Woman survives 60m fall

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — One person has died and another has been injured in the first fatal fire in Sioux Falls since January. A man and woman escaped from the burning home Monday night, but another woman was trapped on the second floor, fire officials said. Firefighters encountered 20-foot high flames when they arrived on scene. “The first arriving crew made entry through the front door and attempted to make their way up the stairs but were driven back by heavy flames,” Battalion Chief Matt McAreavey said. Firefighters then used ladders on the back exterior of the house to try to reach the second floor but were called down by the on-scene commander because of heavy flames. After crews knocked down the fire, they entered the home and found the woman who was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Argus Leader The man who escaped the fire with injuries was taken to the hospital. The other woman who survived was not injured. The cause of the fire is under … [Read more...] about 1 dead, 1 injured in Sioux Falls house fire

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Sioux Falls police are renewing a search for the remains of a woman missing for 45 years after receiving new leads in the case, authorities said Tuesday. Ellabeth Lodermeier was 25 when she disappeared from her Sioux Falls home on March 6, 1974. She has not been seen since and is presumed dead. At least one dog will be brought in Wednesday to search an area near the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum along the Big Sioux River, Sioux Falls police spokesman Sam Clemens said Tuesday. The search will take place in the area where Lodermeier’s purse and pocketbook were found in 1992, nearly two decades after she went missing, the Argus Leader Family and some law enforcement officials believe Lodermeier’s estranged husband, Gene Lodermeier, was responsible for her disappearance, but he was never charged in the case and died in 2013. Seven months after Ellabeth Lodermeier disappeared, three of her credit cards were found at a railway station in Manitoba, … [Read more...] about Police to search for Sioux Falls woman missing since 1974

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Sioux Falls police say a search for the remains of a woman missing for 45 years has turned up “areas of interest.” Police used two dogs Wednesday to search an area along the Big Sioux River for the remains of Ellabeth Lodermeier. Lodermeier was 25 when she disappeared The Argus Leader reports Police spokesman Sam Clemens says the search turned up “a couple of areas of interest” that police will investigate. He did not elaborate. Police say new technology and new leads warranted a fresh search of the area. ___ Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com … [Read more...] about Search for missing woman turns up ‘areas of interest’

close Video Behind-the-scenes look at Kanye West's service at Joel Osteen church Fox News contributor Jonathan Morris gets an in-depth look at the rapper's Sunday service. A mass exodus of church attendance in America is real. Are people losing faith or just dumping the church? We aren’t sure. DUDLEY DELFFS: THIS WOMAN LEADS ONE OF WORLD'S LARGEST CHURCHES Reports indicate U.S. church membership was 70 percent or higher from 1937 through 1976, falling modestly to an average of 68 percent in the 1970s through the 1990s. The past 20 years have seen an acceleration in the drop-off, with a 20-percentage-point decline since 1999 and more than half of that change occurring since the start of the current decade. Can we skip church and still love Jesus? Yes. However, the scripture commands us to gather in His name. Church expert Carey Nieuwhof said, “I have to remind myself that mostly, my desire to skip, pull away and do my thing on my … [Read more...] about Thomas McDaniels: Why people are leaving America’s churches — and how they will survive

THE world's largest waterfall has been reduced to a sad trickle as southern Africa is hit by a devastating drought - which experts blame on climate change. Pictures show the Victoria Falls in full flow in January and now after water levels dropped to the lowest in 25 years. The waterfall, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, is one of earth's great natural wonders. Twice as high as Niagara, it is normally an awe-inspiring sight as the mighty Zambezi river crashes over the mile-wide rim with a deafening roar into the gorge 355ft below. Visitors have to shout to be heard and usually struggle to get a clear view through the clouds of spray which rise 1,300ft into the air and can be seen 30 miles away. But photos this week show long stretches of it almost dry with puddles at the bottom where months ago there was a raging torrent.Average water flow is down by half in 2019. CLIMATE THREAT Zambia's president warned the Victoria Falls could dry up for good unless urgent action is taken to … [Read more...] about Shocking pictures show Victoria Falls dried up after devastating drought leaves it with lowest water level in 25 years