U.S. & WORLD NEWS DIGEST| 1 missing after Idaho mine collapse

1 missing after Idaho mine collapse

BOISE, Idaho

A rescue team worked to find a missing miner at a northern Idaho silver mine Saturday by clearing debris from a collapsed tunnel more than a mile underground, officials said.

Hecla Mining Co. President Phil Baker said the collapse at the Lucky Friday Mine occurred Friday afternoon close to where two employees were working. One worker escaped without injuries, but there’s been no contact with the other, whose condition was unknown.

The missing miner’s name was not released.

“We are doing every effort possible to expedite this in a safe manner,” said Melanie Hennessey, a company spokeswoman. “It is a rescue mission.”

The mine is in Mullan, Idaho, a historic mountain mining town of 840 people in Idaho’s Panhandle.

Plane lands on busy New Orleans road

NEW ORLEANS

A small plane made an emergency landing Saturday on a busy boulevard median in New Orleans and struck a van carrying three women and two children.

The pilot hurt his arm but there were no other injuries.

Police spokesman Garry Flot says 60-year-old pilot Houston Hunter told police that his single-engine Piper was flying at 13,000 feet when it suffered mechanical trouble and had to land.

He landed on the wide, grassy median of the boulevard in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood and struck the minivan after touching down.

Another air controller naps; changes coming

WASHINGTON

The Federal Aviation Administration changed air traffic control work schedules Saturday, acknowledging it has a widespread problem with fatigue after another controller fell asleep on duty — this time in Miami.

“We are taking important steps today that will make a real difference in fighting air traffic controller fatigue. But we know we will need to do more. This is just the beginning,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement.

Raul Castro proposes term limits in Cuba

HAVANA

Raul Castro proposed term limits for Cuban politicians Saturday — including himself — a remarkable gesture on an island ruled for 52 years by him and his brother. The 79-year-old president lamented the lack of young leaders in government, saying the country was paying the price for errors made in the past.

Castro told delegates to a crucial Communist Party summit that he would launch a “systematic rejuvenation” of the government.

Syrian president vows to lift emergency law

BEIRUT

Bowing to pressure from a popular uprising, Syria’s president promised Saturday to end nearly 50 years of emergency rule this coming week but coupled his concession with a stern warning — that further unrest will be considered sabotage.

The protest movement has been steadily growing over the past four weeks, posing a serious challenge to the 40-year ruling dynasty of President Bashar Assad and his father before him.

Associated Press