Mississippi man has 130-pound tumor removed

Mississippi man has 130-pound tumor removed

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.

A Mississippi man who was told he was simply fat has had a 130-pound tumor removed during an operation in Bakersfield.

Roger Logan of Gulfport had the surgery on Jan. 31. He’s staying at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital for another week or so.

His surgeon says the tumor probably began as an ingrown hair on his abdomen that became infected. It grew so large that when he sat it reached the floor. He spent most of his time in an armchair in a room.

Logan tells KERO-TV that at first, doctors told him he was just fat. Later, he was told surgery was too risky.

Logan tells the Bakersfield Californian that he’s found a specialist to remove it.

Experts: Fewer than 30 vaquita porpoises remain

MEXICO CITY

International experts studying Mexico’s endangered vaquita porpoise have determined that fewer than 30 remain in the upper Gulf of California, the only place they live.

The experts and the Mexican government have drawn up plans to catch the few remaining vaquitas and enclose them in pens for protection and possible breeding.

The World Wildlife Fund says that is not the answer. The fund said Monday that “the only way to save the vaquita from extinction is for the Mexican government to immediately and indefinitely ban all fisheries within its habitat.”

The WWF published a link to a study done in November by an international committee of experts that found vaquita numbers declined 90 percent the last five years and estimating there are probably less than 30 now.

New Zealand leader has ‘sensible, polite’ talk with Trump

WELLINGTON, New Zealand

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Bill English says he told President Donald Trump during a phone call that he disagreed with his travel and refugee ban but that the conversation remained amicable.

Last week Trump had a testy exchange with Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a deal Australia reached with the Obama administration to resettle refugees in the U.S.

By contrast, English on Tuesday told Radio New Zealand that his 15-minute call with Trump on Monday was a “sensible, polite discussion” that affirmed the good relationship between the countries.

English said he told Trump he disagreed with the contested refugee ban but didn’t berate him over it.

“I’m not there to scold him, although a lot of people might like us to do that,” English said.

Transients plead guilty to 2 murders

SAN FRANCISCO

Two young transients have pleaded guilty to killing a Canadian tourist who was camping in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park during a music festival and a yoga teacher walking his dog on popular hiking trail two days apart in 2015.

The Marin County District Attorney’s office announced the pleas Monday.

Prosecutors say 24-year-old Morrison Lampley has agreed serve 100 years in prison and 19-year-old Lila Scott Alligood has agreed to 50 years in prison after each pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. Lampley’s sentence was double Alligood’s because he pulled the trigger in both murders.

Sean Angold, 25, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges and will be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The trio robbed and killed 23-year-old Audrey Carey and 67-year-old Steve Carter.

Associated Press