Nation briefs 9A

E. coli found on some Lake Superior beaches

ASHLAND, Wis. -- Unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria have been found on 14 beaches of Lake Superior, state officials have said.

The state Department of Natural Resources said the unsafe levels were measured this spring and summer at beaches in four counties. One beach remains closed to swimming.

There have been no cases of illness reported in connection with the beaches.

The variety of E. coli bacteria found is unlikely to cause illness, but at high levels, it is an indicator that more pathogenic bacteria might be present. Those levels in water could cause illnesses such as diarrhea and fever.

16 National Guard airmen injured on flight home

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Sixteen airmen were injured Saturday when a West Virginia Air National Guard plane encountered severe turbulence and had to make an emergency landing.

Approximately 40 members of the 167th Airlift Wing were on the flight, which was bringing them home from a four-month posting in Puerto Rico, said Maj. Mike Cadle, a National Guard spokesman in Charleston, W. Va.

Cadle said it was unclear whether the airmen were hurt during the turbulent flight or during the emergency landing at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.

One of the members of the 167th Airlift Wing was airlifted to the hospital at Norfolk Naval Air Station, Cadle said. The other 15 were being treated at Virginia Beach General Hospital, he said.

Tanker explodes on highway in Seattle suburb

LYNNWOOD, Wash.-- A fuel tanker exploded Saturday on the largest north-south roadway on the West Coast, creating smoke that could be seen for miles and halting traffic in both directions.

The 32-year-old driver survived, and there were no initial reports of any injuries, state patrol trooper Lance Ramsey said.

It was not immediately known what caused the midday explosion on Interstate 5, in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood.

The truck driver was in satisfactory condition at Providence Everett Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.-- From wire reports

Two hundred march to protest racially charged case

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- About 200 demonstrators marched Saturday to protest the racially charged case of a black motorcyclist whose death during a police chase sparked two nights of rioting in June.

Carrying signs and chanting "What do we want? Justice!" and "No justice, no peace, no racist police," marchers walked 1 1/2 miles from the mostly black city of Benton Harbor to neighboring St. Joseph, a predominantly white community, for a rally at the county courthouse.

Though organizers were denied a permit to march in the street, most demonstrators did so anyhow. There were no uniformed police visible along the route, and no arrests were reported.

In a report released earlier this month, prosecutors cleared police of any wrongdoing and said the police pursuit of motorcyclist Terrance Shurn was not motivated by race.

-- From wire reports