Philippines calls for foreign aid after floods kill 240; eyes turn to new storms in Pacific

MANILA, Philippines — The toll from floods in the northern Philippines rose to at least 284 dead or missing Tuesday as bedraggled victims queued up for aid and Typhoon Ketsana roared into Vietnam.

Typhoon Ketsana kills more than 300 in path of destruction across Southeast Asia

MANILA, Philippines — One of the most destructive storms in years extended its deadly path across Southeast Asia, blowing down wooden villages in Cambodia and crushing Vietnamese houses under mudslides after submerging much of the Philippine capital.

Officials say the death toll in Philippines flooding climbs to 240

MANILA, Philippines — Officials say the death toll in the massive flooding in the Philippine capital and surrounding areas has climbed to 240 people, with 37 others missing.

Calif. residents want federal investigation of initial response to massive LA-area wildfire

LOS ANGELES — People affected by the massive wildfire that burned about 250 square miles northeast of Los Angeles are calling for a federal investigation into what they say was a poor initial response to the blaze.

Philippine storm leaves 106 dead and missing; rescue effort intensifies in flooded villages

MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers plucked bodies from muddy floodwaters and saved drenched survivors from rooftops Sunday after a tropical storm tore through the northern Philippines and left at least 106 people dead and missing.

Philippine flood victims seek aid in the palace and overseas; death toll hits 246

MANILA, Philippines — Flood victims trudged through ankle-deep sludge to crowded relief centers in the Philippines on Tuesday, as the death toll rose to 246 from water that inundated the homes of nearly 2 million people.

Philippines calls for foreign aid after floods kill 140, leave scores missing; new storm brews

MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers pulled more bodies from swollen rivers Monday as residents started to dig out their homes from under carpets of mud after flooding left 140 people dead in the Philippine capital and surrounding towns.

Philippine storm leaves 75 dead and missing as rescue intensifies in flooded villages

MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers plucked bodies from muddy floodwaters and scrambled to save drenched survivors on rooftops Sunday after a tropical storm tore through the northern Philippines and left 75 people dead or missing in the region’s worst flooding in more than four decades.

Philippine storm toll rises to 140 dead, scores missing; government seeks international help

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has appealed for international help after massive flooding set off by a tropical storm at the weekend left at least 140 dead.

Typhoon Ketsana kills almost 300 in path of destruction across Southeast Asia

MANILA, Philippines — One of the most destructive storms in years extended its deadly path across Southeast Asia, blowing down wooden villages in Cambodia and crushing Vietnamese houses under mudslides after submerging much of the Philippines capital.

Philippines calls for foreign aid after floods kill 240, leave scores missing; new storm brews

MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers pulled more bodies from swollen rivers Monday as residents started to dig out their homes from under carpets of mud after flooding left 240 people dead in the Philippine capital and surrounding towns.

Want Tamiflu with that? Hospitals are using drive-thru ERs, tents, to treat swine flu cases

Fast-food places have them. Banks and pharmacies do, too. Now hospitals are opening drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat a swelling tide of swine flu patients.

Philippine storm leaves 72 dead and missing as rescue intensifies in flooded villages

MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers stepped up their efforts in the northern Philippines on Sunday as the skies started to clear a day after a tropical storm tore through and left more than 70 people killed or missing in the worst flooding in more than four decades.

Clintons close out NYC conference that addressed hunger and other global issues

NEW YORK — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined steps to deal with world hunger in the closing address Friday at the annual global issues conference started by her husband.

Former mayor in Mississippi pleads guilty, gets 3 years probation in Katrina fraud case

GULFPORT, Miss. — A former Gulfport mayor was sentenced to probation Friday in a plea deal on charges that he defrauded a program to help Hurricane Katrina victims rebuild their homes, allowing him and his wife to walk out of court with no prison time.

Biden pledges help to Ga. storm victims; more rain, flooding possible as region recovers

MARIETTA, Ga. — Vice President Joe Biden on Friday pledged the federal government would help Georgia recover from the severe weather that swept through the Southeast, even as rain and the threat of more flooding was forecast for the weekend.

Fire flares at California oil refinery, but no injuries, evacuations reported

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles fire officials say they’ve choked off a fire at an oil refinery south of downtown, but nearby schools are being urged to keep students indoors until the smoke clears.

Central Illinois sheriff says cause of death ‘blunt force trauma’ for slain family members

LINCOLN, Ill. — All five family members slain in their central Illinois home were killed by “blunt force trauma,” a sheriff said Thursday, though he declined to say whether authorities have found any weapons or are looking for more than one suspect.

Japan Airlines president says money-losing carrier applying for public funds

TOKYO — The president of Japan Airlines said Thursday the money-losing carrier is applying for public funds to help turn around the company after it was pummeled by the downturn in global air travel, but it quickly received a reluctant response from the transport minister.

Central Illinois sheriff says autopsies show 5 slain family members were not shot

LINCOLN, Ill. — A sheriff said Wednesday that autopsies on five members of a family found slain in their central Illinois home revealed that none of the victims had been shot, but he refused to reveal the cause of death.

Emergency officials warn Ga. residents of stagnant water as they clean up after floods

ATLANTA — Georgia residents returning Wednesday to homes soaked by days of torrential rains were warned of a hidden danger — disease-causing bacteria and jagged debris harbored by stagnant, murky water.

Southern California wildfire threatens ranches, orchards, homes amid high heat and winds

MOORPARK, Calif. — Firefighters guarded rural homes, ranches and orchards Wednesday as a wind-driven wildfire grew to more than 25 square miles on a march through rugged land between small Southern California communities.

Obama calls Georgia governor, promises “prompt attention” to requests for federal flood help

NEW YORK — President Barack Obama personally assured Georgia officials that requests for federal aid to deal with deadly torrential rains there will “receive prompt attention,” the White House said Wednesday.

California college closed as wildfire spreads over 13 square miles in hot, dry conditions

MOORPARK, Calif. — A California college threatened by a 13-square-mile wildfire has closed as flames burned in hills above the campus.

Wildfire spreads over 8,500 acres in hot, dry Ventura County, 10 percent contained

MOORPARK, Calif. — A wildfire stoked by the notoriously hot and dry Santa Ana winds has burned some 8,500 acres in the hills of Ventura County, where airtankers — including a DC-10 jumbo jet and big helitankers — have bombarded flames with retardant and water.

Gusty Santa Ana winds spread new wildfires in hot, dry Southern California

MOORPARK, Calif. — New wildfires threatened homes in Southern California on Tuesday as hot and dry Santa Ana winds turned the region into a tinder box.

Southeast storm death toll rises to 9; highways, neighborhoods still under water

AUSTELL, Ga. — Neighborhoods, schools and even roller coasters at Six Flags over Georgia were awash in several feet of murky, brown water Tuesday, and officials found a ninth storm victim who had been swept away from her car a day earlier.

Death toll rises to 8 in Southeast floods; flooded highways, washed-out bridges add misery

AUSTELL, Ga. — Neighborhoods, schools and even roller coasters at Six Flags over Georgia were awash in several feet of murky, brown water Tuesday, and officials warned worried residents to wait for the floodwaters to recede before checking out their damaged homes.

Death toll rises to 8 in Southeast floods; rescuers find body of teen boy in Ga. river

ATLANTA — The death toll in Southeast flooding has reached eight after rescuers found the body of a 15-year-old boy in northwest Georgia following days of heavy rain that turned docile creeks into surging rivers.

Flooded highways, roads add misery after Southeast storms kill at least 6 people

ATLANTA — Washed-out roads and flooded interstate highways around Atlanta added to the misery Tuesday after days of torrential rain in the Southeast that claimed at least six lives and left several people missing in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.