NATION NEWS BRIEFS

ALASKA / Plane crashes at Denali park

An FAA official said Sunday a plane crashed at Denali National Park in Alaska. Allen Kenitzer of the FAA said little is known at this time about the crash or the status of anyone on board. He says the plane is believed to be a single-engine aircraft and the crash caused a large fire at the site, near the entrance of the park, about 180 miles north of Anchorage.

ARIZONA / 2 escaped inmates still in state

Police Sunday night said they believe the two convicted murderers who are at large after escaping from an Arizona prison have not left the state. Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan said Tracy Province and John McCluskey are believed to be traveling in a silver Volkswagen Jetta along with a suspected female accomplice. A third man, Daniel Renwick, 36, was captured early Sunday in western Colorado. Renwick was serving 22 years for second-degree murder when he and the other two inmates escaped Friday.

FLORIDA / Fixes for space-hub cooling system

Half of the International Space Station's cooling system suddenly shut down Saturday, forcing the astronauts to power down equipment. After huddling Sunday, NASA managers gave preliminary approval for a pair of spacewalks, the first of which would take place later this week. Two of the Americans on board were already set for a spacewalk Thursday for routine maintenance. Officials stressed that the six occupants were in no danger. The cooling system is critical to onboard operations.

WASHINGTON / Dozens of House seats up for grabs

No fewer than 65 House seats across the country, mostly held by Democrats, are at risk of changing political hands this fall as voters look to blame someone for the sluggish economy. Another worry for Democrats is the fallout from a possible September trial for Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) on charges of tax and disclosure violations. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin, a tea-party movement favorite, told "Fox News Sunday" that her political focus these days isn't on the 2012 presidential race, but on helping put more Republicans into office in the fall elections.

WASHINGTON / AP gets Helen Thomas' old seat

The AP has been granted the front-row White House briefing-room seat previously held by former United Press International writer Helen Thomas, the White House Correspondents Association said. Thomas quit in June amid a gaffe about Israel. The AP's old front-row seat will go to Fox News Channel, whose old second-row seat will go to NPR.