NATIONAL BRIEFS

TEXAS: 6 die in fire in mobile home

Fire raced through a lakefront home in North Texas on Sunday, killing six people and injuring three others. The fire broke out about 5:30 a.m. in a double-wide mobile home in Lake Granbury, about 65 miles southwest of Dallas, Hood County Fire Marshal Brian Fine said. It happened after a birthday party that had largely broken up for the night, Fine said. The dead ranged in age from 18 to 30 years old.

FLORIDA: Farewell hugs in space

The space shuttle and space station crews hugged goodbye Sunday after more than a week together, but saved their most heartfelt farewell for Discovery. On its final voyage after nearly three decades, Discovery will be retired following this week's return to Earth. The hatches between Discovery and the International Space Station were sealed Sunday afternoon, setting the stage for the shuttle's departure first thing Monday. Shuttle skipper Steven Lindsey noted that all the mission objectives had been accomplished: The storage unit carried up by Discovery was installed and unloaded, leaving behind an empty, compartment ready to serve its purpose.

HAWAII: Scientists monitor new eruption

A new vent has opened at one of the world's most active volcanoes, sending lava shooting up to 65 feet high, scientists at Kilauea volcano said Sunday. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the fissure eruption was spotted shortly after the floor at the Pu'u O'o crater collapsed around 5 p.m. Saturday. "These are the moments we wait for," said volcanologist Janet Babb. "It is exciting to see an eruption begin, particularly if you can see it from the very start." Kilauea, on the Big Island, has been in constant eruption since Jan. 3, 1983. At the summit, lava receded rapidly late Saturday but seemed to slow Sunday. About 150 small earthquakes were recorded within Kilauea in the past 24 hours. Areas near the vent could erupt or collapse without warning, posing a threat to visitors or hikers.

WYOMING: Worries over underground plume

A gas well blowout four years ago in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park spewed a cloud of explosive natural gas, forced evacuations for miles around and polluted the drinking water - and the people who live in Line Creek Valley still wonder whether their lives will return to normal. Days of panic after the Aug. 11, 2006, blowout at the Crosby 25-3 well have been replaced by lingering uncertainty about a pollution plume 225 feet underground. Now Windsor Energy is applying to drill a new well less than a mile from the blowout, even though the blowout's cause remains a mystery.