West families seek relief

WEST, Texas (AP) – Red Cross officials say nearly 300 families have visited a relief center since a deadly fertilizer plant explosion decimated the town of West in McLennan County. Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster says the recovery center in West will remain open through Sunday. The April 17 blast in West — a town about 70 miles south of Fort Worth — killed 14 people and left about 200 injured. Investigators are trying to determine what sparked the fiery accident. Foster says Red Cross teams have served about 18,000 meals and snacks since the disaster. The agency has handed out shovels, rakes and work gloves as more residents are allowed back into damaged parts of West in a process that continued Monday. A boil water notice remains in effect for West as crews repair damaged lines.