORK
Victims seek bin Laden fortune
As the United States continues its manhunt for Osama bin Laden, victims of Sept. 11 are in the midst of their own bin Laden pursuit: his family’s vast fortune.
Victims and survivors of the 2001 attack and insurance companies say the bin Laden family failed to cut off ties with their infamous relative after learning he was devising terrorism plots and should be held liable for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Lawyers for the victims and survivors argued Thursday that the family members are getting off easy in defending against the claims that they turned a blind eye after learning of his terrorist leanings in 1993.
The lawyers asked a judge in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to let them seek more information to prove their claim. Their lawsuit targets the Saudi Binladin Group, along with numerous banks, charities and individuals worldwide, alleging that they provided material support and assistance to al-Qaida before Sept. 11.
GALVESTON, Texas
Boaters rescued after vessel sinks
The Coast Guard rescued seven people, including two children, who took shelter on an oil rig after their pleasure boat started sinking early Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico.
The boaters were rescued about 23 miles southeast of Galveston.
The New Buckaneer, an offshore supply ship, picked up a mayday call from the boaters and relayed it to the Coast Guard about 8 a.m. The distress call said the Mako, a 20-foot pleasure craft, was sinking and all seven passengers were in the water.
A Coast Guard rescue boat sent to the scene picked up the seven from the oil platform.
The boaters were reported to be in good condition, Coast Guard Petty Officer Renee Aiello said. All were wearing life jackets at the time of the rescue.