California
Singer Simone Battle found dead at her LA-area home
LOS ANGELES – Girl group singer Simone Battle was found dead in her West Hollywood home, authorities said Saturday.
Battle gained notoriety through performances on the television show “X Factor.” Her five-member band – G.R.L., originally a reboot of the Pussycat Dolls – had been signed by Dr. Luke.
Battle was found dead at home Friday morning, according to Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department Lt. David Smith. An autopsy will be performed today, he said.
Wildfire near Yosemite forces evacuations
MARIPOSA, Calif. – An evacuation order for 300 homes near Yosemite National Park remained in effect Saturday as firefighters battled a wildfire scorching about 300 acres in Central California.
Cal Fire reported that firefighters had contained about 25 percent of the blaze. The fire broke out Friday afternoon.
People in an additional 400 homes were being advised to evacuate. No damage had been reported. One minor injury was reported, but Cal Fire didn’t provide details.
The area is about 15 miles southwest of Yosemite. A portion of California Highway 49 that leads into the park has been closed.
Meanwhile in far northern California, a blaze that broke out nearly four weeks ago grew to nearly 130 square miles.
A red flag warning for dangerous fire conditions near that blaze was extended to Saturday night, but it has yet to damage any homes or buildings. It’s 25 percent contained.
Lebanon
Islamic State group beheads 2nd captive Lebanese soldier
BEIRUT – The mother of a Lebanese soldier held captive by the militant Islamic State group said photographs posted online Saturday purporting to show his beheading appeared to be real.
Zeinab Noun said her son, Abbas Medlej, was “sacrificed” after supporters of the militant Sunni group posted images appearing to show a captured Lebanese soldier before and after he was beheaded.
Medlej would be the second captive Lebanese soldier killed by the Islamic State group, underscoring the grave challenges that face the ill-equipped Lebanese military as it fends off an unprecedented threat from Syria-based militants.
Yemen
Clashes between rebels; tribesmen end up killing 40
SANAA, Yemen – Clashes in Yemen between Shiite rebels and Islamist tribesmen killed 40 people over two days in the country’s north, local security officials and tribal leaders said Saturday.
The combat took place in al-Jawf province, where Hawthi rebels fought tribesmen who are backed by an army unit and allied with the Muslim Brotherhood’s Islah party.
The officials said 18 of the Hawthis and 22 of the tribesmen were killed in the battle, and dozens on both sides were wounded.
Mexico
Hurricane drenches Baja, prompting evacuations
LOS CABOS, Mexico – Rains and high surf brought by Hurricane Norbert damaged more than 1,000 homes and forced thousands of people to seek higher ground as the storm roared northward off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
Norbert weakened late Saturday afternoon but still remained a powerful Category 2 storm with winds of up to 105 mph. Though staying away from land, it was near enough the coast to drench fishing villages and resorts and pound beaches.
Associated Press
