Closed churches in Syracuse can't escape taxes

Syracuse is taxing two closed Catholic church properties for the first time. The city's assessment review board has notified St. Peter Church and the Cathedral School this week they will be taxed for the 2010-11 fiscal year, the Post-Standard reports. 

Parishioners at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will have to pay the city about $15,711 in taxes on the school building should the tax rate remain the same. Rector at The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception Monsignor Neal Quartier says the parish plans to make the school into apartments to make money to pay the taxes.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse is planning a consolidation that could close 40 other parish buildings, which could also be taxed. 

Syracuse Assessor John Gamage says a property's taxable status is based on its use and must be used for religious or other non-profit purpose to qualify for an exemption.

Gamage has called for taxing other churches including St. Andrew the Apostle and St. Stephen, but the two churches won appeals to retain their tax exempt status. Other churches like Our Lady of Solace school and church and St. James parish school have won partial exemptions.

Rescue for miners is paused for safety

CNN reports it could take up to two days to drill holes to search for four miners still unaccounted for after a massive blast at a West Virginia coal mine Monday. Bulldozers will be used to clear a path through hills and bring in equipment to reach the affected part of the mine, Kevin Stricklin of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said.

Rescue crews had to halt their search for the miners unaccounted for early Tuesday because concentrations of methane and carbon monoxide posed a safety risk, Stricklin said.

Nine rescue teams had arrived on-site early Tuesday. Their goal was to get to the mine's internal rescue chambers where miners are trained to seek refuge after an accident. The chambers contain enough food and water for workers to survive for four days. However, rescuers weren't able to reach the chambers because the buildup of methane and carbon monoxide was "to the point that they were risking their own lives," Stricklin said.

The explosion happened Monday afternoon at the Massey Energy Co. mine and has killed 25 people. Seven bodies have been brought out and identified, while eighteen other bodies remain inside the mine, said West Virginia's Governor Joe Manchin.

Stricklin says the situation is a rescue operation until it is confirmed the four miners are not living. "Basically all we have left is hope," he said.

Tiger Woods shows a new side

Tiger Woods smiled during his practice for the the Masters Tournament and took questions from reporters during his first extended questions and answer session since his sex scandal, ABC News reports.

USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan says acknowledging the fans is a change for Woods because he usually doesn't pay much attention to the gallery. Woods told reporters his treatment of his fans over the years was wrong of him and he was pleasantly surprised by the fans reception. 

"The galleries couldn't be nicer," Woods said. "The encouragement that I got, blew me away to be honest with you."

Woods held a press conference with hand-picked reporters and Brennan says Woods was more open with reporters than he has been in the past.

Woods says he still expects to win the Masters, which begins Thursday.