Washington, D.C.
National zoo will try again for exam of baby panda
Caretakers at Washington’s National Zoo hope to get the first close look at a newborn panda cub during a weekend exam.
During the checkup, officials will try to listen to the cub’s heart and lungs, record its weight and collect a DNA sample. The minutes-long health assessment was initially planned for Saturday, but mom Mei Xiang didn’t give keepers an opportunity to take her cub, which was born Friday evening and is about the size of a stick of butter.
Brandie Smith, the zoo’s curator of mammals, says she and others are “cautiously optimistic” about this cub’s health. She compared the planned exam to a race car pit stop, a fast and highly choreographed checkup before reuniting mom and cub.
Tennessee
Former Fort Campbell officer cleared of charge
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The former head of the sex harassment program at Fort Campbell has been cleared of charges stemming from a domestic dispute.
But Lt. Col. Darin Hass, who was immediately removed from the position after his arrest, told The Tennessean that the situation damaged his reputation and his career.
Hass was charged in May with violating a protective order and stalking after his ex-wife filed a complaint against him.
Haas’ attorney, Stacy Turner, said authorities voluntarily dismissed the charges after a meeting revealed details of a contentious divorce. The judge issued an order to dismiss the charges on Wednesday.
Haas says he will have to fight to restore his good name.
His retirement from the Army is expected to become final in December.
California
Hannah Anderson’s mom, brother memorialized
SANTEE, Calif. – Calling their deaths “an abomination,” a priest memorialized a mother and young son killed by a family friend who also abducted the woman’s 16-year-old daughter.
The service Saturday for Christina Anderson and 8-year-old Ethan Anderson at the Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church in Santee was open to the public.
The Los Angeles Times reports Rev. Kevin Casey told the memorial gathering that the community was “touched by this evil, and we can never be the same again.”
The mother and son were found at the home of James Lee DiMaggio, who set it ablaze earlier this month.
DiMaggio was killed by FBI agents Aug. 10 in the Idaho wilderness.
New York
68 dogs found after fire reported at home
NEW YORK – Sixty-eight dogs have been rescued from a blaze in a New York City home.
Fire officials say the fire in the two-story house in Staten Island was reported on Friday evening. It was extinguished in about a half hour.
No injuries were reported.
Officials say the owner of the single-family home was a hoarder who collected small-breed dogs as well as trash. Some of the animals were kept in a yard next to the house.
Richard Gentles of Animal Care & Control of NYC says the dogs were removed to a shelter. He says a medical team is evaluating them and caring for them.
Fire marshals are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Associated Press
