Renewal of the Zadroga Act, legislation that provides health benefits for first responders who grew ill after the Sept. 11 attacks, has been included in the year-end tax and spending bill Congress is to consider later this week. An $8.1 billion measure to renew the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will be included in a $1.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABC-TV 7online.com

Kansas City police are investigating a fatal shooting, possibly self-inflicted, of a Kansas City firefighter at 34th and the Paseo, near a fire station. A resident of the area heard a gunshot, looked outside and saw the body between Kansas City Fire Station 17 and a residence to the south, police said.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas City Star

A potential deal to fix the U.S. Forest Service's chronic wildfire funding problem collapsed Wednesday in Congress. The lack of action means the Forest Service continues to face the prospect of cannibalizing its budget to fight wildfires while having fewer resources to reduce fire danger in the first place.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Oregonlive.com

Key evidence that could explain why the Granite Mountain Hotshots moved from a safe location into a treacherous box canyon where 19 men died on June 30, 2013, was in the Office of the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's possession but was not provided to a contracted state investigation into the disaster, autopsy records obtained by New Times show.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: phoenix news times

For the past couple of weeks, the Washington Park Fire Department has been busy putting out multiple fires, but it's department chief is now answering questions about the past of some firefighters. “Yes, I know both of my deputy chief and both my captain are both convicted of arson,” said Fire Chief Charles Schreiber said.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: kmov.com