Magnitude-4.0 aftershock from earthquake reported

Magnitude-4.0 aftershock from earthquake reported

WEST SALEM, Ill. — More aftershocks shook Southern Illinois on Monday, three days after a magnitude-5.2 quake rattled nerves across the region.

The U.S. Geological Survey said a total of 22 aftershocks had been recorded since last week’s tremor that was centered deep beneath the surface near West Salem.

They included one just before 12:40 a.m. Monday that registered magnitude 4.0 and had its epicenter northwest of Mount Carmel, Ill. That tremor was initially reported as 4.5 but was downgraded during the day.

The strongest aftershock registered magnitude-4.6 about 51‚Ñ2 hours after the original quake Friday morning.

Friday’s quake shook a wide area of the Midwest, including Ohio, and caused minor damage.

Suspicious package found near White House is safe

WASHINGTON — The Secret Service has determined that a suspicious package found on the northeast grounds of the White House is safe.

Agency spokesman Ed Donovan said the package was spotted around 3 p.m. Monday and declared safe about two hours later. He won’t say anything else about the package or whether agents are seeking anyone in the case.

Lafayette Park and Pennsylvania Avenue by the White House are open to pedestrians again after being closed during the investigation.

Parents sought help for teenager, authorities say

CHESTERFIELD, S.C. — A teenager accused of plotting to bomb his high school is a straight-A student whose parents sought help from mental health experts when he slammed his head into a wall last week, authorities said Monday.

Ryan Schallenberger’s parents took him to a hospital three days before his arrest Saturday after he made a 4-inch indentation in the wallboard, prosecutor Jay Hodge said at a court hearing.

Schallenberger, 18, was not badly injured, but his parents also called a local mental health clinic that offered no help, Hodge said. A spokesman for the clinic would not confirm or deny any contact with the family, citing state law.

Hodge said he plans to ask that Schallenberger undergo a mental evaluation at the teenager’s bail hearing today.

Lawmaker asked to leave podium after comments

DENVER — A Colorado legislator known for kicking a photographer was ordered to leave the podium of the state House of Representatives on Monday because he called Mexican workers “illiterate peasants.”

State Rep. Douglas Bruce, who has a history of provoking controversy, made the comment during debate on a bill that would allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary federal visas. The measure is intended to ease a shortage of farm workers in the state.

Associated Press