Across the Nation

GAINESVILLE, Texas — Storms battered parts of Texas with wind up to 100 mph and hail the size of baseballs Saturday, damaging buildings and slamming parked airplanes into one another at an airport.

No serious injuries were reported, but two horses were killed when what appeared to be a tornado swept through a Waco ranch and flattened some barns and a two-story home. At least six other horses — all belonging to Baylor University’s equestrian program — were injured, the school said.

"When you have winds from 80 to 100 mph it can do damage similar to that of a tornado,” said Jesse Moore, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "That can do some very, very big damage.”

Just south of the Oklahoma border in Gainesville, wind and hail broke windows and ripped roofs on houses, said city spokeswoman Kay Lunnon. Some areas were still without power late Saturday.

Forecasters said the city has more than 3 inches of rain.

At the Gainesville Municipal Airport, hangars were damaged and private planes that were outside were pushed into each other by the high winds, said airport director Matt Quick. About 15 planes were damaged, he said.

In Waco, Baylor University freshman Shelby White was about to go to bed when the wind began pounding her family’s house.

"I dove in the back corner of my room and all the walls collapsed,” White said. "When the window shattered, I thought we had a really strong wind. But when the wall started collapsing, I didn’t know what to think.”

The National Weather Service said that while a tornado was briefly spotted around Waco, straight-line winds of at least 70 mph likely did most of the damage.

Officials also reported wind-damaged homes and felled trees in San Jacinto and Liberty Counties, around Houston. About 4,000 customers in the Houston area lost power during the storm, CenterPoint Energy officials said.

Seattle-area garbage haulers reject offers, consider strikes

SEATTLE — A union representing 600 Seattle-area garbage-truck drivers rejected two proposed contracts, raising the threat of a strike.

Officials at Teamsters Local 174 planned to meet Sunday to discuss whether they would return to the bargaining table or strike. Garbage service for some 2 million households and thousands of businesses in King and Snohomish counties is at stake.

The union rejected four-year contract proposals Saturday from Allied Waste Industries Inc. and Waste Management Inc. Major sticking points were health care and overtime.

The two tentative contracts, reached by negotiators April 15, were very similar, said the local’s secretary-treasurer, Dan Scott. He declined to release the vote tallies.

Waste Management spokeswoman Lynn Brown said the Houston-based company has a contingency plan to continue service, but called speculation of a strike premature. The company had not met with union leaders since the vote, she said.

"We do look forward to sitting down with them and understanding the issues,” Brown said early Sunday.

Officials from Scottsdale, Ariz.,-based Allied Waste did not return calls seeking comment Saturday.

The city’s agreements with the two companies require them to continue to provide trash-hauling services regardless of any labor disruption, said Marty McOmber, spokesman for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

"If they fail to do that, the city can seek significant damages from the companies that will add up very quickly,” McOmber said. "The burden will fall on them.”

Scott said the longer hours caused by excessive overtime can jeopardize safety and lower morale.

"We want quality of life,” he said. "We want to have control over some days — like if my son has graduation, I want to have a reasonable chance of attending.”

<