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U.S. NEWS Monday 31 deceMber 2018
Lion kills worker after escaping locked

area at conservatory

BURLINGTON, N.C. (AP) — "This is an ongoing investi-
A lion killed a worker at a gation, we have no further
wildlife conservatory Sun- details at this time, and the
day after it got loose from family has not yet been
a locked space, the center notified. We will offer more
said. information as we know
The lion was shot and killed more," the statement said.
after it attacked the worker The facility was founded in
in an enclosure that was 1999 and is in Burlington,
being cleaned at the Con- about 50 miles northwest of
servators Center in Caswell Raleigh.
County, the center said in On its website, the center
a statement. said it began giving public
A "husbandry team" led tours in 2007 and gets more
by a professionally trained than 16,000 visitors annu-
animal keeper was carry- ally.
ing out the routine clean- It has more than a dozen
ing when the lion somehow employees and currently
got loose, the center said. houses more than 80 ani-
It wasn't clear how the lion mals and more than 21
left the area that was sup- species. The Conservators Center says a worker has been killed by a lion
posed to be locked, said The center says it took in 14 that got loose from a locked space, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in
the center, which will be lions and tigers in 2004 to Burlington, N.C
closed until further notice. assist the U.S. Department Associated Press
"The Conservators Center of Agriculture with caring
is devastated by the loss for animals that were living
of a human life today," the in "unacceptable condi-
statement said. tions."
The center said the lion A message seeking com-
was shot and killed to al- ment was left with a spokes-
low county personnel to man for the county sheriff's
retrieve the injured worker. office.q

Filing: Utility could

face charges in

California wildfires

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — a criminal case involving a
California's attorney gener- PG&E natural gas pipeline
al has told a federal judge explosion that killed eight
it's possible the giant utility people in the San Francis-
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. co suburb of San Bruno in
could face charges up to 2010. PG&E was convicted
murder if investigators find of violating federal pipeline
reckless operation of pow- safety laws, and the judge
er equipment caused any asked for the attorney gen-
deadly wildfires in the past eral's opinion on whether
two years. The brief from any wildfires constitute a
the office of Attorney Gen- probation violation.
eral Xavier Becerra is purely The company has until
advisory, and any criminal Monday to file its response
charges would most likely to the court, but it told
be filed by county district the newspaper: "PG&E's
attorneys, not the state, the most important responsibil-
Sacramento Bee reported . ity is public and workforce
Prosecutors would have safety. Our focus contin-
to assess PG&E's "mental ues to be on assessing our
state" before determining infrastructure to further en-
whether to bring charges, hance safety and helping
which could range from our customers continue to
murder to misdemeanor recover and rebuild.
negligence, according to PG&E reported an equip-
the brief filed late Friday. ment malfunction at the
The opinion was submit- time and location where
ted to a judge overseeing the fire started.qq