Rescue crews finally reach the site of a plane crash in Indonesia — and find bodies. Active duty soldiers will become firefighters battling infernos in the West. And a hospital shuts down a pediatric surgery program after an alarming investigation by CNN.
It’s Tuesday, and here are the five things to know for your new day:
BANGKOK BLAST
“Bodies everywhere”: That’s how a witness described the carnage after someone detonated a bomb in Bangkok, Thailand, apparently targeting a popular Hindu shrine. The explosion killed at least 22 people and wounded another 120. Now the hunt is on to figure out who carried out the bombing — and why.
WESTERN WILDFIRES
From soldiers to firefighters: For the first time since 2006, active duty military personnel will help fight wildfires scorching huge parts of the West. About 95 fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and have torched more than 1 million acres in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada and Colorado.
INDONESIA PLANE CRASH
Finding victims: Nasty weather and treacherous terrain have prevented crews from reaching the Trigana Air Service plane that crashed Sunday in Indonesia. But on Tuesday, rescue workers finally managed to reach the mountainous site — and found at least 38 bodies. The plane was carrying 54 people across Papua province.
WOMEN IN ARMY RANGER COURSE
History made: For the first time, a woman — actually, two women — have completed the Army Ranger course and will graduate from the prestigious school in Fort Benning, Georgia. The graduation ceremony will take place Friday. But the Pentagon isn’t expected to make final decisions about exactly what combat roles women will be allowed to fulfill until later this year.
CNN MEDICAL INVESTIGATION
Alarming mortality rate: After a yearlong CNN investigation, St. Mary’s Medical Center in Florida announced it will permanently close its pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program. The CNN report found that from 2011 to 2013, the program had a 12.5% mortality rate for open heart surgeries — more than three times the national average. At least nine babies died after having heart surgery at the hospital since the program started in 2011, and a 10th baby was left paralyzed.