The nation in brief

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

QUOTE OF THE DAY “I just don’t like the concept of drones flying over barbecues in New York to see whether you have a Big Gulp in your backyard or whether you are separating out your recyclables according to the city mandates.” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., referring to a New York City ban on supersize soft drinks, on expanding the use of unmanned aircraft Article, 1APolice deaths by guns fewest since 1887

WASHINGTON - The number of law-enforcement officers killed by firearms in 2013 fell to levels not seen since the 19th century, according to a report released Monday.

The annual report from the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund also found that deaths in the line of duty overall fell 8 percent and were at the lowest level since 1959.

According to the report, 111 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty nationwide this year, compared with 121 in 2012.

Forty-six officers were killed in traffic-related accidents, and 33 were killed by firearms.

The number of firearms deaths fell 33 percent in 2013 and was the lowest since 1887.

The report credits an increased culture of safety among law-enforcement agencies, including increased use of bullet-resistant vests, that came after a spike in deaths in 2011.

Judge orders brain-dead girl kept alive

OAKLAND, Calif. - The family of a girl who was declared brain dead after what was supposed to be a routine tonsillectomy received another reprieve Monday from a judge who ordered the 13-year-old to be kept on life support for another week.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital Oakland say Jahi McMath will never recover, so they want to take her off the machines that are keeping her body functioning. Her family wants to continue life support, saying they have hope she will pull through.

Shortly before a 3 p.m. deadline Monday that was set in a previous ruling, Judge Evelio Grillo of Alameda County Superior Court ordered the hospital to keep her on a ventilator until Jan. 7.

Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer filed suit in federal court, requesting that the hospital be compelled to perform a tracheotomy for breathing and to insert a feeding tube - procedures that would allow Jahi to be transferred to a facility willing to care for her. The hospital has said it’s unethical to perform surgery on a person who is legally dead.

Train derails, burns; N.D. advice is to flee

CASSELTON, N.D. - Authorities urged residents to evacuate a small North Dakota town Monday night after a mile-long train carrying crude oil derailed outside of town, shaking residents with a series of explosions that sent flames and black smoke skyward.

The Cass County sheriff’s office said it was “strongly recommending” that people in Casselton and anyone living 5 miles to the south and east to evacuate. A shelter has been set up in Fargo, which is about 25 miles away. Casselton has about 2,400 residents.

The sheriff’s office said the National Weather Service forecast a shift in the weather that could increase the risk of potential health hazards.

“That’s going to put the plume right over the top of Casselton,” Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said at a news briefing.

BNSF Railway Co. says it believes that about 20 cars caught fire after its oil train left the tracks about 2:10 p.m.

Monday. The sheriff’s office says it thinks that 10 cars were on fire. No one was hurt.

The cars were still burning as darkness fell, and authorities said they would be allowed to burn out.

Clevelander admits sex crimes, 2 murders

CLEVELAND - A convicted sex offender pleaded guilty Monday to hundreds of charges, including the murders of two women more than 15 years ago.

Elias Acevedo entered the pleas in a hushed courtroom as relatives of some of the victims watched, many wiping away tears.

Acevedo, 49, agreed to plead guilty to 297 counts, including kidnapping and raping children. He accepted a life prison term under the plea deal.

The murder charges involve a Cleveland neighbor, Pamela Pemberton, who was killed in 1994, and 18-year-old Christina Adkins, who was pregnant when she disappeared in 1995.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 12/31/2013