in brief

Another Storm surge

Flood warnings issued
in Southern California

Authorities say mud and debris briefly forced the partial shutdown of a major freeway, and flash flood warnings are in effect for a pair of burn areas as another storm surge passed over Southern California.

The California Highway Patrol said eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 were closed for about an hour Saturday afternoon in northeast Los Angeles County. No injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for the area, where last summer's Morris Fire burned in the San Gabriel Mountains.

A warning also was in effect for the Station Fire burn area, where a handful of homes remain under evacuation orders in La Cañada Flintridge. Streets there saw some minor flooding, but debris basins and hillsides were holding.

elko county

Officials oppose move
for national monuments

Elko County is trying to nip in the bud any ideas the Obama administration might have about establishing two national monuments in Northern Nevada.

The U.S. Interior Department recently listed the Owyhee Desert in Nevada and Oregon and the "Heart of the Great Basin" in Nye County as possible candidates for federal designation.

The Elko County Commission voted Thursday to send a letter to Gov. Jim Gibbons, Nevada's congressional delegation and the White House to oppose any such move.

Noose, swastika

Campus acts of racism
disturb Schwarzenegger

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Saturday he is deeply troubled by recent acts of racism at three University of California campuses.

Schwarzenegger's statement comes after a string of incidents this month on the campuses in Davis, Irvine and San Diego.

Students at the San Diego campus took over the chancellor's office Friday to protest the hanging of a noose in the library. The noose was discovered less than two weeks after an off-campus party mocking Black History Month. Students urged people to dress as ghetto stereotypes and promised there would be chicken, watermelon and malt liquor.

A Jewish student earlier this week found a swastika carved into her dorm room door at the Davis campus.

Earlier this month, 11 students were arrested for interrupting a talk by Israel's Ambassador Michael Oren at the Irvine campus .

TRUCK DRIVER HOSPITALIZED

Semitrailer, minivan
involved in fiery crash

The Department of Public Safety responded Saturday to a fiery collision on U.S. 93 near Wickenburg involving a semitrailer carrying auto parts and a minivan.

The department said the minivan was southbound about 38 miles north of Wickenburg when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with the truck. A fire erupted and engulfed both vehicles.

The driver of the truck, identified as Ronald Lewis of Kingman, was taken to a hospital in Phoenix with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the minivan has not been identified.