The nation in brief

March urges action on climate change

NEW YORK — Accompanied by drumbeats, wearing costumes and carrying signs, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Manhattan and other cities around the world on Sunday to urge policymakers to take action on climate change.

The crowds of marchers, which included actors Mark Ruffalo and Evangeline Lilly, wound through midtown Manhattan, joined along the way by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, former Vice President Al Gore and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The march was one of a series of events held around the world two days before the United Nations Climate Summit. More than 120 world leaders will convene Tuesday for the meeting aimed at galvanizing political will for a new global climate treaty by the end of 2015.

The New York march drew people from all over the country. A contingent from Moore, Okla. — where a tornado killed 24 last year — took part, as did hundreds of New Yorkers affected by superstorm Sandy, which the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the British meteorological office said was made more likely by climate change.

California deputies capture 5th escapee

SAN FRANCISCO — A fifth man who escaped a Central California correctional facility has been captured, authorities said Sunday.

Madera County deputies apprehended Roel Soliz, 30, of Chowchilla in Fairmead shortly before 3 p.m. after receiving an anonymous phone tip, Sheriff John Anderson said.

The sheriff’s office declined to provide further details about Soliz’s arrest, sheriff’s spokesman Erica Stuart said.

The capture came less than 24 hours after a pair of special sheriff’s units caught the other four escapees — Juan Lopez, 33; Jorge Lopez-Diaz, 26; Abel Ramos, 25; and Ricardo Cendejas, 19, all of Madera — late Saturday night, also after an anonymous phone tip.

The fugitives were being held in custody on various charges including attempted murder and armed robbery when they escaped from the county jail late Friday night.

Man tied to missing student, car pursuit

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A man seen with a University of Virginia student before she disappeared was being sought Sunday on arrest warrants charging him with reckless driving, police announced at a news conference.

Virginia State Police issued the warrants for Jesse Matthew on Saturday after he left the Charlottesville Police Department’s station, authorities said. Matthew went to the station with several family members and asked for a lawyer, they said. He was provided with a lawyer and left in a vehicle, driving at a high rate of speed that endangered other drivers, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said.

Law enforcement authorities who had been monitoring Matthew chased the vehicle but abandoned the pursuit because of high speeds, Longo said.

Matthew has not been charged in the disappearance of 18-year-old Hannah Graham, who was last seen early on Sept. 13 in Charlottesville. Longo said police want to talk to Matthew, who was seen with Graham before she disappeared.

“I believe Jesse Matthew was the last person she was seen with before she vanished off the face of the earth because it’s been a week and we can’t find her,” Longo said.

Police searched Matthew’s car and apartment and are awaiting forensic tests, he added.

Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports

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