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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2008

California Battles Fire's Wrath

LOS ANGELES - Southern Californians weathered a second straight day of devastation Saturday as wind-blasted wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes, shut down major freeways and forced thousands of residents to flee to safety.

A fire that ravaged the Sylmar community in the hillsides above Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley grew to 6,500 acres - more than 10 square miles. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, a day after he did so for the northwest in Santa Barbara County, where 111 homes burned to the ground Thursday night in the wealthy, star-studded community of Montecito.

As many as 30 homes, some of them apparently mansions, burned in a fire in Orange and Riverside counties, officials said.
Fire officials estimated 10,000 people were under orders to evacuate.

Texas Episcopal Body Splits

DALLAS - The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth voted Saturday by a broad majority of clergy and lay delegates to leave the national church and align itself with a South American province, in the fourth such departure since decades of contention over church reforms culminated with the consecration of an openly gay bishop in 2003.

The diocese was welcomed Saturday into the Province of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina, but the realignment is expected to be temporary while the diocese works to establish a conservative U.S. province of the Anglican Communion, diocese leaders said.

Iraqis To Vote On Pact Today

BAGHDAD - Iraq's Cabinet will vote today on a security pact with Washington that would keep U.S. forces in the country for another three years, a major step in efforts to balance Iraqi demands for national sovereignty with the security concerns of the two allies.

A senior official at Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's office said the cleric told legislators the document represented "the best available option" for Iraq, signaling that he would not object to it if the Cabinet and parliament approve it.

A wire report

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