| Chlorine gas leak at Big Butte Springs plant creates alarm
A chlorine gas leak at the Big Butte Springs water disinfecting plant created a scare for several hours Monday morning. Alarms sounded at the plant near Fish Lake Road, indicating a leak, said Larry Rains, manager for the Medford Water Commission, which operates the plant. The building and nearby homes were evacuated. Rains said the leak was initially treated as a serious incident because officials didn't know the extent of the problem. The leak was contained by mid-afternoon and deemed small, said Laura Hodnett, public information coordinator for the commission. Hodnett said the water is safe to drink for everyone except 68 residential customers who obtain water directly from the Big Butte Springs pipeline. They have been cautioned to boil their water before using it.
Here's an illuminating idea
In the whole office, there are only four lamps, all with good reflectors. Years ago, all offices were lit like this. We should not try throwing out or changing lights. We should put them in the right places. And forget CFLs and wait for LEDs. Let's get real, please. .
Opponents vow to re-light debate on smoking ban
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- Illinois' statewide smoking ban is barely a month old, and opponents already are trying to re-light the debate.With the General Assembly scheduled to return to Springfield this week, various Illinois interests - casinos, bars, veterans' organizations - are preparing to push state lawmakers to carve out exceptions for various types of facilities from the sweeping ban that went into effect this year in all indoor public places.''I'm a dedicated non-smoker, but the hair on the back of my neck stands up'' at some of freedom-of-choice issues created by the ban, said state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, who filed one of the exemption bills. He and others argue the ban is an enforcement nightmare for businesses, and is merely angering many of the patrons and employees it was meant to protect.
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