Problem Solved
Walking faster could save 5,592 lives if a major tsunami hit the Pacific Northwest, according to geographers reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They estimated that 21,562 residents of coastal communities in Oregon, Washington and Northern California would not make it to safety walking at 2.5 mph. But walking at 3.5 mph would drop the death toll to 15,970.
The report noted that people in vulnerable coastal areas who feel the quake have about 15 minutes to reach higher ground before a wall of water 30 to 40 feet high washes ashore. (Associated Press)
Frack Attack
Oil tycoon Harold Hamm, the founder of Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources, told a University of Oklahoma dean that he wanted certain scientists there dismissed because they were studying links between oil and gas activity in the state and the nearly 400-fold increase in earthquakes.
“Mr. Hamm is very upset at some of the earthquake reporting to the point that he would like to see select OGS (Oklahoma Geological Survey, part of the university) staff dismissed,” said Larry Grillot, dean of the school’s Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, who emailed colleagues after a meeting with Hamm. Grillot confirmed the request but said no action resulted. (Bloomberg News)
Wrong Arm of the Law
The city manager and the police chief of Whitehouse, Texas, were suspended, along with three other police officers, in an incident that began when City Manager Kevin Huckabee and visibly intoxicated Chief Craig Shelton visited the estranged wife of Officer Shawn Johnson. Shelton made sexual advances toward her but then came to his senses and left.
Jessica Johnson called her husband about the incident. He arrived just before Shelton returned and proceeded to beat him up. Shelton texted Shawn Johnson, threatening his job, but he inadvertently sent the message to most, if not all, of the police force. Johnson was suspended, as were two other officers who reported the events to other law enforcement agencies. Huckabee then suspended Shelton and himself. (Tyler’s KYTX-TV)
