CALIFORNIA HEAT WAVE

California heat wave
FRESNO, Calif. -- Corpses piled up at the morgue Thursday, and aid workers went door-to-door, checking in on elderly people in hopes of keeping the death toll from California's 12-day heat wave from rising. California coroner's offices said the number of deaths possibly connected to the heat wave climbed to 90. In Fresno County's morgue, the walk-in freezer was stuffed with bodies, with some piled on top of others, said Coroner Loralee Cervantes. With limited air conditioning, employees worked in sweltering heat as they investigated at least 22 possible heat-related deaths. "It's never been like this in my years here," Cervantes said. "This is really tragic." The mercury dropped slightly in some areas, with Sacramento expected to get its first double-digit high in 12 days, but Fresno and Bakersfield were expected to hit 109. In Stanislaus County, which includes Modesto, officials were investigating whether sizzling temperatures were responsible for 20 deaths.
Grenade launcher amongweapons seized in raid
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. -- Two men were arrested after investigators uncovered a stockpile of 100 weapons at their homes that included assault rifles, submachine guns and a grenade launcher. John Acompora, 46, and Gregory Brozski, 57, were charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They both pleaded innocent and were released until later court dates. "Simply put, there is absolutely no legitimate purpose to possess any of these weapons, no legitimate purpose at all," said prosecutor Thomas Spota. Acting on a tip, investigators searched Acompora's home Sunday in West Islip on Long Island and seized about 50 weapons, they said. Investigators searched Brozski's New York City home Tuesday and seized approximately 50 more weapons, including four Uzi submachine guns and a grenade launcher, prosecutors said. Acompora's attorney, Frank Panetta, said his client has cooperated and did not believe he was doing anything wrong. Brozski did not have an attorney at his arraignment, prosecutors said.
Minimum wage increase
WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders, giving in to political reality, plan a vote to raise the $5.15 minimum wage before leaving Washington this weekend for a five-week recess. "Whether people like it or not, we need to go ahead with it," said Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., who supports the idea. "There's a general agreement among Republicans [opposing the raise] that 'maybe we don't like it much, but we need to move forward with it just for political reasons.'" The No. 3 House GOP leader, Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, said the plan was to have a vote before week's end. But Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Republican leaders were working to pass the increase but that "no decisions have been made." Democrats have made increasing the wage a pillar of their campaign platform and are pushing to raise the wage to $7.25 per hour over two years.
Neighbor charged withkidnapping, death of girl
SALT LAKE CITY -- Prosecutors charged a man Thursday with kidnapping and aggravated murder in the death of a 5-year-old girl, saying he confessed smothering the girl, then sexually assaulting her -- a crime that could bring the death penalty. Destiny Norton had been missing for eight days when police found her body Monday night stuffed in a plastic storage box in a cellar at the man's house just two doors away, prosecutor Bob Stott said at a news conference to announce the charges Thursday. The neighbor, Craig Roger Gregerson, 20, will be appointed a defense lawyer at a court appearance scheduled for today, he said. Destiny's parents, Rich and Rachael Norton, were in seclusion Thursday and making funeral plans for their daughter, but a close friend speaking on their behalf said Gregerson should be executed. Brooks and other friends said Gregerson had volunteered to help search for the girl and lighted a candle in a vigil outside the family's home before he led police to her body.
Associated Press