Around the Nation

ALABAMA

Twelfth church damaged by fire

BIRMINGHAM — A 12th Alabama church was damaged by fire yesterday, but authorities said the suspected arson attack appeared unrelated to 11 others across the state this month.

The fire at Chapman’s Chapel in Etowah County was reported at about 7:20 a.m., according to Jay Chambers, acting chief of police in Glencoe, the closest town to the church. Most of Chapman’s 25 regular worshippers are white.

Unlike other churches, damaged or destroyed in Alabama since Feb. 3, Chief Chambers said the fire at Chapman’s Chapel started outside the building. It sustained only minor damage to its exterior vinyl siding, he said.

CALIFORNIA

Cheerleader dies suddenly at practice

LOS ANGELES — School officials and police said they were baffled Friday over the sudden death of a 14-year-old girl who lost consciousness after being tossed into the air at cheerleading practice.

Shauna Stuewe, a freshman at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, had just been twirled in the air by teammates when she complained of feeling dizzy and collapsed Wednesday. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

“We did perform an autopsy, but the cause of death was inconclusive pending further microscopic and toxicology tests, which can take anywhere from six to eight weeks,” Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said.

IDAHO

Woman mauled; dogs euthanized

COEUR D’ALENE — A woman who was mauled by three Rottweiler-Chinese chow mixes she purchased for protection will have skin grafts on her legs.

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