Chicago City Council Members Demand State of Emergency Declaration and Request National Guard

The city council cowards punted, voting to refer the resolution to the Committee on Public Safety. 

Chicago City Council held a special meeting on Friday, days after four alderman called for such a meeting to ask the governor to declare a state of emergency over recent violence and looting - a proposal the mayor previously said was "grandstanding" before apparently reversing course.

Four Chicago aldermen on Wednesday called for a special meeting of the City Council to consider a resolution asking Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to declare a state of emergency and deploy the Illinois National Guard to the city over recent unrest.

Alds. Leslie Hairston, Anthony Beale, Raymond Lopez and Anthony Napolitano issued the call in a letter to Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia. (from NBC5 Chicago)

Does Mayor Lightfoot even care about Chicago?

Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused the aldermen of "grandstanding." But after months of violence and destruction, is it really that? Or, more likely, is it a genuine attempt to get badly needed help?

"I implore each and every one of you. This is not personal. This is not grandstanding. This is a Hail Mary to save our community from the things that are happening every single day,” Alderman Beale said before the vote.

Mayor Lightfoot attacked the notion of bringing in National Guard troops. She recalled to the council the Kent State University shootings in May of 1970, where National Guard troops killed four students during a protest. But Lightfoot's analogy to Kent State is flawed: The Kent State students were not  looting, rioting, or committing aggravated assaults on people. Some windows were broken, but it was nothing like what Chicago has suffered for months now. 

"A group of Chicago City Council members requested that Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker immediately declare a state of emergency in Chicago and deploy the national guard in light of ongoing rioting and looting in the city." (from Daily Caller)

Lightfoot continues to refuse such action. Is this out of pure political stubbornness or some deep-seated hatred of her own city? 

7th Update: Woman Pulled From Collapsed Philadelphia Building, Six Confirmed Dead

Building collapse in Philadelphia, 22 South 22nd Street
(WXRS-BG) Credit Mike Adams

June 5, 2013 - Updated 7:47 PM CDT - A vacant 4-story apartment building that was being demolished collapsed on 22nd and Market streets in downtown Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood. The structure partially fell onto adjacent structures, heavily damaging them.  

This story is developing.

Update, June 7, 3:00 AM CDT: The mayor's office identified those killed in the collapse as Anne Bryan, Roseline Conteh, Borbor Davis, Kimberly Finnegan, Juanita Harmin and Mary Simpson.

Update, June 5, 11:20 PM CDT: "About 40 minutes ago, a woman was found alive in the rubble," tweeted @PhillyInquirer, "She was found about 12 hours after the building collapsed. Firefighter who helped rescue her said: 'She was pretty well buried'." ABC News Philadelphia reports that rescuers pulled 61-year-old Myra Plekam of Kensington out of the wreckage. She was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital in critical condition. "The dramatic rescue came some 13 hours after the massive building collapse..."

Update, 10:10 PM CDT: ‏@NewsBreaker tweeted: "6 people confirmed dead, 1 man, and five women after building collapsed in Philadelphia." CNN reports same.

Update, 9:05 PM CDT: NBC10 reports rescuers found three more bodies in the rubble tonight but have not yet revealed their identities. That brings the injured total, including those killed, to 17.

Rescue crews are carefully searching through tons of dusty rubble for at least two, possibly three, people believe trapped at the scene [See Updated Information Above]. Dogs are being used in the rescue effort. "Dozens of firefighters and emergency personnel are at the scene," reports Fox News. "A total of 12 people were hospitalized at nearby trauma centers with minor injuries and listed in stable condition." Fox also reports that the collapse "involved a Salvation Army corner thrift store and a four-story building next door with a sandwich shop on the first floor."

At 1:11 PM CDT, KIII TV reported Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers told reporters that two people are still trapped. "We have located them and we're going to continue until we can get them out and we can get them to hospitals," Ayers said.

KIII's report says that 12 people were rescued earlier and hospitalized with minor injuries. "Another woman walked away from the scene with no major injuries after being trapped for more than two hours," which brings the total of people freed from the rubble to 13.

Philadelphia Police are calling the collapse an "industrial accident." Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are on their way to the scene. There were "no existing violations" at the building, a city building inspector said.

Mayor: "Worst Day in History of Houston Fire Department"

Southwest Inn burns in Houston, TX Image: KPRC-Local2. REUTERS

May 31, 2013 - Four Houston fire fighters died this afternoon while trying extinguish a huge hotel fire. One of the firefighters killed in the blaze is female. Six others were hospitalized with injuries, says ABC-13 Houston, two in critical condition. More than 100 firefighters responded to the fire. Everyone in the burning Southwest Inn Hotel got out safely. The fire is thought to have started in an adjacent vegetarian restaurant. The hotel is located on the Southwest freeway (59).

"Today will go down as the worst day in history of the Houston fire department," Houston Mayor Annise Parker said. "The most loss of life ever." The five-alarm fire started in  a restaurant this afternoon along U.S. 59 in southwest Houston, according to the mayor's office.

White House To Texas: Go To Hell

September 9, 2011 - Texas - Texas is battling its worst wildfires ever. More than 1,400 homes have been destroyed. The White House, however, seems to be ignoring a request to declare a major Texas a disaster area. Is President Obama deliberately ignoring Texas's desperate plea for help? According to CNN today, "Texas needs an immediate disaster declaration from President Barack Obama allowing access to heavy equipment and other assistance to help battle wildfires burning across the state, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said." (See his video press conference from Sept. 8 below.) CNN further reports that Dewhurst says that the White House has not responded to a previous request for assistance. When the White House was asked about this, says CNN, "There was no immediate response." Dewhurst is the Acting Governor of Texas this week while Gov. Perry is on the campaign trail. Perry is running for the Republican presidential nomination and could be real contender against Obama in 2012. That previous request was made by Dewhurst on Wednesday, September 7. He issued the following statement after requesting a federal Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Texas: "I've been working very closely with Governor Perry and our emergency personnel, and we're doing everything we can – using all of the state resources at our disposal to contain these wildfires, ensure public safety and protect Texans' lives and property. Because so many fires are burning across the state, our resources are spread pretty thin. That's why we need the federal government to step up to the plate immediately. We need to cut through the red tape and get Texas the help we need today. There are federal resources – including aircraft, bulldozers and other heavy equipment – that can and should be made available right away." One has to wonder if this is a way for Obama to shove a thumb in the eye of Texas Gov. Rick Perry. While all economic recovery efforts of the Obama Regime have failed so far, Perry has overseen a state in which one third of all new jobs in the U.S. have been created in the past year. In other words, the success of Texas highlights the failed policies of Obama's Washington. This may account for the lack of a response from the White House.

Two Amazing Hurricane Irene Maps

August 26, 2011 - New York City - In preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, Mayor Michael Bloomberg today ordered a mandatory evacuation for "Zone A" low-lying areas, "as well as the complete evacuation of the Rockaways," reports Business Insider. A map of the NYC's evacuation zones was issued as a PDF by the city government. Crisislanding has an amazing interactive map of Hurricane Irene's entire path. Business Insider also notes that "major affected neighborhoods include" Manhattan’s Battery Park City, Coney Island and other Brooklyn beach communities, The Rockaways in Queens, Shore areas of Staten Island. New York City police will patrol the streets to enforce "the evacuation mandate."

Explosive Hazmat Shuts Down NC Port, Downtown Evacuated

Breaking Story - 10:15 AM CST, Jan 12, 2010 A SPILL OF THE EXPLOSIVE PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) HAS CAUSED OFFICIALS TO CLOSE THE PORT AT MOREHEAD, N.C. The Hazmat situation is developing in the Port of Morehead, North Carolina, after authorities discovered 9 containers known to contain highly explosive material "punctured". WITN (NBC) in North Carolina reports that "PETN is used in detonators, grenades and projectiles and is highly explosive. According to online information, it is usually shipped as a mixture with water. PETN was the explosive used in the Christmas Day terror plot when a man is accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound plane." MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (AP) -- Officials have shut down a North Carolina port and are recommending people leave the area after containers with highly explosive materials were punctured. More... PETN is the type of explosive officials say was inside tanks punctured at the NC Port at Morehead City. According to a local explosives expert, PETN is one of the major classes of explosives and is used in a variety of powerful explosives. It is a primary explosive used in detonating cords, cast boosters and sheet explosives. Source: WITN.com RELATED: N.C. Port Shut Down After Highly Explosive Containers Punctured Fox News The Facts About The Morehead City Port WITN.com Morehead City Spill triggers road, bridge closures Cape Fear Business News Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Raw video of Santa Barbara Fires, 7:54 PM PST

Just in: Raw video from KNX news helicopter over the Jesusita Fire near Santa Barbara, California (7:54 pm PST, May 6). http://www.knx1070.com/Strong-Winds-Threaten-to-Fuel-Santa-Barbara-Fire/4335997 CommieBama Hats and More Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Follow ChiNewsBench on Twitter

Hellish Fire Threatens Santa Barbara CA

May 6, 2009 - The Santa Barbara (California) Sheriff’s Department issued a following mandatory evacuation order due to the changing conditions of the Jesusita Fire. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of arson. Anybody who has information about the original of these fires is asked to call a fire tipline at 805-686-5074. Anonymous tips are welcome. The evacuation order went out at 6:20 p.m. PST (4:20 pm CST) today. Earlier today, there was hope that the fire was coming under control, but around 6:00 pm local time, it suddenly burst back in a vicious way. The governor has also declared a state of emergency for the area. A brush fire consumed homes and raged out of control in the hills above Santa Barbara today, fueled by dry, hot winds that are expected to continue into the night. The fire burned through lush green canyons dotted with expensive homes, burning at least 12 structures and perhaps many more. The job of roughly 900 firefighters was hampered by poor access to the fire area, officials said, as well as winds of up to 50 mph and thick brush that hadn’t burned in a half-century. "We are in a state of extreme emergency,'' said David Sadecki, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. "We're running very, very thin.'' Full Story at LA Times... CommieBama Hats and More Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Follow ChiNewsBench on Twitter

Mandatory Evacuations for Jesusita Fire, Santa Barabara Sheriff Dept

SBC-JIC Jesusita Fire 008 DATE: May 6, 2009 TIME: 6:20 PM (Pacific Standard Time) Excerpt from press release; full press release here: http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Documents/PIO/Press_Releases/Current/01_Current_Press_Releases/2009-05-06_Jesusita_Press_Release_08.pdf The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department has issued the following MANDATORY evacuation order for the following areas due to the changing conditions of the Jesusita Fire. MANDATORY EVACUATIONS · The mandatory evacuation order has been expanded to include: San Roque and Foothill Road South to State Street (Western boundary), from State Street to Micheltorena,Micheltorena North to the end of the road extending to Alameda Padre Serra. · The overall mandatory evacuation order areas now includes: Morada Lane (Western boundary) and Ontare North to Camino Cielo, Foothill Road and Morada to San Roque,San Roque South to State Street (Western boundary), State Street to Micheltorena, Micheltorena North to the end of the road, extending to Alameda Padre Serra, Alameda Padre Serra East to Sycamore Canyon Road (Eastern boundary), North on Sycamore Canyon to HWY 192 West to El Cielito. EVACUATION WARNINGS · The evacuation warning area has expanded and now includes: La Cumbre Road (Western boundary) to State Street, State Street to De La Vina, De La Vina to Anapamu, Anapamu to Anacapa, Anacapa South to De La Guerra, De La Guerra to Milpas, Milpas to Montecito Street, Montecito Street to Alameda Padre Serra _________________________________________________ For more information go to the County’s website at http://www.countyofsb.org/ For more information on road closures, call Road Closure Hot Line at (805) 568-3006 or go to www.countyofsb.org/pwd/roads/closure.htm The Jesusita Fire Call Center number is 805-681-5197. The Animal Services Hotline is 805-681-4332. News Media Contacts: William H. Boyer Communications Director (805) 696-1163 wboyer@co.santa-barbara.ca.us Nina Johnson Public Information Officer City of Santa Barbara (805) 897-2476 eocpio@sbpd.com CommieBama Hats and More Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Follow ChiNewsBench on Twitter

UPDATED: At Least 108 Have Died In Australian Inferno

UPDATED: Death toll now 108, climbing Australia is suffering badly from horrific wildfires. Entire towns have been consumed by fire, and now there is no doubt that at least 100 will die before this is over. Update from BBC... READERS IN AUSTRALIA: Please check urgent updates from the Country Fire Authority (CFA)! CNB RSS Feed

Updated with Video: Gas Leak Shuts Down Morse Avenue

UPDATED (Video below): A gas leak "forced" the closing of Morse Avenue at 9:20 p.m. last night. Contrary to some other reports, The Bench learned that the leak was actually "minor," according to Peoples Gas employees on the scene. This was NOT a "major gas leak."

In what may have been an overreaction, Chicago Police and Fire completely shut down Morse Ave. between N. Sheridan and N. Glenwood, and forced the evacuation of pizza shop JB Alberto's. The street was shut down for about an hour. JB's was evacuated at 9:15. Shortly thereafter, Peoples Gas told police and fire officials that the pizzeria could reopen and even keep their ovens going, because the leak was insignificant.

The leak was coming from one of two pipes underground in the vacant lot next to JB Alberto's, whose owners also own the lot. An old single family house was torn down on the lot Monday morning. The demolition contractor got the green light from the City of Chicago, with all permitting approved prioro to demolition and digging. But when the contractor noticed two gas lines instead of one, which was not indicated on Peoples Gas's 50-year records, they called People's Gas. That was Monday. Peoples Gas said twice that they would come to inspect, but never did until after the gas leak was called in.