Smoke from fire blankets Denver
Smoke from fire blankets Denver
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) — A northern Colorado wildfire 60 miles away wrapped Denver in a pungent cloud of smoke for several hours Tuesday and complicated the aerial offensive against the spreading mountain blaze, which has killed one person and destroyed more than 100 structures.
In southern New Mexico, a 56-square-mile fire threatening the village of Ruidoso had damaged or destroyed at least 175 homes and other structures, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Workers found only heaps of burned metal and other debris on home sites hit hardest by the Little Bear fire.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to see the damage done to this beautiful part of the country,” New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said after touring the area.
With at least 19 large fires burning in nine states, President Barack Obama called Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to assure him that the federal government stood ready to provide personnel, equipment and emergency grants for Colorado and other states battling fire.
Obama also tried to reach Martinez, but her office said poor reception in the fire zone kept the two from connecting.
The 68-square-mile High Park Fire in Colorado shrouded downtown Denver, some 60 miles south, in a smoky haze early Tuesday. The smoke temporarily grounded the air attack on the fire.
Shooting survivor wins House seat
PHOENIX (AP) — Ron Barber, who almost lost his life in the Arizona shooting rampage that wounded former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, won a special election to succeed her, giving Democrats a psychological boost after last week’s failed effort to recall Wisconsin’s Republican governor.
Appearing with Giffords at a Tucson hotel after his victory Tuesday night, Barber told supporters, “Life takes unexpected turns and here we are, thanks to you.” Giffords hugged him and kissed his forehead.
Barber defeated Republican Jesse Kelly, who narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010 in a competitive district that Republicans have won in the last two presidential elections. Giffords has made few public appearances since resigning in January to focus on her recovery, but she dashed back to Tucson during the campaign’s final days to help her former district director.
Democratic officials were quick to argue that the victory sets the stage for them to win back control of the House.
Zimmerman wife is charged in Fla.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The wife of Trayvon Martin’s shooter was charged with perjury Tuesday, accused of lying when she told a judge that the couple had limited funds during a hearing that resulted in her husband being released on $150,000 bond.
Shellie Zimmerman, 25, was released on $1,000 bond on the third-degree felony that is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. George Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the teen’s slaying and had been out on bond after the April 20 hearing. However, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester on June 1 revoked the bond and ordered Zimmerman returned to the Seminole County Jail. In a strongly worded ruling, Lester said the Zimmermans lied about how much money they had.
George Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara has said the couple was confused and fearful when they misled court officials about how much money they had. Records show Shellie Zimmerman in the days before the hearing transferred $74,000 in eight smaller amounts ranging from $7,500 to $9,990, from her husband’s credit union account to hers, according to an arrest affidavit.
Face-chewing
victim improving
MIAMI (AP) — A homeless man whose face was mostly chewed off in a bizarre attack alongside a busy South Florida highway is in good spirits, talking and walking with the help of hospital staff, doctors said Tuesday.
Ronald Poppo’s left eye was removed, but doctors are trying to find a way to restore vision in his right eye. He will likely remain at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center for several more weeks and will need more surgeries before he can explore the options for reconstructing his face.
Poppo, 65, is aware of the media coverage the attack has generated.
“He’s pleased to report to all of you that he’s feeling well, he’s eating, he’s walking around with physical therapy, he’s talking with us,” said Nicholas Namias, a University of Miami trauma surgeon and co-director of the center.
Poppo has been at the hospital since he was attacked May 26 by Rudy Eugene for reasons that are still unclear.
Emergency callers reported seeing a naked Eugene swinging from a light pole minutes before the attack. Surveillance video from the nearby Miami Herald building showed Eugene stripping Poppo and pummeling him. A witness described Eugene ripping at Poppo’s face with his mouth and growling at a Miami police officer who shot and killed Eugene. Autopsy results are pending.
A close-up photograph of Poppo showed the upper two-thirds of his face covered in scabs and grafts. He’s missing his nose and both eye sockets were covered, the left with gauze and the right with a flap of skin from his forehead and scalp. His gray beard was trimmed, leaving a mustache over his upper lip.
“It’s hard when he smiles to see who he is,” said Wrood Kassira, a University of Miami plastic surgeon at Jackson.
He also suffered two puncture wounds to his chest and a brain injury similar to what happens after a car crash, Namias said.
Poppo previously survived a gunshot wound.
Social workers will help try to help him find a place to live. He has been homeless for nearly 30 years, and he has faced multiple charges of public intoxication, among other arrests. According to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, the last time Poppo sought help finding a place to sleep was in 2004.
“If he doesn’t get his vision back then it becomes, is he concerned about how he looks or is it more about how the world sees him? Those are things to think about,” Kassira said.
“I’ve talked to him about reconstruction and he’s said we’ll take it one day at a time,” Kassira said. “He’s very logical.”
Poppo has talked about swimming, which he used to enjoy, and he has requested pizza, orange juice and Italian food to eat.
He’s asked for the television to be turned off in his room, except to watch Miami Heat basketball games, Namias said.
The doctor said Poppo hasn’t once complained about his pain.
“He’s really just sort of living in the moment and just wants to talk about routine things,” he said.
A fund established by the Jackson Memorial Foundation to assist Poppo has raised $15,000. Poppo also qualifies for Medicaid and Medicare, hospital officials said.