Nation at a Glance

Aug 28, 08:59 AM

Current Headlines: WASHINGTON | A new survey of Sept. 11-related illnesses has found an alarming increase in asthma - 12 times higher than normal - among those who toiled on the toxic debris piles of ground zero.

The study was released Monday by the New York City Department of Health, based on responses gathered by the World Trade Center Health Registry.

The data show 3.6 percent of the 25,000 rescue and recovery workers in the registry reported developing asthma after working at the site - more than 12 times the expected figure for adults over a similar time period.

Kentucky

gunman killed in hostage standoff

LOUISVILLE | A gunman who took four bank employees hostage Monday morning was fatally shot by a SWAT team as he walked out of the bank with his gun drawn, police said. None of the hostages was injured.

"He came out of the bank holding his weapon and walking toward SWAT members in a challenging manner. SWAT then fired upon him," police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said.

The gunman, believed to be in his 40s, was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Smiley said.

Police Chief Robert White said the incident apparently was not a robbery attempt. "We're not sure if it was domestic-related or if there were some other issues," he said.

The man had entered the National City Bank branch a little after 9 a.m. and briefly held the four employees hostage before releasing them unharmed, authorities said. The gunman walked out just before noon and was shot.

North Carolina

duke hires woman to head med school

RALEIGH | Duke University on Monday named a Harvard researcher as the first woman to lead its medical school, which also makes her the only woman at the helm of one of the nation's top 10 medical schools.

"The fact that in 2007 there are still firsts for what women can do in medicine says something about how difficult it can be. I hope this does not seem so unusual a few years from now," said Dr. Nancy C. Andrews, who will officially take over at Duke on Oct. 1.

Andrews, 48, succeeds Dr. R. Sanders Williams, who was promoted to senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.

North Dakota

tornado damages homes, kills one

NORTHWOOD | A tornado destroyed two mobile home parks, killing one person, and blew out windows in homes and buildings across the town, officials said Monday. At least 18 people were injured.

" This town is a disaster," said Kevin Dean, a spokesman for the town's emergency operations center. "There's virtually nothing ... that hasn't been damaged."

National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Gust estimated the twister's wind hit 170 mph, and was nearly a mile wide when it hit the town.

Georgia

bicyclist struck, killed by lightning

ALPHARETTA | A 15-year-old boy was struck by lightning while riding his bicycle Sunday and died.

Kevin Avalar was found lying unconscious in a parking lot with his bicycle next to him, Officer George Gordon said. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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