In brief: Brown defends drought order terms

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday defended his order requiring Californians statewide to cut back on their water use in a historic mandate that spares those who consume the most – farmers.

As California endures a fourth year of drought, Brown’s order this week requires towns and cities statewide to draw down water use by 25 percent compared with 2013 levels. While past reductions were voluntary, Brown said he is using his emergency powers to make the cuts mandatory.

Martha Raddatz, host of ABC’s “This Week” public affairs program, asked Brown why the order doesn’t extend to California farmers, who consume 80 percent of the state’s water supply but make up less than 2 percent of the state’s economy. Brown said farmers aren’t using water frivolously on their lawns or taking long showers.

“They’re providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America to a significant part of the world,” he said.

Roof collapse injures several in N.J. church

RAHWAY, N.J. – Authorities say several people were injured when the roof of a northern New Jersey church collapsed during an Easter Sunday service.

Congregants were reportedly singing at the Korean Union United Methodist Church in Rahway when they heard a cracking sound from above and debris began falling on them.

One person was seriously injured; about a dozen others had minor injuries. The injured people reportedly were members of a separate congregation that rents out space at the church. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

It’s not known what caused the collapse.