Explosion, fire at factory in Kentucky injures 26

CORBIN, Ky. -- An explosion and fire ripped through an insulation plant Thursday, sending black smoke spiraling across the southern Kentucky countryside and injuring 26 workers, 11 critically.

The cause of the explosion at CTA Acoustics was not immediately known. State inspectors were sent to the site.

The injured employees were taken to at least five hospitals. Dr. George Liu, a surgeon at Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin, said at least eight of were burned on more than 80 percent of their bodies.

Authorities shut down a 13-mile stretch of nearby Interstate 75 for about an hour because of concerns the smoke was dangerous. But CTA attorney Jim Tomaw said there were no hazardous chemicals in the plant, which makes acoustical and thermal insulation products for the industrial and automotive industries.

Two La. police officers killed in shootout

ALEXANDRIA, La. -- Two police officers were killed and three others were wounded Thursday in a shootout that erupted as police tried to arrest a suspect in the ambush of another officer, authorities said.

The man in the house also died in the exchange of gunfire. No names were released.

The wounded officers, members of the city SWAT team, all were in stable condition, authorities said.

During the roughly two-hour standoff, students at a nearby school were locked inside their building. As a crowd gathered, some jeered police, resulting in an unknown number of arrests.

Officers had been looking for the gunman who opened fire with an assault rifle on a police officer Wednesday. The officer was ambushed while responding to an apparently false report of a robbery. The gunman sprayed the officer's patrol car with bullets, firing about 20 shots.

The officer was not hit.

Presidential candidate: Surgery more extensive

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Bob Graham disclosed Thursday that his heart surgery three weeks ago was more extensive than planned, but he still has his sights set on the White House and will file the paperwork next week to establish a presidential exploratory committee.

"I am very forward-leaning about the campaign for president," Graham said in a conference call with a handful of reporters, his first interview since the operation. "The only remaining question is the issue of getting medical clearance to do so."

Graham underwent heart surgery on Jan. 31 to replace the aortic valve, which controls blood flow from the heart's left ventricle into the aorta, with a heart valve from a cow. Graham told reporters that his doctors also decided to perform a "discretionary" double bypass and close a hole between the chambers of the heart.

Flapping U.S. flag results in citation over noise

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A man ticketed after complaints that his flag's flapping made too much noise has settled on a quieter way to show his patriotism.

Ray Saelens was ticketed last week after a next-door neighbor complained that the 18-by-12-foot American flag kept him awake at night.

Saelens, a self-employed mason, rejected suggestions he take the flag down at night. Instead, he proposed switching to a 15-by-10-foot American flag -- an offer accepted by neighbors Mark and Sue Grucz.

"Discretion is the better part of valor," said Saelens.

He said the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks prompted him to pay $4,000 to install a flagpole behind his home along Lake St. Clair's Anchor Bay, north of Detroit.

Sue Grucz said it wasn't the flag they objected to -- it was the noise in the wee hours of the morning. She said she hopes the smaller flag will be a good solution.

-- From wire reports