A Northwest Missouri community mourned the unexpected loss of a hometown hero after a sky-diving accident over the weekend. Lt. Eric Lorenz, a veteran fire fighter with more than a decade’s worth of experience in Trenton, died in a sky-diving accident Saturday near Lexington, Mo., when a parachute malfunctioned.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: St. Joseph News-Press

After three years, fire Chief Chris Breunig will step down from his position in order to receive a bigger salary, according to recent published reports. However, city officials maintain that Breunig continues to lead the fire department. On Friday, July 31, city business administrator Jim Mallon told The Gazette that while he can’t comment on particular personnel matters, the mayor has not approved the demotion of Breunig.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: shore news today

A police dive team suspended its search Saturday night for Southfield Fire Chief Keith Rowley, who jumped off a boat Friday night into Lake St. Clair, approximately 2 1/2 miles from shore in Harrison Township. Macomb County Sheriff’s officials presume Rowley, 58, of Milford, has drowned. Divers called off their search at 9 p.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: macomb daily

A firefighter evaluating a Northern California wildfire was killed by the erratic, wind-stoked blaze while he was surveying an area to decide the best way for crews to handle the flames, a U.S. Forest Service official said Saturday. Forest Service firefighter David Ruhl, 38, was in a vehicle in the Modoc National Forest and would have been scouting for ways to suppress the fire when crews lost contact with him Thursday evening, Forest Service spokesman Ken Sandusky said.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: u.s. news & world report

While the Greek and Puerto Rican debt meltdowns command world attention, most American states are grappling with how to cover between $1 trillion to $4 trillion in unfunded pension and health care liabilities, according to experts. The range of the unfunded liability number can be explained by variables like the assumed rate of return on pension investments and variations in economic forecasts.
- PUB DATE: 7/31/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: cbs news