CALIFORNIA SUN: A blistering heat wave persisted across much of California on Saturday and kept energy demand high, while forecasters gave hope that the misery might let up soon. The mercury surged up and down the state Saturday: 95 degrees in San Jose, 105 in San Diego, 107 in Burbank, 107 in San Luis Obispo. A record high was recorded at Long Beach Airport, where the mercury hit 100 degrees.
BUS CRASH: A charter bus carrying more than 50 passengers to a church camp in Texas slammed into the back of a pickup truck on an Oklahoma highway Saturday, killing the truck’s driver. No one on the bus was injured in the afternoon accident.
ALASKA RELIEF? Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is asking the Legislature to give every Alaskan $1,200 as energy cost relief. The $741 million proposal was criticized by some legislators as a shortsighted government handout and applauded by others as needed help with high energy costs. Palin said she wants the one-time payments to go out to Alaskans by September.
NO TAKERS: A New Mexico couple have ended their effort to award their home to the winner of an essay contest, citing a dearth of entries. Todd and Tiffany Lovell received only 675 entries by Friday’s deadline, well short of the 2,500 they had hoped for. They charged $100 per 500-word essay to enter the contest.
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Page compiled from Tribune news services
