Nation in brief

Tropical storm forms, may hit Texas or La.

MIAMI - The second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico, and storm watches were issued for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, Tropical Storm Bill had sustained winds of 50 mph and was centered near latitude 25.7 N and longitude 91.1 W, about 260 miles south of Morgan City, La., according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving north at 13 mph.

Some strengthening was expected, but the storm was not forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches land, possibly as early as today, hurricane specialist Miles Lawrence said. Forecasters said 5 to 8 inches of rain could fall overnight Sunday and into today along the coastal areas in Bill's path.

The season's first tropical storm, Ana, formed in the open Atlantic in April and was a threat only to shipping.

CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA delayed the launch of its second Mars rover until at least Wednesday after problems resurfaced Sunday with the cork insulation on the rover's rocket.

The launch was reset for 11:17 p.m. Wednesday. Another opportunity exists for 11:59 p.m.

The band of cork, designed to insulate the rocket from excessive heat, wasn't sticking to the skin of the rocket, causing gaps that could lead to damage during liftoff, said George Diller, a NASA spokesman at the Kennedy Space Center.

IRVINE, Calif. - A man wielding a samurai-style sword killed two people and injured three others at an Albertsons supermarket Sunday morning before police fatally shot him, authorities said.

Shoppers fled the store as police went in to find the man shortly after 9:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. EST), Irvine police Lt. Jeff Love said. The suspect confronted an officer before police shot him, Love said.

One of the injured men suffered "moderate trauma injuries," while another man and woman had minor cuts, said Capt. Stephen Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority. The suspect died at the hospital.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright