5 pm: As Gustav nears, Gulf Coast puts faith in planning
A view from Lake Pontchartrain through pilings that supported buildings destroyed during Hurricane Katrina of the drainage pumps located on the 17th Street canal in New Orleans, Thursday. The pumps where installed after Hurricane Katrina. The Army Corps of Engineers has spent billions of dollars to improve the levee system, but because of two quiet hurricane seasons, the flood walls have never been tested. (AP Photo/Judi Bottoni)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) --With Gustav approaching hurricane strength and showing no signs of veering off a track to slam into the Gulf Coast, authorities across the region began laying the groundwork Thursday to get the sick, elderly and poor away from the shoreline. The first batch of 700 buses that could ferry residents inland were being sent to a staging area near New Orleans, and officials in Mississippi were trying to decide when to move Katrina-battered residents along the coast who were still living in temporary homes, including trailers vulnerable to high wind. The preliminary planning for a potential evacuation is part of a massive outline drafted after Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore three years ago, flooding 80 percent of New Orleans and stranding thousands who couldn't get out in time. As the region prepared to mark the storm's anniversary Friday, officials said they were confident those blueprints made them ready for Gustav.
» Full Story5:20 p.: Scaffold collapses in San Diego, injuring 16
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- A block-long construction scaffold collapsed Thursday, injuring 16 pedestrians who were walking under the street level barrier, fire officials said. Injuries to three of the people were life-threatening.
» Full Story2:35 p.m.: Buckeyes' safety may be sidelined
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State's starting strong safety, Kurt Coleman, will likely miss the season opener against Youngstown State because of an ankle injury suffered in practice this week.
» Full Story2:30 pm: Oil fluctuates as Gustav bears down on Gulf
NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil prices shot above $120 a barrel and then pulled back Thursday as traders bet the government would tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if Tropical Storm Gustav disrupts production.
» Full Story1:15 p.m.: Warren crews battle house fire
WARREN - City fire crews were on the scene of a fire at a 1040 Kennilworth Ave. S.E. home early Thursday afternoon.
The first crews arrived just before 1 p.m. to find smoke coming from the upstairs of the two story home.
12:15 p.m.: Ohio teacher gets 3 years in prison for sex case
PAINESVILLE, Ohio - A former ninth-grade math teacher in Ohio has been sentenced to three years in prison for having sexual contact with a student in her classroom.
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