Iraqi in Lawrence seeks help in contacting family

Harith Hamid, a Lawrence resident who moved to the United States from Iraq in 1991, is asking anyone in contact with Americans in Baghdad — a soldier with a cell phone, perhaps — for help in finding out if his relatives survived the attacks on the Iraqi capital.

“If they would call me, I can tell them how to find out,” said Hamid, who can be reached at (785) 691-6242.

Hamid’s parents, three sisters and a brother live in Baghdad.

“I am hoping there is someone someplace who can help,” said Hamid, 48, pictured above. “I’ve had no contact with them.”

Explosion: Teachers injured during chemistry experiment

Wichita — Environmental workers were expected to clean up a Wichita high school after a lab explosion injured three chemistry teachers.

The teachers were taken to the hospital Friday after an experiment went awry during a training session at Wichita West High School. All three were treated and released Friday night.

Thick, black smoke with a pungent smell filled a classroom around 2:45 p.m. The 25 high school chemistry teachers and three students gathered in the room for a day of training fled the smoke after the explosion.

Neither the hospital nor the school district would name the teachers.

There did not appear to be any structural damage to the school, said Tim Phares, who is in charge of the cleanup for the district.

No students will be allowed back into West until the district’s environmental services office is sure all the chemicals are cleaned up, Phares said.