SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED AFTER A CHEMICAL SMELL FROM AN ANTI-CORROSIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE MENASHA PACKAGING WAREHOUSE IN MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

MARCH 19, 2015

MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Several hundred people were evacuated after a chemical smell in Madison County, Illinois.

The spill happened at Menasha Packaging warehouse along Gateway Commerce Drive off Highway 111 around 9:09 a.m. Everyone in the warehouse has been evacuated.

Asst. Chief Chris Modrusic with the Pontoon Beach Police Department says a tractor-trailer backed up to unload a roll of printed laminate paper. Originally, he said the roll needs to cure for eight hours, but exhaust fumes, coupled with the chemical odors from the drying ink caused a strong odor.

Modrusic later said an investigation by a hazmat team determined a "core metal part for a rail car wheel" was in the tractor-trailer and covered in an anti-corrosive material that can give off fumes. He believes that material may have somehow gotten on the laminate roll.

As a precaution, the 450 employees inside the building were evacuated.

Modrusic says one person suffered a seizure and two others suffered asthma-like symptoms. Two patients were transported to Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, and the other sent to Anderson Hospital in Maryville. Five other people refused treatment

2 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS INJURED IN TURNPIKE CRASH NEAR LAWNSIDE WHEN A MAN CRASHED HIS 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ INTO A CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE LEFT SHOULDER PICKING UP SIGNS

MARCH 19, 2015

A Brooklyn, New York man was charged with assault by auto and driving while intoxicated after injuring two construction workers along the New Jersey Turnpike near Lawnside early Wednesday morning, according to state police from the Moorestown station.

On March 18 around 2:20 a.m., Brian Seymour, 41, was traveling northbound on the Turnpike near milepost 28.5 when he crashed his 2011 Mercedes-Benz into a construction vehicle that was in the left shoulder, according to state police.

The two construction workers injured as a result of the crash were on the rear lift of a truck and in the process of picking up signs, authorities said.

The two workers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Virtua Memorial Hospital, in Mount Holly, and Cooper University Hospital.

Seymour was arrested without incident and charged with DWI, assault by auto and driving while suspended and causing serious bodily injury.

State police couldn't immediately say if speeding was a factor, as the incident remains under investigation.

NEARLY 12K GALLONS OF OILY BRINE WATER SPILL IN NORTH DAKOTA

MARCH 19, 2015

MAXBASS, N.D.

A company involved in a legal action with a Bottineau County landowner reported another spill Wednesday at the same saltwater disposal well with a history of spills.

North Dakota oil regulators say nearly 12,000 gallons of saltwater have spilled at a disposal well in the northern part of the state.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing,” Derrick Braaten, a Bismarck attorney representing Peterson, said of the latest spill.

Peterson, seeking to have his land fully restored, has filed an administrative action against Petro Harvester and other companies. He claims that continued leaks and spills have led to severe contamination of nearby farmland and attempts to clean it up have been inadequate. Hearings are scheduled to begin in June.  I guess this is what happens when you lease your land to a dirty business.

Alison Ritter with the Oil and Gas Division says Petro Harvester Operating Company, LLC, reported the incident Wednesday. The operator says 11,970 gallons of saltwater were released at the Peterson 2 saltwater disposal well in Bottineau County, about six miles north of Maxbass.

Saltwater is an unwanted byproduct of oil production and is considered an environmental hazard by the state. It is many times saltier than sea water and can easily kill vegetation exposed to it.

Ritter says the operator reported that a piping connection leak caused the spill. The water was contained and recovered on site, within the dikes of the well site but that some of it may have overflowed.

A state inspector has visited the location.

SOME OF THE BRAVEST ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SMARTEST, JUST WELL CONNECTED. L.A. COUNTY FIRE EMPLOYEES WILL FACE DISCIPLINE IN TEST CHEATING SCANDAL. THE TIMES REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 13% OF COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS ON THE PAYROLL AS OF 2012 WERE RELATED TO SOMEONE CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY ON THE FORCE, ACCORDING TO BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND OTHER RECORDS

MARCH 18, 2015

A number of Los Angeles County Fire Department employees will face dismissal or lesser punishment as part of a crackdown on cheating in the agency’s hiring process, fire Chief Daryl Osby said Wednesday.

Osby did not disclose the precise number of employees who could be fired or otherwise disciplined, but said it was fewer than 50. An inquiry by the county Auditor-Controller Department found that the employees improperly accessed or shared confidential testing material used to hire firefighters, Osby said.

The inquiry was triggered by a Times investigation last year into nepotism and cheating in the department. The Times reported that at least 13% of county firefighters on the payroll as of 2012 were related to someone currently or previously on the force, according to birth, marriage and other records. In addition, the investigation determined that department insiders could easily get their hands on questions and answers used in interviews of job applicants, material that was supposed to be kept under lock and key.

Osby said employees implicated in the auditor’s probe will be notified of impending discipline within two or three weeks.

“While the numbers show that cheating was far from endemic or widespread, I absolutely will not tolerate any behavior that undermines the integrity of our department,” Osby said in a statement.

He also announced that more than 4,500 people have applied for firefighter positions under a new recruitment regimen that seeks to eliminate nepotism and cheating. The applicants began taking a written examination Wednesday at the Pomona Fairplex. The department also will soon implement its first anti-nepotism policy, he said.

“Today we turn the page from our past and are beginning a new era in the 92-year history of the department,” Osby said.  “We’re opening a chapter of test integrity with an exam process that is fair, transparent and provides equal opportunities for people to work in one of the county’s great public service agencies.”

The moral of the story: SOME OF THE BRAVEST ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SMARTEST, JUST WELL CONNECTED.  We always knew that they cheat.  We also always knew that they fake injuries so they can double dip.  Life.

DOWNTOWN EXPLOSION CAUSED BY SHORT CIRCUIT IN UNDERGROUND CABLES THAT HAD BEEN FRAYED DUE TO ROAD SALTS AND AGE

MARCH 19, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

A pair of underground explosions rocked downtown Indianapolis Thursday morning, prompting a large response from emergency crews.

Indianapolis Power & Light officials will meet with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Friday to discuss the problem as the Circle City gets set to host the Final Four in just a few weeks.

Thursday’s explosion happened at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and North Street. Smoke was seen pouring from manhole covers and at least two manhole covers were sent flying. The initial explosion was reported around 6:45 a.m. while a second followed around 7:30 a.m. IPL said two additional manhole covers were “dislodged.”

The explosion led to power outages in downtown Indianapolis. At one point, the Indianapolis Fire Department said power was out in a 4-6 block radius around Capitol and North.

One person was trapped in an elevator and later rescued after calling 911. Two buildings–a dry cleaner and a building with an apartment and an office–were evacuated. IPL officials said they had isolated the problem by 9 a.m.

During a news conference later Thursday morning, IPL officials said 200 customers remained without power because of “significant damage” to the infrastructure from the explosion.

Joe Bentley, the senior vice president of customer operations at IPL, said the problem was traced to a short circuit in 120-volt cables under the street. He said the utility’s focus was on restoring power to customers who were left without electricity. Bentley said one apartment building in particular was affected by the problem. IPL planned to bring in generators to help restore power to those areas.

Bentley said winter weather may have contributed to the situation.

“We’ve had a lot of snow and definitely snow is a contributor,” Bentley said. “Any contaminants that you have like salt that adds to the water will actually enhance that short circuit from the cables to ground. So we’ve had a lot of snow and that can contribute.”

He said Thursday’s explosions were “completely unrelated” to a problem earlier in the week on Mass Ave.

Bentley told reporters that IPL has installed locking manhole covers enhance safety downtown and continues to install more. He estimated that 600-700 regular manhole covers still need to be replaced.

While Bentley said he “can’t guarantee” that manhole explosions won’t happen during Final Four weekend, he said the system remains “very safe.”