Aftershock with magnitude of 6.3 hits Chile’s rattled quake zone

Strong aftershock hits Chile quake zone
CONCEPCION, Chile – A strong aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 has struck Chile’s quake-stricken city of Concepcion, sending people running into the streets.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the aftershock hit at 6:19 a.m. (0939 GMT, 4:19 a.m. EST) Friday. People in Concepcion, ran out of buildings in their … Original source on Gaea Times at : Aftershock with magnitude of 6.3 hits Chile’s rattled quake zone.

Chilean president says it could take years to rebuild region destroyed by quake and tsunami

Chile says rebuilding after quake could take years

DICHATO, Chile – Chile’s president says it will take three years to rebuild the region wracked by an earthquake and tsunami, something all too clear to the people cleaning up this splintered tourist town.
Dichato is nestled between pine-forested hills and a lovely sheltered bay where colorful fishing boats …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Building owner, manager charged with murder in apartment fire that killed 7 near Chicago

2 men charged with murder after Ill. fire kills 7

CICERO, Ill. – Murder and arson charges have been filed against the owner and manager of a suburban Chicago apartment house where seven people were killed in a fire on Valentine’s Day.
Cicero police said 60-year-old Lawrence Myers and 47-year-old Marion Comier were charged Thursday with seven …. Source article  : Building owner, manager charged with murder in apartment fire that killed 7 near Chicago.

It’s a snow job: Unemployment report, distorted by storms, likely to be hard to interpret

Snow expected to cloud February employment report

WASHINGTON – The government’s closely watched monthly employment report will be unusually hard to read this time.
That’s because the snowstorms that hammered the East Coast last month occurred on the same week that the government surveys businesses about their payrolls. Employees who couldn’t make it to work and weren’t …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : It’s a snow job: Unemployment report, distorted by storms, likely to be hard to interpret.

Mother urges fellow Chileans to cling to hope after long trek to find son

Woman’s trek to find son inspires
SANTIAGO, Chile – A woman who hitchhiked 400 kilometers (250 miles) to find her 8-year-old son safe after Chile’s earthquake and tsunami is urging her fellow citizens to persevere as the country struggles to recover.

Denisse Quezada, 32, had left her son, Matias, with his grandparents for summer vacation in the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mother urges fellow Chileans to cling to hope after long trek to find son.

Stewart tackles decorating disasters, party planning problems in new show, ‘Help Me, Martha’

Stewart pitches new show called ‘Help Me, Martha’

NEW YORK – Ever wonder how Martha Stewart might tackle your decorating disaster or party planning nightmare? Some folks will soon get the chance to find out.
Stewart announced Thursday that she and producer Mark Burnett are teaming up for a new television series, “Help Me, Martha.” It’s being …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Stewart tackles decorating disasters, party planning problems in new show, ‘Help Me, Martha’.

2 felons charged in Milwaukee slayings of 2 women, 2 kids and ensuing fire after $800 robbery

Police: $800 robbery preceded Wis. slayings, fire

MILWAUKEE – Two felons were charged Thursday with homicide and arson in the deaths of a mother, her two young children and a woman who also was the men’s alleged accomplice in a case that began with an $800 robbery.
Desmond Laster, 21, and Anthony Edward Barnes, 23, of Milwaukee …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 2 felons charged in Milwaukee slayings of 2 women, 2 kids and ensuing fire after $800 robbery.

Senior Democrat says Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater from $1B deal

Senator warns against $1B deal with Blackwater

WASHINGTON – A senior Senate Democrat said Thursday the Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater, now called Xe Services, from a new $1 billion deal to train Afghan police because of “serious questions” about the contractor’s conduct.
The comments by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin suggests thinning patience in …. Source article  : Senior Democrat says Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater from $1B deal.

Imam pleads guilty to lying to feds investigating terrorism plot against NYC subway

Imam pleads guilty in NYC terror case
NEW YORK – An imam linked to the suspects in an aborted suicide bomb plot against New York City pleaded guilty on Thursday to lying to the FBI – a deal sparing him serious jail time but forcing him to leave the country.

A tearful Ahmad Afzali told a judge … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Imam pleads guilty to lying to feds investigating terrorism plot against NYC subway.

In Chile, many survivors will build from ground up _ and count on billionaire president-elect

Many quake survivors pin hopes on new president

DICHATO, Chile – Chile’s earthquake and tsunami smashed this pretty little tourist town into splinters, leaving immense piles of wreckage and an awful stench. Rooting through the remains Thursday, Dichato’s residents said they are pinning their hopes for renewal on the new president, a conservative billionaire who takes …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : In Chile, many survivors will build from ground up _ and count on billionaire president-elect.

Questions and answers on vehicle event data recorders, or ‘black boxes’

Some questions and answers on ‘black boxes’

Q: What is an Event Data Recorder?
A: Event Data Recorders, or EDRs, are devices located within most vehicles produced today that record information prior to an accident. The information and its sophistication varies, but it generally includes data on the position of the gas and brake pedals, vehicle speed, …. Source article  : Questions and answers on vehicle event data recorders, or ‘black boxes’.

Experts: Mating season may explain red-tailed hawk’s dive-bomb attacks in Conn. town

Experts: Mating season may explain hawk attacks

STONINGTON, Conn. – Wildlife experts say love could be in the air for a red-tailed hawk with a penchant for dive-bombing people in a Connecticut town.
The belligerent bird is probably trying to impress potential mates and protect its nest as it enters its mating season, they say – and …. Source  : Experts: Mating season may explain red-tailed hawk’s dive-bomb attacks in Conn. town.

AP IMPACT: Toyota secrets in auto ‘black box’ data emerging in sudden acceleration lawsuits

AP IMPACT: Toyota secretive on ‘black box’ data

SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline “black boxes” that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts.
The AP investigation found that Toyota …. Source article  : AP IMPACT: Toyota secrets in auto ‘black box’ data emerging in sudden acceleration lawsuits.

Another worker injured in Connecticut power plant explosion that killed 6 sues companies

Another worker injured in Conn. explosion sues

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Another worker injured in a Connecticut power plant explosion last month that killed six workers has filed a lawsuit accusing the companies handling the project of negligence.
Authorities say the Feb. 7 explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown happened as workers were using … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Another worker injured in Connecticut power plant explosion that killed 6 sues companies.

Airlines adding up losses from February storms; analyst says it could be $100 million

Airlines adding up losses from February storms

The snow from last month’s storms along the East Coast has melted in most places, but not where it matters most for airlines – their financial ledgers.
US Airways and Continental Airlines say the storms cost them a combined $55 million in lost revenue. Other airlines, including the U.S.’s two … Original source on Gaea Times at : Airlines adding up losses from February storms; analyst says it could be $100 million.

UN envoy to Afghanistan says it’s ‘time to talk’ to Taliban, find political resolution to war

UN envoy says it’s ‘time to talk’ to the Taliban

KABUL – The head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said Thursday that it’s “high time” a political solution is found with the Taliban to resolve the more than 8-year-old conflict.
“It’s time to talk,” Kai Eide said.
In his last news conference as the U.N. representative, Eide …. Original source  : UN envoy to Afghanistan says it’s ‘time to talk’ to Taliban, find political resolution to war.

Twin-engine plane crashes into house in central Virginia; resident escapes, no word on pilot

Officials: Small plane crashes into Va. house

LOUISA, Va. – Officials say a plane crashed into a house in central Virginia, killing the pilot and setting the building on fire.
Authorities say the owner of the one-and-a-half story house was in the basement and was able to escape.
Virginia state police say the plane landed around noon Thursday …. Original article  : Twin-engine plane crashes into house in central Virginia; resident escapes, no word on pilot.

Lawsuit filed by injured plaintiff says cause of refinery explosion was a welding accident

Lawsuit details cause of NM oil refinery explosion

A survivor of a deadly explosion and fire at a southeastern New Mexico oil refinery has filed a lawsuit, saying the cause was a welding accident and that the plant operator failed to follow safety procedures.
Juan Carlos Hermosillo, also known as Elias Aleman, remained hospitalized Thursday with injuries … Read more »».

LA woman gets life sentence for setting bikini dancer on fire at San Fernando Valley club

LA woman gets life sentence for burning dancer

LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley woman was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for dousing a bikini dancer with gasoline and setting her on fire at a club called “Babes & Beer.”
Rianne Theriault-Odom, 28, was sentenced in Van Nuys Superior Court for the Feb. 5, 2009 …. Read the original article  : LA woman gets life sentence for setting bikini dancer on fire at San Fernando Valley club.

Cruise turns to nightmare off Spain as killer waves hit ship

Cruise travelers tell of deadly waves off Spain

BARCELONA, Spain – The Mediterranean was heaving as the 68-year-old Italian stood in the cruise ship lounge. A moment later a monstrous wave shattered the windows and sent shards into her head, leaving her bleeding on the floor and calling out for her husband.
Torrents of water gushed into … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Cruise turns to nightmare off Spain as killer waves hit ship.