Hiland Road partially reopened Monday morning for the first time since a major avalanche blocked the road on March 24, according to the Municipality of Anchorage. Eagle River residents are now able to enter and exit their homes on the roadway for the first time in over a week. The avalanche left about 100 residents with no road access out and forced them to rely on snowmachine shuttles to move back and forth across the slide. An evacuation order was issued on March 27 and crews have been working to clear the snow — which estimates placed at 80 feet deep in some places in the days following the slide — since last weekend when explosives were dropped from a helicopter on the remaining dangerous areas of snowpack above homes in Eagle River.  

PHOTOS: Several people had to be evacuated after a fire truck crashed into an apartment building on San Antonio's Northwest Side. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex off Hillcrest Drive and W. Quill Drive near Bandera Road. San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said it all started when Engine 27 was on its way to a fire call when it was hit by a speeding car. The fire truck then crashed into the apartment building that also took out the staircase that led up to the second floor. In all, 17 people had to be evacuated from eight apartment units because Chief Hood said the building was structurally unstable. Firefighters had to use a ladder to evacuate some residents from their apartments due to the staircase being destroyed.  

York County first responders attended a pilot program on April 5 that aimed to teach them how to best serve patients living with dementia. The program, the first of its kind in the county, included 10 participants from multiple York County agencies. The program aims to inform first responders about the unique challenges that people with dementia face and teach strategies to effectively communicate with those patients. "Dementia care education is needed. Dementia care awareness is so needed," said Tina Hess of the Dementia Friendly Initiative of York/Adams County. Hess helped organize the training. People living with dementia can have problems with memory and thinking skills, sometimes leading to confusion and anxiety.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: The Phoenix Fire Department rescued a construction worker who tripped and fell into a trench while working in Phoenix late Tuesday morning. It happened near Central Avenue and Interstate 17, right next to a restaurant called Comedor Guadalajara. Arizona's Family was there when the man was hoisted out of the trench and taken to the hospital just before noon. Rescuers on the scene said they believe the man hurt his back when he fell. According to the Phoenix Fire Department, he said he had severe back pain. Part of the 8-foot trench had been shored up, but the area where the accident happened was not braced. That made the rescue operation a bit more complicated, so a technical rescue crew from the Phoenix Fire Department was called in. Between 40 and 50 firefighters, most of whom are trained in technical rescues, were involved in the operation.  

VIDEO: Tyler Braden made his hometown proud as he represented the state of Tennessee on NBC's American Song Contest on Monday, April 4. The fast-rising country singer and former firefighter put his signature raspy vocals on full display with the live debut of his new single, "Seventeen," which was penned by Braden. Ahead of his performance, Braden opened up about the Volunteer state and his time as a firefighter at the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department. "Tennessee has to be the musical state in the country," Braden shared. "There's live music in every venue you pass, there's major record labels, there's small and large publishing companies. Nashville is Music City and people come here from all over the country to chase their dream."