Fire near Yosemite almost contained

Los Angeles Times

MARIPOSA, Calif. — Rural residents began returning to charred neighborhoods as firefighters continued to make good progress Thursday toward containing a destructive blaze that has scorched 50 square miles of Sierra terrain west of Yosemite.

About 100 residences outside the towns of Mariposa and Midpines along Highway 140 remained off limits, but fire officials expressed hope that people who live there could return soon.

Firefighters also have prevented the ty

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — At least three people have died and two are missing from the two-day recreational season for Florida lobster.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says a man was diving off the Florida Keys Thursday morning when he surfaced in distress and lost consciousness. The man, who was not identified by authorities, died at a hospital. The Coast Guard was also searching for two divers who went missing separately, off Key Biscayne and Vero Beach.