Lauren Bell

National 1

Summary:
In Orange County, California, one of the larger fires was deliberately started by someone with apparent knowledge of arson, a fire official said Thursday. The Santiago Fire in Orange County was started in two places along a little-traveled road, according to Chief Chip Prather of the county's fire authority. The fire, which has burned more than 25,000 acres, was started in brush just off Santiago Canyon Road, not close to homes. It spread rapidly, indicating the arsonist had some knowledge of winds and other factors.
Opinion:
These fires are so crazy. This is so sad and so terribly unfortunate. To think of all of those families whose homes are now gone, breaks my heart. I really am praying for all of the people in California going through this devastating time. The evacuation rates are sky rocketing and its such a threat and such a scare to so many. All of California is in my deepest thoughts and prayers.
National 2
Summary:
In Los Angeles, California Britney Spears is no longer facing hit-and-run charges since she paid off the other car's driver in the fender-bender, but she still has to deal with one count of driving without a license, a court commissioner ruled Thursday. Spears was not required to attend the hearing on the misdemeanor charges stemming from an August 6 parking lot mishap. Superior Court Commissioner Susan Speer dismissed the hit-and-run charge after a lawyer for the pop star said his client had paid an undisclosed amount to a woman whose car was hit in a Studio City parking lot. A charge of driving without a license was not dismissed and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for November 26. The commissioner accepted a not guilty plea entered on Spears' behalf by lawyer Michael Flanagan to that charge.
Opinion:
Why do stupid abusive celebrities always get out of things like this? It’s so gay. They always make horrible choices and they end up getting rewarded for it. How retarded. This shows how messed up our world is today. It is such popularity contests its ridiculous. You wonder why so many people are messed up in our world today. Because they have “role models” like this to look after.
International 1
Summary:
In London, England a rescuer who tried to help Diana after her Paris car crash said Thursday that the princess spoke as she lay in the wreckage, repeating the words "oh my God" over and over. Damian Dalby told an inquest into Diana's death that he and his brother rushed over to the wreckage of the princess' Mercedes after it crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel on August 31, 1997. Dalby, who was a volunteer French firefighter at the time, told the inquest by video link from Paris that the car was surrounded by photographers. "The car's rear, right-hand side door was open, and a photographer was close by, but he did not stop me from doing my assistance job," Dalby said. Ian Burnett, lead lawyer for the inquest, asked Dalby: "Was it right the lady in the car was trying to speak?" "Yes, she was saying: 'Oh my God, Oh my God,"' Dalby said.
Opinion:
This whole accident was such a heart wrenching incident. It’s so sad to look back on it with Diana’s last words. Death is a scary thing and looking back upon it is even scarier. You have to wonder what was really going through her mind in her last moments and its kinda cool to be able to know that all she could say was “o my God” she was very distinct and obviously in shock. Those words are gut wrenching.
International 2
Summary:
In Beijing, China the International Olympic Committee said Thursday that Beijing's air pollution problem means some outdoor events may be postponed for a day or two at next year's Olympics. With 10 months to go before the Summer Games, air pollution has emerged as one of Beijing's biggest problems in generally smooth preparations. A report by the United Nations Environment Program also criticized Beijing's progress on cleaning its air as slow, and said some pollution exceeded World Health Organization standards.
Opinion:
I hope that these interruptions won’t last long. This could be a huge disturbance and cause a huge uproar. We can only hope and pray that all of this. The Olympics being cancelled or even post- poned is a huge deal. This is a big deal and I really hope all of it gets cleared up really really fast. We have enough disasters going on right now, we don’t need this, it’s the last thing we need.