JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Houston, Texas (CNN) -- The space shuttle Columbia, with seven astronauts aboard, broke up as it descended over central Texas Saturday toward a planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Residents as far east as Shreveport, Louisiana, reported seeing and feeling an apparent explosion. Search-and-rescue teams from the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area were alerted and area residents were urged to stay away from any possible debris from the shuttle, which may be hazardous, said NASA public affairs officer James Hartfield. President Bush was being briefed at Camp David, Maryland, and was expected to return to the White House by noon. The administration was preparing to convene a "domestic event" conference among all domestic and military agencies that may be involved in the next step. An administration official said the shuttle's altitude -- over 200,000 feet -- made it "highly unlikely" that the shuttle fell victim to a terrorist act. NASA officials said they last had contact with the shuttle about 9 a.m. EST, and it had been expected to touch down at about 9:16 a.m. EST.

Ronald Charles Hanson 9/22/32 ~ 1/17/06 Ronald Charles Hanson, beloved father, grandfather and great-grand-father passed away at his home in North Salt Lake. Born in Upland, CA. Navy vet of Korean War. Employed by Eimco Mining for 28 years. Supervisor drafting department at Freedom Arms, WY. 1984 - '85. Preceded in death by sons, David Scott and Ronald Mark; sister, Leona Foust. Survived by loving wife Barbara, sons Michael (Kim), R. Kelly (Deborah), special grandson Chad (Shantell), 10 terrific grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many precious family members. To them he says "Hoka Hey" (it is a good day to die). Special thanks to the VA Hospital and Gwen Mitchell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rocky Mt. Hospice. Graveside dedication Bountiful City Cemetery, 2020 So. 200 West on Wed. 1/25/06 at 11:30 a.m.

"Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray during a diving expedition, Australian media said. He was 44.

Irwin was filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Queensland state when he was stung, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its website.

He collapsed at Batt Reef, near Low Isle and the resort town of Port Douglas, Queensland state police said in a statement. Port Douglas is about 1,260 miles north of Brisbane, the state capital.

A rescue helicopter rushed to the scene but Irwin had died, the statement said.

Queensland ambulance service spokesman Bob Hamil confirmed that a diver had been killed by a stingray off Lowe Isles Reef and said cause of death appeared to be a "stingray strike to the chest."

Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program Crocodile Hunter, which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has aired around the world on the Discovery channel."

"Students and faculty at East are shaken by the loss of Coach Mike Kernodle, who had been a teacher for more than 30 years. His boy's soccer team took state last year while the girls won state the year before.

Many of students didn't know he was waiting for a liver transplant. Jake Cook, one of the soccer players at East High, said that Coach Kernodle looked fine just a few days before he died. "It was devastating yesterday to hear about it because we saw him at practice Friday and he looked totally fine, like he was going to pull through," Cook said. "

"He always had the kids first," Principal Roberts said. "In fact, I remember saying to him, 'Mike your health is, I know you are struggling.' And he would say 'As long as I have the kids in the classroom and the green grass between my toes on the soccer field, I'm a happy man."

Michael Scott Kernodle "Coach K" A noble Viking warrior lost his final battle when Michael Scott Kernodle passed away on March 18, 2007. Mike was born in Chicago on December 27, 1954. He had many cherished childhood memories of time spent on the family farm in Indiana. At Western High School in Las Vegas he played soccer and football. A big, strong, athletic man, he played football as a lineman for four years at SUU, graduating with honors in 1975. He was proud to be in the "Coaching Factory Hall of Fame". During his college years he became a member of the LDS church, which was always a source of comfort and strength. With a passion for knowledge, Mike became an exceptional teacher and coach for 30 years, 25 of those at East High School. He loved teaching world history and was an award winning soccer coach. He had the gift of encouraging students to be their best. He was recently named the Regional Soccer Coach of the Year. With a career full of wins and awards, he said his greatest achievements were the men and women his students became. Mike wrote that his goal in life was to be a good man, father, teacher, coach, friend, and husband. He will be remembered as a man who reached all his goals. The mountains are where Mike felt most at home. Although he was an avid sports fan and wrote beautifully, fishing was his favorite pastime. Mike was blessed with two great loves. He married Deanna Forsyth (later divorced). On July 17, 2001, Mike married his soul mate, Becky Middleton. They lovingly joined families. In 2003 they had a son, Sam, who closed the family circle. His infant son, Daniel, preceded Mike in death in 1991. Michael Kernodle will be missed by those he leaves behind: his wife, Becky; his children, Nicole, Joey, Dallon, Dana, Scott, and Sam; his parents Lela and Richard Kernodle; his sisters, Mary Olsen, her son David; Lisa Mead, her daughter Melissa; a brother Ken (Julie) Kernodle and their daughter Katie; mother-in-law Mary Clark; many extended family, friends and students will also miss Mike, but for now he needs to take Daniel fishing. The funeral will be Friday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at the Winder Stake Center, 4366 S. 1500 E. Family and friends may also pay their respects at the Winder Stake Center on Thursday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. and prior to the services from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment: Salt Lake City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.holbrookmortuary.com The family expresses special thanks to Dr. Gordon Smith, the University of Utah Liver Transplant Team and all the nurses for their tender care. Mike himself became an organ donor. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the "Coach K Scholarship Fund", to support outstanding soccer students at East High School, c/o Bank of Utah, Attention: Roger Tidwell, 711 South State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Funeral Directors: Holbrook Mortuary.

Vicki Lynn Crowley, 51, of Draper, Utah, was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m. at Hilo Medical Center, police said in a written statement.

About an hour earlier, Crowley was riding a 1991 Harley-Davidson motorcycle north when she struck a sandbag that was in the outer lane at the top of the gulch, police said. She then lost control and struck a wall.

The victim was not wearing a helmet, police said.

They do not believe that speed or alcohol contributed the crash, but have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Officer Wendell Carter at 961-2293.

Sunday's traffic fatality is the seventh police have recorded on Big Island public roads this year. There also were seven traffic deaths at this time in 2007.