Tropical storm’s wind, rain move across Fla. beach town
Jacksonville Beach, Fla. – Brisk wind and forceful rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia moved through this beachside community Wednesday, sending tourists scurrying inland and driving surfers out of the churning Atlantic.
The tropical depression off the coast strengthened into a tropical storm early Wednesday and could bring strong winds and heavy rain to central and northern Florida over the next few days.
The Jacksonville area is one of the few spots spared any serious damage from the six hurricanes that have hit the state in the past 13 months.
“We have to wait and see what (Ophelia) is going to do. The possibilities are endless,” said Steve Letro, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
Without strong steering currents, it was impossible to say what path Ophelia would take or whether it would reach hurricane strength, Letro said. Some computer models had the storm moving farther east and away from the coast, others had it going west, closer to shore, and some showed it heading east and then looping back toward the state.
At 11 p.m. EDT, Ophelia, the 15th named storm of the season, was centered 85 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral.
BOSTON
Gay-marriage ban passes key hurdle
A proposed ballot initiative that would ban gay marriage in Massachusetts passed a key hurdle Wednesday when the state attorney general ruled it would be permitted under a section of the state constitution allowing voters to overturn court decisions.
The action by Attorney General Tom Reilly, a Democrat who is expected to run for governor next year, clears the way for conservative groups to begin the long process of gathering signatures and lobbying lawmakers in hopes of putting the issue before voters in 2008.
Supporters must gather the signatures of at least 65,825 Massachusetts voters. If they are successful, the question then must by approved by 25 percent of two successive sittings of the 200-member state legislature.
BERLIN
Chancellor’s party gains after TV debate
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s party clawed back some support following his televised debate last weekend with opposition leader Angela Merkel, a poll showed Wednesday as they clashed in their last parliamentary encounter before the Sept. 18 election.
The poll by the Forsa institute showed Merkel’s preferred alliance of her Christian Democrats with the pro-business Free Democrats just short of a majority after Schroeder, a skilled debater, performed strongly in Sunday’s debate – deepening uncertainty over which coalition will emerge.
It showed support for Schroeder’s Social Democrats rose by 3 percentage points from last week to 34 percent, while the Christian Democrats were down a point at 42 percent.
TOKYO
Strong storm kills 16, stirs landslides, floods
A powerful tropical storm churned northward through the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and leaving landslides and flooded towns in its wake.
The storm made landfall late Wednesday night on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, where up to 10 inches of rain was expected by early today, the Meteorological Agency said.
It lost strength Wednesday as it rolled over the Sea of Japan and was downgraded to a tropical storm. But it still was churning winds of up to 67 mph, the agency said.
KINGSTON, Jamaica
Leaders accuse foes of damaging economy
The government Wednesday accused the main opposition party of hurting Jamaica’s productivity, a day after widespread street protests that left one man dead, blocked roads and forced most businesses and schools to close.
Police began clearing roadblocks of fallen trees, burned- out cars, tires and other debris that demonstrators had pushed into the streets Tuesday to protest the rising cost of water, electricity and public transportation.
The opposition Jamaica Labor Party, which has accused Prime Minister P.J. Patterson’s government of hurting the poor by raising prices for public utilities and bus fares, led the demonstrations.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska
Webcams to be off during walrus hunt
Popular Web cameras that allow viewers to watch live video of Pacific walruses will be shut off this week at the request of Alaska Natives.
Leaders do not want viewers to see the animals shot and butchered during a fall subsistence hunt, fearing widespread Internet images could threaten the tradition.
Helen Chythlook, executive director of the Bristol Bay Native Association’s Qayassiq Walrus Commission, said that Alaska Natives have the right to conduct the walrus hunt in privacy.
“When you go deer hunting, you don’t want a camera shining on you,” Chythlook said.
BOULDER, Mont.
Ex-doc pleads guilty in euthanasia case
A former doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to negligent homicide for giving an elderly patient a combination of drugs that hastened her death and to charges that he used other people’s identities to get drugs for himself. James Bischoff initially pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide, arguing he was trying to ease the 85-year-old woman’s pain after her health deteriorated.
