Conn. governor’s order bans gas blow pipe cleaning procedure at power plants after fatal blast

Conn. gov bans gas blow pipe cleaning procedure

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has signed an executive order banning state power plants from conducting the type of pipe cleaning procedure blamed for a fatal explosion in February.
Rell issued the order against gas blows Wednesday, a day after announcing it at the recommendation of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Conn. governor’s order bans gas blow pipe cleaning procedure at power plants after fatal blast.

Drill mishap delays Chilean mine rescue

Santiago, Sep 23 (IANS/EFE) A drill being used to reach 33 men trapped for almost seven weeks inside a mine in northern Chile broke off and fell to the bottom of the shaft, although no workers were injured, authorities said Wednesday.

Engineer Andre Sougarret, who is in charge of the rescue operation, told reporters that Wednesday … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Drill mishap delays Chilean mine rescue.

Yamuna recedes but still flowing above danger mark

NEW DELHI – The water of the Yamuna river here receded Thursday morning but the river is still flowing over two metres above the danger mark, a flood department official said.

According to the official of the irrigation and flood control department, the water level in the Yamuna, which touched 207.08 metres Wednesday night, receded to … Read more >>.

Pentagon IDs 9 American troops killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

US IDs 9 Americans killed in Afghanistan crash

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department has identified the nine American troops killed in the worst coalition helicopter crash in Afghanistan in four years.
The military announced Wednesday that four sailors were killed in the crash during combat operations a day earlier, along with five soldiers. Three of the sailors …. Original article  : Pentagon IDs 9 American troops killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash.

Utah HP: Driver smoked pot heavily days before fatal crash and fell asleep at the wheel

Patrol: Tour driver smoked pot days before crash

SALT LAKE CITY – A tour bus driver smoked marijuana heavily for several days before falling asleep at the wheel and crashing in Utah, killing three Japanese tourists and injuring 11 other passengers, according to an arrest report released Wednesday.
Yasushi Mikuni, 26, was charged with 10 felony counts …. Read the original article  : Utah HP: Driver smoked pot heavily days before fatal crash and fell asleep at the wheel.

Pentagon says all 9 troops killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan were Americans

US: Dead in Afghan chopper crash were all American

KABUL, Afghanistan – All nine troops killed in a helicopter crash earlier this week – the worst for the coalition forces in four years – were Americans, the Pentagon confirmed, although it refused to provide further information on why the aircraft went down.
NATO said there were no … Read more : Pentagon says all 9 troops killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan were Americans.

Police: Man charged in 2007 Conn. home invasion says planned home robbery ‘got out of control’

Conn. home invasion break-in ‘got out of control’

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A man charged in the 2007 home invasion killings of a woman and her two daughters was devoid of emotion as he told authorities how he sexually assaulted the mother after his co-defendant told him he had to – to “square things up” – … Original source on Gaea Times at : Police: Man charged in 2007 Conn. home invasion says planned home robbery ‘got out of control’.

US regulators approve ‘gradual’ restart of Mich. pipeline that spilled up to 1M gallons of oil

Regulators OK restart of Mich. oil pipeline

LANSING, Mich. – Federal regulators will allow Enbridge Inc. to gradually restart a repaired pipeline that spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into a southern Michigan waterway this summer.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Wednesday that the gradual restart will be “tightly controlled and closely … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US regulators approve ‘gradual’ restart of Mich. pipeline that spilled up to 1M gallons of oil.

Flooding and landslides from typhoon kill 33 in China, dozens still missing

Typhoon flooding kills 33 in China, dozens missing

BEIJING – Flooding and landslides triggered by the strongest storm to hit China this year have killed 33 people and left at least 42 missing, state media said.
Typhoon Fanapi swamped south China’s Guangdong province after making a direct hit on the island of Taiwan on Sunday and killing … Original article on : Flooding and landslides from typhoon kill 33 in China, dozens still missing.

Man who thwarted Utah restaurant gunman is 1 of 19 honored with Carnegie Heroes Fund awards

Carnegie Heroes Fund honors 19 with medals, money

PITTSBURGH – A Utah man who wrestled a gun away from an escaped inmate at a fast food restaurant and three people who drowned in rescue attempts are among 19 winners of the Carnegie medals for heroism.
Eric L. Fullerton of Salt Lake City rescued an Arby’s worker who … Original article on : Man who thwarted Utah restaurant gunman is 1 of 19 honored with Carnegie Heroes Fund awards.

US regulators OK plan for ‘gradual’ restart of pipeline that spilled oil in Mich. this summer

Regulators OK restart plan for Michigan pipeline

LANSING, Mich. – Federal regulators have approved a plan that allow Enbridge Inc. to gradually restart a repaired pipeline that spilled at least 820,000 gallons of oil into a southern Michigan waterway this summer.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Wednesday the gradual restart will be “tightly controlled …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US regulators OK plan for ‘gradual’ restart of pipeline that spilled oil in Mich. this summer.

South African provincial premier’s residence burgled

JOHANNESBURG – The official residence of premier of Gauteng province in South Africa has been burgled, authorities said Wednesday.

Several items, including a television set and clothes, were stolen when thieves gained access to the premises of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane Sep 6, Xinhua said.
A local media report said Wednesday that the premier’s residence … Read : South African provincial premier’s residence burgled.

Utah HP: Driver smoked pot ‘heavily’ days before, fell asleep at wheel in fatal tour crash

Patrol: Tour driver smoked pot heavily day before

SALT LAKE CITY – A tour bus driver smoked marijuana heavily for several days before falling asleep at the wheel and crashing in Utah, killing three Japanese tourists and injuring 11 other passengers, according to an arrest report released Wednesday.
Yasushi Mikuni, 26, was charged with 10 felony counts … Read : Utah HP: Driver smoked pot ‘heavily’ days before, fell asleep at wheel in fatal tour crash.

India’s Commonwealth Games woes raise concern about major sports events in developing nations

2 teams delay leaving for troubled games in India

NEW DELHI – The idea sounded good: Put international sports festivals like the Commonwealth Games in countries such as India to broaden the stage for international competitions and encourage economic development.
It had been done before, with the Olympics in China two years ago and with regional events …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Choosing a seat on a plane: To avoid fees or survive a crash, here’s where to sit

Choosing a seat on a plane: Not just about legroom

NEW YORK – Choosing a seat on an airplane isn’t just about legroom anymore. New “selection” fees and extra charges to sit in certain locations in the aircraft have complicated the process.
With airlines now charging for things that used to be baked into the ticket price …. Original source  : Choosing a seat on a plane: To avoid fees or survive a crash, here’s where to sit.

Neighbors hope for cease-fire at Utah base where wildfire began

Neighbors hope Camp Williams in Utah ceases firing

SALT LAKE CITY – The last evacuated residents were allowed home Wednesday, as some neighbors of Camp Williams said they want a cease-fire at the Utah National Guard base, where live ammunition sparked a wildfire that still burned four days later.
It destroyed three homes, significantly damaged a fourth … Original article on : Neighbors hope for cease-fire at Utah base where wildfire began.

Police: 2 Ohio real estate agents slain, 1 robbed within a week; other agents take precautions

2 Ohio real estate agents killed; another robbed

KENT, Ohio – Two real estate agents were killed in vacant homes for sale and another was robbed all within a week, prompting frightened agents in northeast Ohio to cancel open houses and avoid meeting prospective buyers alone.
Two brothers were arrested Tuesday in the Sept. 15 robbery of … Read more »»».

SC principal: 2nd student questioned in pipe bomb, shooting incident at high school

SC principal: 2nd student questioned in shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A second student has been questioned about pipe bombs police say were found after a shooting at a South Carolina high school.
Socastee High School principal Paul Browning says police questioned a second student Wednesday about his knowledge of the event in northeastern South Carolina. Browning says …. Read the original article  : SC principal: 2nd student questioned in pipe bomb, shooting incident at high school.

Police: SC student fired gun at officer on campus, also planted pipe bombs at school

Police: SC student planted pipe bombs school

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Police say a South Carolina high school freshman shot at an on-campus officer and also planted several pipe bombs in the school.
Police in Horry County in the northeast part of the state say the student confronted school resource officer Erik Karney with a gun Tuesday. The … Read more : Police: SC student fired gun at officer on campus, also planted pipe bombs at school.

Salt Lake City-area wildfire 50 percent contained; rain, hail, lightning interrupt effort

Rain, hail, lightning interrupt Utah firefight

SALT LAKE CITY – Rain, hail and lightning have suspended the fight against a Utah wildfire ignited by Army National Guard members during weekend machine-gun training.
Fire spokesman Marshall Thompson said Wednesday’s storm isn’t expected to extinguish the 6-square-mile blaze that burned three homes and damaged a fourth in Herriman. But …. Original article  : Salt Lake City-area wildfire 50 percent contained; rain, hail, lightning interrupt effort.