Los Angeles Electricians Support Texas Helping Restore Power

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6631112.html

DALLAS — Thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity Tuesday after storms packing heavy rain and winds as strong as 72 mph rolled through parts of northern Texas.

Oncor reported that about 5,000 customers were still without power. The utility said about 16,000 customers lost electricity during the storms that began Monday night in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

No injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service said a cold front moved through the area Tuesday, with more rain likely.

Lightning strikes in Brownwood blew out transformers, including one behind the local newspaper that left it without power through the night and damaged its press.

"The electricians think we took a direct hit on our press," said Bob Brincefield, publisher of the Brownwood Bulletin and a regional vice president for American Consolidated Media. "Even with the power on, it won't start."

The Bulletin and Stephenville Empire-Tribune, which also is printed in Brownwood, were instead printed 150 miles away at their sister paper in Waxahachie. Brownwood also prints other papers in the area and Brincefield was scrambling Tuesday to find presses that could be used until the Bulletin's press is repaired.