Freshman basketball player, Todd White, passed away this of unknown causes this morning.  Fifteen-year-old White passed out while running during practice and he was pronounced dead shortly after this at Central Valley Memorial Hospital.  All efforts to revive him failed.  According to his trainer, Mike Way, White had no previous known illnesses.  The county coroner will be preforming an autopsy later this afternoon to determine the cause of death.  Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family of this child. 

Secretary of Interior, Grace Green, announced a new energy plan while at Western Governor’s Conference meeting in Salt Lake City, UT.  Green was on a three-day tour of the western United States.  This plan is to cost $800 million and according to Green it is a way to make America greener as well as reduce the country’s oil dependence on foreign countries.  The plan is a five-year program that will supposedly ease licensing of nuclear power plants by reducing strip mining.

After 36 years of dedicated teaching, 58-year-old education professor died.  Elizabeth Billson had suffered from cancer for 10 years before her early death.  She is estimated to have taught around 10,000 students during her almost 4 decade career.  Billson was an excellent teacher, and was awarded last years “Outstanding Professor” award. 

Two drivers left uninjured after a two truck head on collision on the I-59 last night.  The accident occurred in a construction zone where the zones were very narrow, causing the trucks to brake but still collide head on.  Both drivers were cited for reckless driving and speeding.  The accident caused a major traffic jam and the highway was stopped both ways for three quarters of an hour.  Due to the fuel spillage from both trucks there is now a major oil slick on the highway.  It is estimated that there was a loss of about $10,000 in goods from the thawing of the content of one truck that was refrigerated.