Mine owner issues e-mails

Mine owner issues e-mails

HUNTINGTON, Utah — Faced with a backlash over dimming hopes, a coal mine boss broke his self-imposed silence Monday to issue e-mails lowering expectations that six trapped coal miners will ever be recovered, dead or alive.

Bob Murray, chief executive of Murray Energy Corp., issued an initial statement that promised “we will not be deterred, and we will not leave this mountain until we find our people.” That was followed a few hours later by another release, saying: “We will not leave this mountain until we achieve a resolution to this tragedy.”

The once-outspoken Murray had been noticeably absent from meetings with relatives and from news briefings since three rescuers were killed last week in a tunnel collapse. Family members said they were upset by his absence. But on Monday night, Murray spent more than 45 minutes at a church where some families were gathered. He did not speak to reporters.

As the rescue effort entered its third week, families pushed for rescuers to bore a hole into the mountain wide enough to accommodate a rescue capsule. Such capsules have been used to save miners in other disasters, but the men in the Crandall Canyon mine were thought to be more than 1,500 feet deeper than in previous rescues.

13th body retrieved

MINNEAPOLIS — The remains of the last person missing after an interstate bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River nearly three weeks ago have been found, bringing the official death toll to 13, officials said.

The 13th body is believed to be construction worker Greg Jolstad, 45, who was part of a crew resurfacing the bridge when it fell. He was driving a piece of construction equipment called a skid loader, which is most commonly known by the brand name Bobcat. He was one of 18 construction workers on the bridge working for Progressive Contractors Inc.

Suit seeks lead testing

LOS ANGELES — A family sued Mattel Inc. on Monday, claiming the world’s largest toy maker should pay for testing to determine if children have been exposed to lead from millions of recalled toys. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, said attorney Jeffrey B. Killino in Philadelphia.

The complaint was brought by Adrian and Michael Powell, of Fontana, on behalf of their children, Megan and Morgan. The couple claims Mattel was negligent and should establish a fund in an unspecified amount to pay for medical screening, such as blood tests, and other monitoring. Children who ingest lead-laced paint can suffer brain damage, but no injuries have been reported as a result of the recalled toys.

Midwest, Plains pounded

GAYS MILLS, Wis. — Relentless thunderstorms pounded parts of the Midwest and the Plains on Monday, causing mudslides, washing out bridges and flooding towns. At least 12 people have died since the weekend.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Erin dumped heavy rain in southwest Missouri on Monday, leaving one town temporarily cut off. Over the weekend in Oklahoma, the same system swamped buildings, led to dozens of water rescues and left six dead.

In southwestern Wisconsin on Monday, emergency workers braced for more rain and flooding. A storm system over the weekend left six dead in southeastern Minnesota; one man was still missing Monday.

In Missouri, some of the worst damage was in Pleasant Hope, a town of 700 residents near Springfield. Dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed, emergency management director Rick Davis said. Some parts of the town got 15 inches of rain in a four-hour period.

Security discussed

MONTEBELLO, Canada — Security issues highlighted the North American summit Monday where President Bush and the leaders of Mexico and Canada are crafting a plan to secure their borders in case of a terrorist strike or other emergency.

Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper want to find a way to protect citizens in an emergency — perhaps an outbreak of avian flu or a natural disaster — without the tie-ups that slowed commerce after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Calderon is cutting short his trip to Canada to return home to manage his own natural disaster: Hurricane Dean is bearing down on the Yucatan Peninsula. Maurico Guerrero, a spokesman for the Mexican embassy in Canada, said Calderon will attend all the events today at the summit, but his schedule has been streamlined and he will no longer stay another day, as planned.

The three leaders are also seeking middle ground on issues ranging from energy to trade, food safety to immigration. Few, if any, formal announcements are expected at the meeting at a highly secured red cedar chateau along the banks of the Ottawa River.

Associated Press