By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Investigators say 25 white powder hoax letters mentioning al-Qaida have been received by churches, mosques and businesses in the Dallas area since Aug. 5.
The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Friday announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
FBI Special Agent Mark White says the north Texas-postmarked letters are in English, typewritten with just one line. He says the message is unclear, but the letters are considered threatening. The powder tested negative for toxins.
White says five additional letters have been received, in Austin, Lubbock, Chicago and Waltham, Mass.
He says all of the notes are similar to threatening letters sent to U.S. Embassies in Europe and some governors since December 2008.
Girl, 2, found dead in hot vehicle in Wylie
Wylie police say a 2-year-old girl has died after being left in a hot SUV.
Detective Venece Perepiczka on Friday identified the victim as Carson Adams.
She says the girl's father, Jason Dean Adams, had arrived home around 2:30 p.m. Thursday with Carson and four other children, ages 9, 8, 7, 6.
Police say Adams went into the home and apparently thought that Carson was brought in with the other children. The father, about three hours later, noticed Carson was not with the other youngsters.
The family searched the house, could not find the girl, then the father discovered her dead in the SUV.
The National Weather Service says temperatures topped 100 degrees Thursday in the Dallas area.
USDA: US corn, soybean headed for record year
U.S. corn and soybean farmers are on track to produce the largest crops in history. The USDA says Texas soybean producers are expected to see the biggest gain in crop yields.
The Department of Agriculture is forecasting corn production of 13.4 billion bushels in 2010, with soybean production of 3.43 billion bushels. Both estimates would be a 2 percent increase over 2009 crop figures -- the current highest annual production on record.
Cotton production is forecast to rise 52 percent from 2009, reaching a level of 18.5 million 480-pound bales.
Texas producers are expected to have a record high production.
1 EMT dead in Texas carbon monoxide accident
One emergency medical technician died and three co-workers are hospitalized after being overcome by carbon monoxide while on duty in east Texas.
A spokeswoman at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, which operates Champion EMS in White Oak, says the victims were discovered around 7 a.m. Friday by other workers during shift change.
Victoria Ashworth told The Associated Press that the carbon monoxide apparently was from a generator left running on an ambulance.
Ashworth says a 33-year-old female EMT, who was in training, was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. Ashworth says a paramedic and two emergency medical technicians, all male, are in good condition. Their names were not immediately released.
White Oak is a town of about 6,200, located 115 miles east of Dallas.