Flames destroy historic NYC churchNEW YORK — A historic church in New York City was destroyed in a raging fire just hours after its Orthodox worshippers celebrated Easter.The fire that started at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in Manhattan sent plumes of smoke billowing into the city's skyline.The fire was largely extinguished three hours later, but firefighters had to beat back small pockets of flames. Authorities didn't disclose the cause of the fire, which destroyed the church's roof.Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the Gothic Revival style building to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued.The fire broke out on the same day Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter. The church website listed services that morning.

Detroit schools close over protestDETROIT — Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed today after the teachers union urged members to call out sick following a weekend announcement that the district wouldn't be able to pay its teachers starting this summer.District spokesman Michelle Zdrodowski said in an e-mail this morning that 94 of the district's 97 schools would be closed for the day. About 46,000 students are enrolled in the district's schools.The move by the Detroit Federation of Teachers was announced Sunday, a day after Detroit Public Schools' transition manager said the district would have no money to pay teachers this summer.