District of Columbia
Christie asks Obama for more storm aid
WASHINGTON - New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie reunited with President Obama on Thursday for the first time since the pair teamed up in response to superstorm Sandy.
Christie made an unannounced visit to the White House, where he met with Obama to press for $83 billion in extra aid for his state, New York and Connecticut.
Obama is expected to ask Congress for about $50 billion in additional emergency aid for 11 states struck by the late October storm.
At the Capitol, Christie made a similar pitch to House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and to Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who chairs the appropriations subcommittee on homeland security, which oversees aid.
Christie wouldn't talk to reporters about his meeting with the president.
North Carolina
Work continues to reopen highway
RODANTHE - The state Department of Transportation is continuing its work to restore Highway 12 north of Rodanthe.
Road crews closed the route Thursday to remove damaged pavement and level the area in hopes of reopening the road to all traffic by Christmas.
The road was damaged severely by superstorm Sandy in late October. Currently, only four-wheel- drive vehicles can pass through.
Oregon
Garbage truck engulfed in flames
LAKE OSWEGO - A fire official in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego says a garbage truck was destroyed when it caught fire as the driver worked his route.
Deputy Fire Marshal Gert Zoutendijk says the Allied Waste Service driver noticed flames coming from the truck behind the cab on Thursday morning. The driver set the brake and jumped out seconds before a tire exploded because of the fire, causing flames to engulf the cab.
Damage was estimated at $200,000. The deputy fire marshal says the fire was likely caused by a mechanical problem.
Louisiana
Advisory to be lifted in hazmat removal
DOYLINE - State police say another 200,000 pounds of improperly stored explosive material at north Louisiana's Camp Minden has been safely moved.
Thursday's work brought the total amount of explosive propellant moved in six days to about 2.2 million pounds. State police had estimated 6 million pounds was improperly stored when work began Saturday.
Authorities said they will lift a voluntary evacuation for nearby Doyline. Many in the town of 800 never left or have already returned.
Georgia
Consumers duped in puppy scam
ATLANTA - Authorities say people who paid hundreds of dollars for puppies they thought were being delivered to the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport have been duped.
WSB-TV Thursday reported one North Carolina family paid $800 for two puppies over the Internet, and called the airport looking for the Kennel Cargo Department only to learn that it didn't exist.
Scammers are telling victims they can buy pets online and may pick them up at the airport. Airport cargo officials said about 15 victims per month have fallen for the scheme.
The Associated Press
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