NPR 2008-11-17

Firefighters have been making progress in containing two of the major wildfires burning in Southern California despite tricky 1 variable winds. But a third fire is raging out of control, spreading northward 2 from Orange County into other heavily populated areas. The blazes have destroyed more than 800 homes and apartments so far, and forced the evacuation of thousands of people. Frank Stoltze of member station KPCC has more from Los Angeles.

 Most of the homes were lost at the Mobile Home Park in the Foothills of the San Fernando Valley, more than 500 mobile homes burned. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragoisa visited the park. "What you see is a devastation 3 that I've never seen before, and our hearts are out to all of those people who have lost their homes. Remember,many of these people were elderly, some were disabled, a lot of them were on fixed 4 incomes, they don't have a home anymore." Police are not sure everyone got out alive and have launched a house-by-house search of the park that’s expected to last into Monday. Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Barbara counties, clearing the way for state and federal aid to victims. For NPR News, I'm Frank Stoltze in Los Angeles.

 Israel Supreme 5 Court has ordered Jewish settlers to vacate a disputed building in the West Bank town of Hebron within three days. Settlers are accusing the court of being biased 6 against them. Linda Gradstein has the story. About 150 Jewish settlers moved into a building they dubbed 7 "the House of Peace" in March 2007, saying they had purchased the building from its Palestinian owners. In court, the owner said he had agreed to sell the building to the settlers, but later changed his mind and canceled the deal. The Israeli army had ordered the settlers to leave the building, and the settlers appealed to the Supreme Court. Today's decision says the settlers must leave in three days, and Israeli government will be in charge of the building until the legal dispute over its ownership is resolved by a lower court. Jewish settler leaders called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to meet with them and delay implementing 8 the ruling. A spokesman for the settlers called the Supreme Court decision a robbery. For NPR News I'm Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem.

 Iraq's Parliament has given its overwhelming approval to a new security agreement with the U.S. that spells out the terms under which American military forces may operate in Iraq for the next 3 years. Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh says the pact 9, while not perfect, is appropriate for the circumstances. "I think I'm optimistic that this agreement (is) going to pass through the Council of Representatives, as it is a national and important issue which is the best choice available for Iraq. " The agreement now goes to Iraq's Parliament for consideration. The pact would take the place of a UN Security Council Resolution which expires at the end of December.

This is NPR News from Washington.

 The race for one of the three U.S. Senate seats still undecided is drawing attention from national political figures. Incumbent 10 Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia will face his Democratic Challenger Jim Martin in a run-off election early in December. David Barasoain of member station WABE in Atlanta has more.

 Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is just one of the many politicians who have stepped in to lend their support to the candidates. Huckabee is stumping 13 with Saxby Chambliss today, and former President Bill Clinton will headline a rally for Democratic Senator candidate Jim Martin on Wednesday. Clinton is the first big name Democrat 11 to stump 12 for Martin in the December second run-off. John McCain campaigned for Chambliss on Thursday. He also took all Georgia's electoral votes in the January election. Huckabee won the state's February 5th presidential primary. Clinton won Georgia meanwhile in 1992 in his presidential bid. He was the last Democrat to carry the state in the race for the White House. There's still no definite word though on whether or not Barack Obama will come to Georgia to campaign on Martin's behalf. For NPR News, I'm David Barasoain in Atlanta.

 The space shuttle Endeavor eased into a perfect docking with the International Space Station this afternoon. " Contact.” “On the big loop, capture confirmed" And so the special Endeavor docking with the International Space Station at 4: 01 pm central time as the two vehicles flew over northern India near the Chinese border and now to approximately 212 statute 14 miles. " Endeavor is carrying a payload of supplies to be used for what the Space Station commander is calling "an Extreme Makeover" of the living quarters on the orbiting outpost, those changes will allow for a larger crews in the future.