K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For September 15th, 2017 – Evening

LONDON (AP) - GERMAN AND FRENCH LEADERS SAY THE BOMB ATTACK ON A LONDON SUBWAY TRAIN ONLY STRENGTHENS THEIR DETERMINATION TO INCREASE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN FIGHTING TERRORISM. CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL SAID AFTER MEETING WITH FRENCH PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD PHILIPPE IN BERLIN ON FRIDAY: "OUR THOUGHTS ARE OF COURSE WITH THE WOUNDED, OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE BRITISH POPULATION." PHILIPPE SAYS THE ATTACKS "SHOW HOW MUCH WE COLLECTIVELY, IN FRANCE, BRITAIN AND ALSO IN GERMANY, FACE A MAJOR THREAT."

HAVANA (AP) - CUBAN LEADER RAUL CASTRO HAS STEPPED IN PERSONALLY TO DENY HIS GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SPATE OF AMERICAN DIPLOMATS HARMED IN HAVANA. AFTER THE UNITED STATES DEMANDED ANSWERS, U.S. OFFICIALS SAY CASTRO SOUGHT OUT THE TOP AMERICAN DIPLOMAT IN HAVANA FOR A RARE FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATION AND RELAYED THAT HE WAS JUST AS BEFUDDLED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE REACTION WAS SURPRISING TO U.S. OFFICIALS WHO EXPECTED CASTRO WOULD REACT DEFENSIVELY OR REFUSE TO COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO DISCUSS NORTH KOREA'S LATEST MISSILE LAUNCH. THE MINISTRY SAID FRANCE IS READY TO WORK ON TOUGHER U.N. AND EU MEASURES "TO CONVINCE THE REGIME IN PYONGYANG THAT THERE IS NO INTEREST IN AN ESCALATION, AND TO BRING IT TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE." IT SAID THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS MEETING "IN URGENCY" ON FRIDAY, AND NORTH KOREA WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSED AT THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. (AP) - NASA SAYS THE CASSINI SPACECRAFT HAS DISINTEGRATED IN THE SKIES ABOVE SATURN. CONFIRMATION OF CASSINI'S EXPECTED DEMISE CAME ABOUT 7:55 A.M. EDT. THAT'S WHEN RADIO SIGNALS FROM THE SPACECRAFT CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. CASSINI ACTUALLY BURNED UP LIKE A METEOR 83 MINUTES EARLIER, AS IT DOVE THROUGH SATURN'S ATMOSPHERE, BECOMING ONE WITH THE PLANET IT SET OUT IN 1997 TO EXPLORE. BUT IT TOOK THAT LONG FOR THE LAST SIGNAL TO ARRIVE AT EARTH. CASSINI WAS THE ONLY SPACECRAFT TO EVER ORBIT SATURN.

MIAMI (AP) - FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR BROCK LONG SAYS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IRMA HAS SHIFTED FROM SAVING LIVES TO ONE OF BEGINNING THE LONG RECOVERY PROCESS. LONG SAID AT A BRIEFING FRIDAY THAT GOOD PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THEIR HOMES OR INTO TEMPORARY HOUSING SUCH AS APARTMENTS OR HOTELS. ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE IN FLORIDA REMAIN IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
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WYOMING GENERALLY FAVORS LOW TAXES AND COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY, BUT ITS HIGHEST COURT SAYS A UTILITY MUST PAY SALES TAX ON POLLUTION-CONTROL CHEMICALS AT POWER PLANTS.
THE WYOMING SUPREME COURT SIDED WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND RULED UNANIMOUSLY THURSDAY AGAINST PORTLAND, OREGON-BASED PACIFICORP.

THE COMPANY DOES BUSINESS IN WYOMING AS ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER.

PACIFICORP USES CHEMICALS TO REMOVE SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM FLUE GAS AT FOUR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS IN WYOMING.

OTHER CHEMICALS PURIFY WATER WITHIN THE PLANTS' BOILER TUBES.

PACIFICORP ARGUED THE UTILITY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SALES TAX ON THE CHEMICALS.

WYOMING LAW EXEMPTS SALES TAX ON INGREDIENTS USED IN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS AND PACIFICORP ARGUED IT MANUFACTURES ELECTRICITY.

THE HIGH COURT RULED THE CHEMICALS AREN'T INGREDIENTS NECESSARY TO MAKE ELECTRICITY.

PACIFICORP OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE BEEN PAYING THE SALES TAX AND THE RULING WON'T AFFECT GENERATION COSTS.
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ONE OF THE 15 MARINES INJURED DURING A TRAINING EXERCISE AT A CALIFORNIA MILITARY BASE HAS TIES TO WYOMING.

TAMBY CLAWSON OF GILLETTE SAYS HER 19-YEAR-OLD SON, TAGEN SCHMIDT, WAS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE BURN CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO HEALTH.

CLAWSON SHE SAID SCHMIDT WAS BEING TREATED FOR THIRD-DEGREE BURNS TO HIS HANDS, FACE AND HEAD.

SHE AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE HEADING TO SAN DIEGO ON THURSDAY TO BE WITH HIM.

SCHMIDT IS A GRADUATE OF CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.