A lovely Afternoon Tea is being planned in recognition of National Literacy Day. Special guest authors are John M. Poswall, author of LAWYERS CLASS OF 69 and Patricia Newman, author of JINGLE THE BRASS. There will be a raffle with many wonderfulprizes. Proceeds support English as a Second Language, One on One Tutoring for Adults & Family Literacy Program 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. El Dorado County Main Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville. The tickets are available from any Literacy Action Council member or at the Library Front Desk. Reservations are required for the Tea. A $25.00 donation is requested for the Tea. For more information contact: Barbara Raines, Literacy Action Council Executive Director (530) 621-5723
With California on edge as a heat wave threatened to worsen firefighting efforts, hundreds of people north of the state capital evacuated Tuesday after a fire shifted direction.
The first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic storm season continued to weaken Tuesday, dropping to a Category 1 storm with 85 mph winds, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported.
The West's fire season used to stretch from May into August or September, but now fires touch off in April or earlier, and the season sometimes stretches into October.
NBC Universal and two partners said Sunday they have reached a deal to buy The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications Inc., ending a drawn-out process.
Weather 
