‘Star Wars’ hits No. 1

‘Star Wars’ hits No. 1

LOS ANGELES

Move over, “Avatar,” there’s a new force in town. In just 20 days in theaters, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has unseated the James Cameron pic as the No. 1 North American movie of all time.

According to Disney, J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars” earned enough Wednesday to pass “Avatar’s” $760.5 million lifetime gross.

The worldwide record still belongs to “Avatar,” though, and that may continue. “The Force Awakens” has earned $1.6 billion to date, as compared with “Avatar’s” $2.8 billion. “Star Wars” will open in China on Jan. 9, which will give the film a significant boost.

China stocks plunge, market halts again

HONG KONG

Chinese stock trading has been temporarily suspended for the second time this week after “circuit breakers” kicked in after a steep plunge.

The official Xinhua news agency said Thursday that trading on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges was frozen for the day after shares tumbled more than 7 percent.

It’s the latest spasm of investor panic to hit China’s troubled stock markets in recent months.

Governor declares state of emergency

LOS ANGELES

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Wednesday over a massive natural-gas leak that has been spewing methane and other gases into a Los Angeles neighborhood for months, sickening residents and forcing thousands to evacuate.

In a statement, Brown said he acted based on the requests of people in the community of Porter Ranch and the “prolonged and continuing” nature of the gas blowout at the underground storage facility.

The well, owned by Southern California Gas Co., has been gushing up to 1,200 tons of climate-changing methane daily, along with other gases, since it was first reported in October. It will be months before workers can stem the leak, experts say.

Trooper in Bland case is indicted, fired

HEMPSTEAD, TEXAS

A Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland after a contentious traffic stop last summer was fired Wednesday after being charged with perjury after being accused of lying about his confrontation with the black woman who died three days later in jail.

Trooper Brian Encinia claimed in an affidavit that Bland was “combative and uncooperative” after he pulled her over and ordered her out of her car. The grand jury identified that affidavit in charging Encinia with perjury, special prosecutor Shawn McDonald said Wednesday night.

Hours after the indictment, the Texas Department of Public Safety said it would “begin termination proceedings” against Encinia, who has been on paid desk duty since Bland was found dead in her cell. Bland’s arrest and death – which authorities ruled a suicide – drew the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement.

EPA says pesticide is a threat to bees

An insecticide widely used on grains, vegetables, fruit and other crops nationwide threatens honeybees, federal environmental regulators said in a decision that could lend impetus to efforts to ban the chemical.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that imidacloprid, a nicotine-imitating chemical found in at least 188 farm and household products in California, “potentially poses risk to hives when the pesticide comes in contact with certain crops that attract pollinators.”

The EPA’s decision was prompted by increasing concern that the chemicals might be contributing to the sudden collapse of commercial honey bee colonies over the last decade.

Combined dispatches