Strong earthquake shakes Mexico City

Strong earthquake shakes Mexico City

MEXICO CITY

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico’s western Guerrero state Saturday night, shaking buildings and causing some panic just over 100 miles away in the nation’s capital. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Service estimated the quake’s magnitude at 6.7, after an initial reading of 6.8. It said the quake was centered about 26 miles southwest of Iguala in Guerrero. That is 103 miles south-southwest of Mexico City.

High-rises swayed in the center of Mexico City, and shoppers were temporarily herded out of some shopping centers.

People in one part of the capital’s upscale Condesa neighborhood ran out of their houses and gathered in the streets, hugging each other while some shook and began to cry.

On one street, a group of women joined hands in a circle, closed their eyes and began to pray.

“Please God, help us and let everything be OK,” said one. “It’s OK. It’s OK. Everything is OK.”

Brown declares state of emergency

LOS ANGELES

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Saturday in Los Angeles County to provide state and federal assistance to cities affected by the Nov. 30 windstorm.

The announcement comes a day after state officials toured the storm-damaged region, led by Mike Dayton, acting director of the California Emergency Management Agency.

State Assemblyman Mike Eng praised the governor’s actions. Eng said he also would call on local leaders to assess how the region can prepare for the next natural disaster.

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino said he was “ecstatic” that Brown had declared the state of emergency and happy that the San Gabriel Valley “can be reimbursed for their costs and we can dig out of this disaster before the rains come that might do further harm to our neighborhoods.”

Protests end with hint of change

MOSCOW

Tens of thousands of people held the largest anti-government protests that post-Soviet Russia has ever seen to criticize electoral fraud and demand an end to Vladimir Putin’s rule. Police showed surprising restraint, and state-controlled TV gave the nationwide demonstrations unexpected airtime, but there is no indication the opposition is strong enough to push for real change from the prime minister or his ruling party. Nonetheless, the prime minister seems to be in a weaker position than he was a week ago, before Russians voted in parliamentary elections. His United Party lost a substantial share of its seats, although it retains a majority.

Owner of dog won’t be charged

RENO, Nev.

Texas animal-control officers say the owner of an emaciated dog seized at Reno-Tahoe International Airport last month after a baggage handler refused to load the animal on a plane won’t face abuse charges.

The officers told the Reno Gazette-Journal that the animal is now in good condition and doing fine.

Officials in Corpus Christi, Texas, made the announcement after a Reno veterinarian who treated the dog before it was shipped back to Texas said it had been “worked very hard” on a Nevada hunting trip but it wasn’t abused.

Baggage handler Lynn Jones was fired Nov. 12 after refusing to load the dog because it had lesions on its body and bleeding paws. Her employer, St. Louis-based Airport Terminal Services, investigated the incident and rehired her Wednesday.

The dog’s owner has not been identified.

Wire reports