QUOTE OF THE DAY “We have to remain vigilant. We have to remain focused.” Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, issuing a state of emergency in advance of Hurricane Ike, expected to reach the state Tuesday Article, 5 A Teen hits police car; officer dies PHILADELPHIA — A teenager suspected of driving intoxicated smashed his sport utility vehicle into a police car during a chase, killing one of two officers in the cruiser, authorities said Saturday. The second officer was in stable condition in a hospital. The officers had joined the pursuit of an SUV whose driver ran a red light and then failed to stop for police late Friday, officials said. The SUV struck the passenger side of the police car.
The driver of the SUV, described as a 16-year-old who did not have a driver’s license, tried to run but was soon captured, police said. His minor injuries were treated at a hospital, and police took him into custody for questioning. No charges had been filed as of noon Saturday, police said. Authorities identified the dead officer as Isabel Nazario, an 18-year veteran whose sister and fiance also are on the police force. “This is the second officer... killed this year,” Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said late Friday. “It’s a very difficult time.” Mayor shot in February dies KIRKWOOD, Mo. — The former mayor of the St. Louis suburb who was badly wounded when a gunman opened fire at a City Council meeting in February has died of complications of his injuries, officials said Saturday. Mike Swoboda died Saturday morning after a stay in hospice care, said Mary Jo Wich, a spokesman for the St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis. He would have turned 70 this month. Authorities say Kirkwood resident Charles “Cookie” Thornton killed a police officer outside of City Hall on Feb. 7, then burst into a City Council meeting and killed another officer, two council members, and the public works director. Kirkwood shot and wounded the mayor and a reporter, before police killed him. Thornton shot Swoboda twice in the head. He remained in the hospital for weeks and suffered setbacks in recent months.
Elderly couple killed in explosion FRANKFORT, Ill. — An explosion destroyed a house early Saturday, and the bodies of the elderly couple who occupied the home were found in the wreckage, authorities said. Seven other homes were destroyed. The cause of the explosion was under investigation, said Richard Caragol, a Nicor Inc. natural gas company spokesman. Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil identified the dead couple as Clyde and Luella Reils, of Frankfort, located about 25 miles southwest of Chicago. Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland said the couple were longtime residents who had children and grandchildren living throughout Chicago’s south suburbs. “They were well-known and well-respected in our community,” Holland said. “There is a lot of grieving right now.” Luella Reils was 87. O’Neil said Clyde Reils was 89; Frankfort police gave his age as 88. Holland said the explosion reduced the couple’s home to rubble. Suzy Turnbull, a disaster team coordinator with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, said the scene of the blast resembled the destruction sometimes wrought by a tornado.
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