Museum Tower Rising Above Dallas Arts District

Museum Tower is rising fast in the Dallas Arts District.

The luxury residential skyscraper is nearing its full height.

"We're going up a floor a week, and we'll top out with the 42nd floor sometime in November or early December," said John Sughrue, one of the project's developers.

The building is designed to become Dallas' newest architectural icon.

"It's sculptural in that it moves out 4 inches a floor and tapers out for 18 floors and then tapers back in," Sughrue said.

The views from the tower include the Calatrava bridge, Reunion Tower and the Woodall Rodgers deck park.

Museum Tower will have 112 luxury condominiums. The most affordable homes start at more than $1 million. Despite the weak national economy, Sughrue said they are selling.

"We've signed contracts with buyers, and we have contracts in the works, and there's very good momentum," he said.

Museum Tower is scheduled to open at the end of 2012.

Dads Go Back to School as Role Models for All Students

For some kids, 7:30 a.m. is just too early. But a group of dads who volunteer at Sanders Corner Elementary School in Ashburn, Va., try to make those students feel like superstars.

It’s part of a new program at the school called Watch D.O.G.S., which stands for Dads of Great Students. Fathers take the day off to be a part of the learning process.

“Lots of our children don’t necessarily have a man in their life full time," Sanders Corner Principal Kathleen Hwang said. "Important to see what a professional man looks like and acts like and how they can respond to them and work with them.”

The national program started in 1998 after two middle school students went on a shooting rampage at a school in Jonesboro, Ark., killing four classmates and a teacher. It’s now grown to more than 2,000 schools participating in 40 states.

Parent Elmo Green volunteers to run the program at Sanders Corner.

“The moms volunteer all the time with the parties and the PTA and things like that, but this is a vehicle for the dads to actually take a whole day off and make the same commitment as the moms do,” he said.

“It’s really fun," fifth-grader Lucas Memier said. "I like my dad here. Usually, he doesn’tget to come here.”

In the first year of the program the goal is to have at least one father in the classroom each day of the school year. That's 180 days, and so far, about 90 fathers have signed up. The school is confident more fathers will sign up soon.

The close interaction has become an eye-opening experience for many of the fathers.

“My dad doesn’t spend that much time with me, especially on school nights, so I’m like, Wow, this is really an honor,” said Elmo Green's son, fifth-grader Myles.

“It’s kind of a check to make sure that I am going to be spending enough time with him," Green said. "I do I pick him up after school, I help him with his homework, I put him to bed, so I’m there, but then it makes me think about the quality of time I’m spending with him."

Quality time to ensure all children feel loved and safe.

Monster Bash Keeps Lake Worth Legend Alive

The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is bringing the tale of the Lake Worth Monster back to the forefront.

The shores of Lake Worth are calm, quiet and picturesque, but back in July 1969, something ugly lurked along the trails and in the trees -- a monster. Sightings were so intense that the Fort Worth Police Department looked into the reports.

What did people see?

"What they saw was a hairy, goatman-like creature," said Michelle Villafranca, a natural resources specialist at the nature center. "He smelled bad, he was scary, he threw tires at [people]. And he took chicken out of people's hands."

The monster was spotted up and down the Trinity River and lake for several years, with the most notable experience happening near an old quarry site where, legend has it, he threw tires as far as 500 feet at people.

While the monster is widely known about, Villafranca said that everyone living in Lake Worth, Azle and west Fort Worth back then and since know of the legend.

The sightings have been prominently featured prominently over the years.

The monster makes the pages of the book "Weird Texas," and author Sally Ann Clarke wrote an entire book about the sightings in "The Lake Worth Monster of Greer Island, Fort Worth, Texas." The tale was even turned into a children's book by local writer Stephanie Erb.

Not all visitors are aware of the legend. But people remain skeptical whether they have or haven't heard of the monster.

"I don't know; anything could happen," Johnny Harvey said. "It could be a hoax or dark or something. But I'm not going to be out here at dark."

Whether the monster existed doesn't really matter to the nature center, which uses the folklore to attract visitors.

"Having a big festival out in October around a monster also gets people who might not have been here before," Villafranca said.

In addition to keeping the legend alive, the Lake Worth Monster Bash will discuss the ecology at the nature center and provide some educational opportunities.

The outdoor bash, which started on the 40th anniversary of the sightings, attracted 1,200 people last year.

The last time anyone reported seeing the monster was in the early 1970s, but Villafranca said she thinks the goatman could still be out there walking the trails -- although she has yet to see it with her own eyes.

"I think he could be out here," she said. "And I've found hair on one of our hiking trails that I really thought could be a monster's hair."

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children ages 3-12. The bash runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, click here.

Texas Ranks 10th in Telecom Taxes

According to a study by a leading telecom tax specialist, Texans pay some of the highest cellphone taxes in the nation.

Texas ranks 10th in the United States, according to the study by Scott Mackey at KSE Partners. The study shows that 17.48 percent of a Texan's average cellphone bill goes to government fees.

"I think using cellphone bills as a way to collect taxes is just an easy way for the government to collect taxes. People don't really notice it," said Bill Peacock, director of the Austin-based Texas Public Policy Foundation.

The average Texas consumer annually pays about $318 in taxes for a bundled telecom package, according to the foundation. Cellphone users pay more than $100 per year in taxes.

Peacock, who has studied Texas' telecom tax structure for years, said sales tax is partially to blame.

"We have such a high sales tax in the state, and that drives up all the other taxes that we have," he said.

But Peacock said many of the taxes are obsolete and fund programs that don't need to be around anymore.

"Cellphone users are subsidizing a lot of different people and a lot of different uses that really have nothing to do with cellphone service," he said.

The Texas Universal Fund, for example, maintains rural landlines in Texas. He said the millions going into the fund should be examined because most Texans have cellphones.

"There was a new tax passed here in Texas that impacted taxes we pay on our cellphone bills a few years ago," he said. "They actually put in the law that you couldn't list the tax a certain way so the people wouldn't think they were getting more taxes when, in fact, they were."

Peacock said the bills are confusing for customers.

"It's overwhelming," Garland resident Marcia Cox said.

She has a bundled telecom package with AT&T Co. Her bill lists a dizzying number of fees: a 911 Service Fee, a Universal Service charge, a Texas State telecom Tax, a City District telecom Tax, a City Telecom Tax, a Regulatory Cost Recovery charge, a State Recovery Fee and a Texas Universal service charge.

Her bill is $373.50 per month, $46.98 of which goes to taxes and fees.

"If you really get down to looking at it you, just go, 'What in the world is all of this?" Cox said.

Her basic cell service monthly runs $52.95. She pays a Federal Universal Service Charge of $1.70 that goes in a national fund to subsidize rural landlines, schools and libraries. She is charged 66 cents as a Regulatory Cost Recovery charge that reimburses phone companies to comply with government regulations. A State Recovery fee, also known as the State Franchise Tax, is 31 cents. The tax reimburses telecom companies for taxes they pay to operate in Texas. And a 99-cent Texas Universal service fee goes to maintain landlines in rural Texas.

In recent years, Texas legislators have eased the telecom burden by repealing one telecom tax and lowering another.

But other fees continue, such as the 50-cent wireless 911 emergency service fee Cox pays for the cell emergency network and state and local taxes on her phone.

People who want to see changes in the tax structure should call their legislators.

Lawmakers in Washington have been pushing a bill that would halt telecom taxes for five years but it has yet to pass.

"I think we're probably being overtaxed when I actually sit down and look at everything," Cox said.

According to state records, Texas' universal service fund collected more than $462 million. Most of it goes to maintain rural landlines across the state.

Fire Station to Close Because of Possible Mold

The Allentown fire chief closed one of the city’s fire stations for fear that it might be infested with mold.

Allentown’s East Side Fire Station closed 5:30 p.m. after fire officials received complaints of poor air quality in the building.

Water from a wet August, Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Lee has wreaked havoc and promoted mold growth all over the area.

Firefighters who worked at the East Side fire house are now working from Hibernia Fire Station on Ridge Avenue. The station is located 1 1/2 miles away from the Lehigh River. Some residents believe the response time of 3 to 4 minutes makes a big difference.

"If they have to respond over on this side it's going to take them a few extra minutes and that could be a big difference in damage or even life," said Ralph Bove of Allentown.

Allentown Fire Chief Bob Scheirer says that a fire truck will be posted outside the East Side Fire Station during the morning and evening rush hours to ease concern from residents.

Next week the fire department will ask city council for a funding package that includes over $1.8 million for a new fire house. The chief hopes there will be a new East Side Fire House by the end of 2012.

 

4 Hospitalized After North Philly Shooting

Four men are in the hospital after a shooting in North Philadelphia.

It happened Friday night on Dauphin and Colorado Streets.

A 21-year-old man was shot in the lower right calf, a 27-year-old man in the right thigh and a 22-year-old man in the right buttocks. All three were taken to Temple University Hospital where they are in stable condition.

The fourth victim, a 30-year-old man, was shot in the chest. He was also taken to Temple where he is currently in critical condition.

Police continue to investigate the shooting. As of now they have no suspects or motive.

Arlington Student Attacked While Walking Home From School

Police in Arlington County, Va., are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl Thursday afternoon.

The girl was walking home from Yorktown High School when she was attacked on Florida Street.  

A man ran up to the girl, touched her inappropriately and ran away, police said.

The 15-year-old was not seriously injured during the attack.

The man is described as white, in his 20s and wearing a black shirt and black shorts at the time of the incident.

A letter was sent to the parents of Yorktown students warning them of the attack.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Speaks Candidly in New Vanity Fair Article

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a freewheeling interview to writer Michael Lewis that appears in the latest issue of Vanity Fair.

It's part of a longer piece analyzing what ails the Golden State's economy.

In the article, Schwarzenegger said a number of things that might surprise people.

He told Lewis that when he announced he was going to run for governor on "The Tonight Show," it was an "impulse."

"This will freak everyone out. It'll be funny," he's quoted as saying. "And two months later, I was governor."

He told Lewis that he came into office with boundless faith in the American people, and figured he could always appeal to them.

Lewis went on a wild bike ride with the former governor in which Schwarzenegger rode the wrong way down one-way streets and shifted in and out of traffic. The ride turned into somewhat of a metaphor for the governor's life with Schwarzenegger telling him "no one has had this kind of crazy, wild ride."

George Washington Student Was Part of Altercation: Police

A George Washington University grad student and Army veteran was part of last week's altercation outside of a McDonald's at 19th and M streets in which he suffered critical injuries, according to D.C. police.

Patrick Casey died after the altercation. Casey's parents said they believed their son was breaking up a fight, but on Friday, police confirmed that Casey was involved in the fight.

Casey or someone else in the group he was with hit or punched another individual and then Casey was punched.  Police said he fell to the ground and hit his head, leaving him brain dead.

Police said they have interviewed all the suspects involved in the case.

They are still trying to determine what charges will be filed.  If it is determined that the event was simply an altercation, only misdemeanor charges would be allowed.

An autopsy report confirmed that Casey died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Parents Allege Abuse at New DISD Elementary

Dozens of parents say their children have sustained physical and emotional abuse by teachers and other students at Ebby Halliday Elementary School.

About 60 parents gathered Friday afternoon to share stories and organize complaints about the far Southeast Dallas school.

"We have children, they are emotionally afraid," parent Debbie Martinez said.

Parents say buses have left students outside locked school doors and that parents were locked out of the school when they tried to get answers.

"We don't know what to do," Carmen Sauceda said. "We're desperate."

She said parents were excited about the school at first but have since gone back to their children's old schools to try to arrange transfers.

"You can see the moms going to the other school, begging, crying, to the principal saying, 'Please let my kids stay at this school,'" Sauceda said.

The elementary named for the Dallas real estate icon opened at 10210 Teagarden Road near Interstate 20 and Highway 175 in August.

Parents said Ebby Halliday school officials have given them insults and excuses but not solutions.

"This is a very egregious violation," said Michael Gonzales, of the Hispanic Leadership Forum. "This is not acceptable to the Hispanic community. We intend to go visit the superintendent and demand justice, and these people are going to be held accountable."

Dallas Independent School District spokesman Jon Dahlander said in a statement that the district is reviewing the allegations.

"Interim Superintendent Alan King met with a group of parents earlier this week, and staff is working to resolve the issues as soon as possible," he said. "Sometimes, in these cases, school staff members are placed on leave until a review can be completed."

El Centro BP Bust Lands Over 14 Tons of Pot

On Wednesday, Border Patrol Agents at a checkpoint near Salton City landed their biggest marijuana seizure ever, and one of the largest busts nation wide.

Over 14 tons of marijuana were found inside a tractor trailer at the Highway 86 Border Patrol Checkpoint at about 8 p.m., according to officials with El Centro Sector Border Patrol.

The driver, a 35-year-old man, had been referred to a secondary search after arriving at the checkpoint, officials said.

Agents used a large scale imaging system to scan the cargo of the truck and reportedly discovered anomalies throughout the shipment, at which point a thorough inspection was ordered.

During the inspection inside the truck's wooden crates, agents found several bundles of an illegal narcotic, which later tested positive for marijuana, according to a media release.

In the end, more than 1110 bundles of pot weighing 28,300 pounds, were found, agents said. The drugs were valued at more than $22.6 million dollars by authorities.

The driver was taken into custody and he, the tractor and drugs were later turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

Tony Reagins resigns as Angels GM

Tony Reagins resigned as general manager of the Los Angeles Angels Friday after the team failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

"Though we finished 2011 with a winning record, we remainedshort of our objective in winning a championship," Moreno said in a statement. "In moving forward, we felt a change was needed. Throughout his career, Tony has meant a great deal to this organization, and represented the Angels with the utmost loyalty and dedication. He will always remain part of the Angels family."

Reagins took over for Bill Stoneman after the 2007 season. The Angels won the AL West in his first two seasons, losing to Boston in the 2008 division series and the New York Yankees in the 2009 AL championship series.

Despite starting this season with baseball's fourth-highest payroll at $139 million, Los Angeles went 86-76 and finished 10 games behind Texas in the AL West and five behind Tampa Bay in the wild-card race.

The Angels said Reagins will remain with the team as a special assistant to chairman Dennis Kuhl.

Before he became the Angels GM, Reagins spent the previous six seasons as Los Angeles' director of player development under Stoneman, his mentor.

The Angels ended 2011 on a four-game losing streak, including a sweep at the hands of the Rangers to finish out the season.

In four seasons with Reagins at the helm the Angels went 363-285 in the regular season.

Reagins had several successes in his personnel tenure, acquiring starter Dan Haren last year, but his disappointments apparently were more glaring. After missing out on every big-name free agent last winter, he swung a trade for Wells, who batted just .218 with 25 homers while making more than $26 million in his first season with Los Angeles.

Reagins also fired Eddie Bane, his respected director of scouting, last season after an apparent rift developed between the executives. Bane's department produced roughly half of the Angels' current roster, including rookie of the year candidate Mark Trumbo, top prospect Mike Trout and ace Jered Weaver.

 

Rowlett, Rockwall Brace for Traffic Mess

Eastbound traffic this weekend from Dallas to Rockwall will get messy as crews continue to put up bridge beams across Interstate 30 at the President George Bush Turnpike.

Eastbound lanes will be closed starting Friday at 8 p.m. until Monday at 4 a.m.

Traffic will be detoured to the eastbound frontage road at Zion Road and go back to I-30 at Bass Pro Drive.

Driver Ethan Fox said he was stuck in the traffic jam on his way to work for more than an hour and half last week. But he said he has a plan for this weekend.

“I actually asked off this weekend for the traffic and everything,” he said.

The Texas Department of Transportation said this is the last weekend in which eastbound lanes will be closed. Next weekend, westbound lanes will bear the brunt of closures.

The new George Bush turnpike is expected to be completed by the end of December.

Dominion Must Wait for NRC OK Before Restarting Nuke Plant

Two nuclear reactors that have remained shut down since the Aug. 23 earthquake can't be restarted until Dominion Virginia Power receives approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency said Friday.

The NRC sent a letter to Dominion confirming that the energy company won't restart the nuclear reactors at its North Anna Power Station about 11 miles from the quake's epicenter until it is given permission from the agency. Dominion says seismic vibrations from the 5.8-magnitude earthquake caused the plant's two reactors to shut down.

The agency is “reviewing Dominion's information to ensure North Anna's systems will be able to keep the public safe and the plant won't start up again until we're satisfied on that point,” Eric Leeds, director of the NRC's office of nuclear reactor regulation, said in a statement.

In early September, the NRC said preliminary data from the U.S. Geological Survey showed the earthquake caused peak ground movement about twice the level for which the plant about 50 miles northwest of Richmond was designed.

Dominion officials have told the NRC that ground movement under the plant exceeded its “design basis” -- the first time that has occurred at an operating U.S. nuclear plant. But Dominion said its seismic data from the site showed shaking at much lower levels than those reported by the USGS.

“In multiple, detailed inspections, we have found no significant damage at North Anna caused by the quake. We will continue to work with the NRC as it performs its necessary inspections,” said Dominion spokesman Jim Norvelle, who said the NRC letter is a formal step in the process of restarting the reactors.

During a media tour in early September, Dan Stoddard, senior vice president of nuclear operations for Dominion, said the company wouldn't restart the reactors until it's convinced it is safe. Stoddard said the damage was only cosmetic.

Inspections conducted after the quake show there is a safety margin that exceeds the design basis. With few exceptions, Dominion said safety components evaluated at the plant could withstand shaking even greater than that recorded by the Virginia earthquake.

A public hearing to discuss the findings of the agency's inspections is scheduled for Monday. Various groups have said the earthquake is a wake-up call about the danger of another event in the area and are asking that Dominion retrofit the reactors at the plant to higher earthquake safety standards.

The NRC has said it plans to order all U.S. plants later this year to update their earthquake risk analyses, a complex exercise that could take two years for some plants to complete. The review, launched well before the East Coast quake and the Japan nuclear disaster in March, marks the first complete update to seismic risk in years for the nation's 104 existing reactors, despite research showing greater hazards.

The two North Anna reactors are among 27 in the eastern and central U.S. that may need upgrades, according to a preliminary NRC review.

When fully operational, the Virginia facility produces enough energy to power about 450,000 homes. Dominion is using other power sources in its generation system to make up for the plant being offline.

The company is still weighing the addition of a third reactor at the Louisa County power plant but has not yet committed to move forward with the project. The company will reassess when it receives operating approval from the NRC, expected in 2013.

Dominion Virginia Power is a subsidiary of Dominion Resources Inc., one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy and has the nation's largest natural gas storage system. It serves retail customers in 15 states.

More Than 100 AA Pilots Choose Retirement

October will be another big month for retirement at American Airlines.

On Friday, the last day of the month, 129 pilots told the Fort Worth-based airline that they are retiring as of Oct. 1. It's more than 11 times the normal number in a given month.

Pilots younger than 60 who consider retirement might be able to lock in the value of their pension based on stock prices going back three months. It creates a strong incentive to retire at times when stock prices are going down.

"The down market is really taking an impact on the pilot pension values," said Scott Shankland, of the Allied Pilots Association. "The second thing is the uncertainty of the health of the American Airlines for the long term."

Even before these latest retirements, American cited the large number last month as one reason for reducing the fall schedule.

"Fuel prices are causing issues," said Rick Seaney, of FareCompare.com. "It's typically the softer season, so it's maybe a little seasonal issue, and the bottom line is the economy is not looking great right now."

A month ago, 111 pilots retired, 10 times the usual number. The moves caused American to cancel one international flight, from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

The airline also reduced the frequency of some other flights. At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the twice-per-day flight to Tokyo was reduced to two times per week.

"It causes a ripple effect through the whole pilot ranks," Shankland said. "It causes training through the entire pilot ranks, and it takes three to five months to actually recover from that manning adjustment when you have a large group of retirements."

Now with even fewer pilots, passengers may notice fewer flights and higher ticket prices.

"Sometimes what happens is because there's fewer flights, there's more demand," Seaney said. "Ticket prices get driven up just by the sheer fact that more people want some seats than that are available for them."

Late Friday afternoon, American released this statement:

"While more of our pilots than might normally be expected made the decision to retire in on October 1, we expect to operate our schedule with minimal customer inconvenience. In preparation for a higher than usual number of retirements, we've taken a number of steps to minimize any customer inconvenience. We have made a proposal to the APA that would mitigate near-term staffing shortages that is good for both the airline and our pilots. Recent schedule reductions also have allowed us to absorb a higher retirement number than our historic rate for our current schedule."

Susan Gordon, American Airlines spokeswoman

In a statement, the Allied Pilots Association said it was evaluating a relief proposal from airline management to mitigate the higher-than-normal number of retirements in September and October.

Calif farm recalls lettuce amid listeria concerns

A California farm said Thursday it was voluntarily recalling bags of chopped romaine lettuce because of possible contamination with listeria, though no illnesses have been reported.

True Leaf Farms of Salinas announced the recall of 90 cartons that were shipped to an Oregon food service distributor. From the distributor, it might have gone to at least two other states, Washington and Idaho.

The Food and Drug Administration notified the company that a sample from one bag taken as part of a random check tested positive for listeria.

Federal health officials say they've gotten better at detecting the germs that cause food poisoning, so they are seeing them in produce more often.

The recall covers product with a use by date of Sept. 29. The bag and box code is B256-46438-8.

California health officials are looking into the contamination, said Ken August, spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, but have not yet determined how the lettuce became contaminated.

"Anytime there is a contaminated food product, we are concerned and take steps so that it's removed from shelves as quickly as possible and to notify consumers," he said.

Listeria rarely shows up in produce, but an outbreak linked to cantaloupe from a Colorado farm has caused at least 72 illnesses, including up to 16 deaths, in 18 states.

August said the state is working with the company to verify the distribution of the produce being recalled. Most of the lettuce was sold to California institutions such as restaurants and cafeterias, he said, and only a small amount went to retail in other states, August said.

The Salinas Valley is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" for its production of lettuce and numerous other crops.

Lettuce currently picked at the farm is safe to eat, said Steve Church, CEO of Church Brothers, which sells and markets the farm's produce. The company is working with the FDA, Church said, to determine if there are any problems at the farm and is taking more time to sanitize its produce.

 

DMV Records Show LA Man Owned Car Found in Ravine

The owner of a second vehicle discovered at the bottom of a ravine was registered to a Los Angeles man police reported missing earlier this month, according to DMV records.

The vehicle's owner, 88-year-old Melvin Gelfand, was last seen on Sept. 14 about 8 a.m., according to a Sept. 15 LAPD news release.

Gelfand was heading to Valley View Casino in San Diego, although records show he never boarded his bus or used his player's card at the casino, according to police.

According to LAPD, Gelfand was possibly driving a 2007 four-door, gray Toyota Camry -- the same make and model of the vehicle discovered Thursday in a ravine in the Angeles National Forest, according to aerial video of the crash.

Police listed the Camry's license plate as "5UPW238," which matched that of the crashed vehicle.

LAPD would not confirm that the body discovered in the ravine was Gelfand.

Police found the second vehicle after rescuing 67-year-old Dave LaVau, a retired cable employee whose car plunged 200 feet off Lake Hughes Road and landed in the ravine.

He survived six days before being rescued.

Man Doing Well Despite Six-Day Ordeal

A 67-year-old Lake Hughes man is reportedly doing well at a Valencia hospital despite spending six days down a ravine after his car plunged off a mountain road in the Angeles National Forest.

An ER doctor at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital attributed LaVau's survival in part to his strong family ties.

"He has extraordinary will to live and his family members were incredibly supportive and very thankful to see him alive and doing well," said Dr. Garrett Sutter.

He disappeared nearly a week ago while returning from a trip to Oxnard. On Friday night, he lost control of his car while in winding Lake Hughes Road and plunged 200 feet down a ravine.

His car landed next to another vehicle that had been down the ravine for a longer period of time. Inside that vehicle was a decomposing body.

When LaVau's family failed to hear from the retired cable employee for several days, they filed a missing persons report.

They worked with a detective to narrow the search area using cell phone towers, text messages and debit card purchases.

Then, LaVau's children began their own grid searches and they found him Thursday night.

"He's doing really good," said Lisa LaVau, even though her father suffered a broken arm, ribs, vertebrae and a dislocated shoulder.

"He's doing more amazing than anyone in a situation like that," chimed in Sean LaVau, her brother who actually found his father down the ravine.

Lisa LaVau said it wasn't even real that their father had been gone that long, describing it as "an-out-of-body experience."

Other family members agreed it was a miracle that David LaVau was found alive.

He survived by eating leaves, grass and ants and drinking water from a nearby stream.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department's USAR urban search and rescue team was sent in Friday to help recover the body in the second vehicle.

Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol is investigating both accidents.

They occurred at a stretch of the road where there've been at least two similar accidents in the past.

One officer described it was "a bad stretch of road."

Despite his injuries, David LaVau is expected to spend just three or four more days in the Valencia hospital.

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Denton Library Now Offers Kindle E-Books

Like libraries across the nation, Denton Public Library offers electronic books as part of its collection.

Kimberly Wells, North Branch manager, said Denton Public Library started its e-book collection a few years ago, and now offers Kindle-friendly versions. Kindle-friendly e-books became available to public libraries just last week.

"They (Kindle readers) are a huge part of the e-reader population," she said.

E-book readers can check out books from the comfort of their homes.

"People with iPads, with smartphones, with laptops, and with the Kindle, the Nook, the Sony Reader -- they all have access to these library books," Wells said.

Readers call it a step forward.

"I think it is an example of how media is becoming digitized," Benjamin Harris said. "We all have computers in our pockets now."

Harris said the best part is that readers can check out e-books for free, and there are no late fees.

"Just when the book hits its three-week mark, they can no longer access it, and it goes to the next person," Wells said.

But some readers prefer holding on to the paper version.

"I just have never taken them up because I am really technologically illiterate," Dorris Chipman said. "I like the feeling that I am holding on to the printed page."

Denton Public Library said it would never eliminate its in-house collection but it's important to keep up with the e-book trend.

Cuccinelli Taking Health Care Challenge to Supreme Court

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider his challenge to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

Cuccinelli planned to file the appeal Friday.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously dismissed Cuccinelli's lawsuit on Sept. 8, ruling that Virginia lacked legal standing to file the complaint. The court did not rule on the core issue -- the constitutionality of the law's requirement that individuals buy health insurance or pay a penalty starting in 2014.

Cuccinelli said immediately after the ruling that he would appeal.

The Obama administration already has appealed to the Supreme Court a ruling by the federal appeals court in Atlanta that struck down the insurance mandate.

NJ to Pay $95M for Scrapped Tunnel to NY

New Jersey has agreed to pay back the federal government $95 million for a railroad tunnel to New York that Gov. Chris Christie scrapped nearly a year ago — far less than the original $271 million bill the state was sent.

On Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the deal, which calls for New Jersey to pay back the money on the Hudson River tunnel project in five years.

The $8.7 billion project to construct a second rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York — known as Access to the Region's Core, or ARC — was 15 years in the making when Christie pulled the plug in October, citing potential cost overruns of up to $5 billion. By then, the state had already received $271 million in federal money to get the project started.

The federal Department of Transportation sent Christie a $271 million bill, which the administration has fought for the past year, incurring more than $2.6 million in interest and penalties. Those fees were dropped as part of the deal.

In a statement issued by his office, Christie called the deal a "good-faith settlement" that he said "puts the interests of New Jersey taxpayers first by substantially reducing the federal government's original demand."

After Christie halted the tunnel, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey asked the federal government to mitigate the amount the state owed, and the Federal Transit Administration offered to send back $128 million if New Jersey paid the full bill first.

The governor refused. The Christie administration has spent more than $1 million so far to fight the bill.

"The governor's decision to kill the ARC tunnel project will hurt New Jersey in the long-term, but we were happy to work with the Department of Transportation to help reduce the costs of this mistake," Lautenberg said.

The tunnel was intended to supplement a century-old, two-track tunnel under the Hudson River that has been at capacity for years. The new tunnel would have been able to handle an extra 25 New Jersey Transit commuter trains per hour during peak periods. Without it, New Jersey is left a tunnel that can handle 23 Amtrak and NJ Transit trains.

It's the Great Pumpkin Train Charlie Brown

If you think the cooler temperatures aren't enough to get you into the fall mood then consider taking a trip on the Texas State Railroad.

This weekend kicks off the The Great Pumpkin Patch Express complete with Snoopy and a live reading of "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown."

The Texas State Railroad will depart from the Rusk Depot (in Rusk) on Oct. 2, 7-9, 14-15, 22 & 29 at 11 a.m. and on Saturdays there is an additional 1:45 p.m. departure.

Visitors can also pick out their own pumpkin, visit trick or treat street and kids are encouraged to come in costume.  And from what we here, it's worth the drive.

Directions: Click here 

 

Legendary H.S. Football Coach Dies

Former football coach John “Skip” Duffy died early Thursday morning after an extended battle with melanoma. He was 64.

Duffy was a well-known and highly respected coach at Archbishop Wood, Neshaminy High School and Delaware Valley College.

Born in Atlantic City in 1947, Duffy was a 1965 graduate of Bishop Egan High School where he played football under coach Dick Bedesem and won the Catholic League Championship in 1963. He was a 1969 graduate of Delaware Valley College and went on to earn his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the College of New Jersey. He coached  at Wood from 1973 to '80, and led the Vikings to a 65-25-2 overall record, two Catholic League championships (1974 and '78), and a city title (1974).

"He was a tremendous man," John J. McFadden Jr., who played under Duffy at Wood in the mid-1970s, told Philly.com. "He was a fantastic leader and motivator."

Duffy is survived by his wife, Dottie, and children John and Greg. Memorial contributions in Skip's name may be made to the Archbishop Wood Scholarship Fund, 655 Street Road, Warminster, PA 18974.

E. Sunset Blvd. Closed onto 405 for Bridge Construction

Don’t call it carmageddon. Don’t even label it cartastrophe or carpocalyse.

Closing of on-ramps from Eastbound Sunset Boulevard onto the Southbound 405 Freeway Friday starting at 7 p.m. begins the first stage of a two-phase project spanning 28 days.

The closure is part of the reconstruction of the south side of the bridge, which was demolished in July causing the 53-hour closure of the 405 Freeway known as "Carmageddon."

The phase one closurer of on-ramps will last from Friday, Sept. 30, and last through Oct. 14. Metro officials stated that drivers should expect delays getting on the San Diego Freeway.

During the closure, construction crews will raise the street intersections and utilities to meet the bridges new height.

Northbound 405 ramps and Westbound Sunset to the 405 South will stay open during the first phase.

The second phase of the October construction will take place from Oct. 14 through Oct. 29. During that  period there will be continuous closure of north Church Lane between Sunset Boulevard and the Southbound 405 ramps and Westbound Sepulveda Way to Westbound Sunset Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard. There will also be weekday closure of the Southbound Sunset Boulevard off-ramp will be from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m..

Area under construction from Sept. 30 through Oct. 14:

Airplane Evacuated at Philly International

An airplane was evacuated and a runway closed at the Philadelphia International Airport on Friday.

The plane is a US Airways flight that arrived in Philadelphia from Knoxville.

When the plane landed at Philly International, the pilot reported seeing smoke in the cockpit. The plane was soon evacuated as a precaution and the passengers were taken to the terminal. No one was injured.

Runway 35 is currently closed as crews continue to check the plane. The rest of the runways at the airport remain open.

 

Hit-and-Run Survivor to Throw First Pitch

It’s been a long road to recovery for Ryan White. The 9-year-old Phils fan made headlines when he was struck by a hit and run driver back in August.

Nearly two months since the horrific accident, Ryan is set to take the mound for the team he loves. He’ll be throwing the ceremonial first pitch at Citizen’s Bank Park on Saturday as the Phils begin the postseason against the Cardinals.

The accident happened on August 4 in San Francisco while Ryan and his family were walking to their hotel room after a game between the Phillies and Giants. Ryan was struck by a Toyota Tundra driving the wrong way down the street. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and treated for a traumatic brain injury, damaged liver, broken pelvis and broken leg. The driver, who fled the scene after hitting Ryan, was later caught and charged with driving under the influence and felony hit and run.

During his first weekend in the hospital, Ryan was visited by Shane Victorino, Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr, who brought him autographed Phillies clothing, according to the Inquirer.

As he continued to recover, Ryan was transported to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on August 15. He finally returned to his home in Lower Makefield Township on September 10.

The Inquirer reports that Ryan is currently receiving home schooling from a private tutor provided by the Pennsbury School District and that he’s skyping with his fourth-grade class at Edgewood Elementary School.

Ryan’s mother told the Inquirer her son is doing well, undergoing three therapy sessions a week. He is set for surgery in November for an internal injury.

Ryan is scheduled to throw the first pitch on Saturday at 4:58 p.m. He'll be joined by his 12-year-old brother Kevin.

The Ryan White Trust has been set up to cover medical costs for Ryan, according to the Inquirer. You can mail your contributions to Ryan White, P.O. Box 562, Langhorne, Pa. 19047.

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Live Interview Prompts Warning From Judge in Michael Jackson Doctor's Trial

Attorneys in the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician were warned Friday not to talk about the case in public after a live interview outside the courtroom with a member of a legal team.

The Conrad Murray Trial: Timeline, Juror Profiles

The warning from Judge Michael Pastor came after a morning interview given by one of defense attorney Edward Chernoff's partners,  Matthew B. Alford, on NBC's "Today'' show. During the live interview, Alford talked about testimony from Jackson's security guard and the pop star's use of porpofol, the anesthetic at the center of the case.

After meeting with attorneys privately during a lunch break, Pastor announced that he would not allow the attorneys or their staff members to comment on the case.

The trial entered its fourth day of testimony Friday with accounts from two paramedics, a medical equipment company executive and a former patient of Dr. Conrad Murray.

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Metro Repairs to Cause Weekend Delays

Continuing track work will cause delays through the weekend on Metrorail.

It starts Friday night at 10 p.m., with Green Line trains sharing a single track between the Southern Avenue and Naylor Road stations while Metro crews replace rail fasteners.

Similar work will cause delays on the Blue and Orange lines between Eastern Market and Stadium Armory. A separate shuttle train will operate on a single track between the Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn stations. Orange Line trains will share a track between Vienna and West Falls Church.

On the Red Line, repairs will have trains sharing a single track between Grosvenor and Twinbrook and also between Takoma and Forest Glen.

Metro said to expect delays of at least 20 minutes.

Things should be back to normal Monday morning.

No Guns for Medical Marijuana Users

Federal law states it is illegal to possess a firearm if you use a controlled substance. Marijuana -- even medical marijuana -- is considered a controlled substance.

In a response to multiple gun dealers, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explained, "There are no exceptions in federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by state law."

Sixteen states, including California have legalized medical marijuana. The state has issued almost 57,000 medical marijuana cards, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Gun rights advocates and medical marijuana advocates are saying this policy is a violation of the second amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Licensed gun dealers cannot sell a gun or ammunition to anyone that indicates on the paperwork that they are using a controlled substance, or if the dealer has a "reasonable cause to believe" person uses drugs. Reasonable cause includes even talking about drugs.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Gary Marbut with the Montana Shooting Sports Association said this puts an unreasonable burden on gun dealers to police their customers.

"Their business is to be merchants, not to be cops. Unfortunately, the federal licensing scheme complicates that. It sounds as if the (ATF) is expecting them to drift further into the cop role," Marbut said.

The Justice Department however believes that part of the responsibility of selling guns is to keep them away from people who are prohibited from having them.

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Bryan Stow's Children Dismissed From Lawsuit Against McCourt, Dodgers

A defense motion to dismiss Bryan Stow's children from a lawsuit against Frank McCourt and 13 Dodger entities was granted Friday, but a judge allowed all other allegations in the case.

Ongoing Coverage: The Bryan Stow Case

The suit filed May 24 is in connection with the March 31 assault on Stow, a San Francisco Giants fan, outside Dodger Stadium. It alleges assault, battery, negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring, assault and both intentional and negligent infliction of  emotional distress.

"We're pleased that all the other allegations have been upheld,'' Stow attorney Thomas Girardi said. "I'd like to do well for this family. They've been through a lot."

Defense attorneys had requested that Stow's children be dismissed from the lawsuit because they were not actually present when the attack occurred. 

"This was a random act of violence,'' Dodgers attorney Jerome Jackson said of the opening day attack. "You don't make it better by injecting children as plaintiffs. We didn't  cause these injuries and we're not responsible for them.''

Stow's attorneys contend in the lawsuit that McCourt's alleged financial mismanagement of the organization left the Dodgers short of the money needed for proper stadium security.

The lawsuit includes an estimate of Stow's medical expenses related to a March 31st assault outside Dodger Stadium -- $50 million.

The judge was expected to set a trial date for the lawsuit, but a decision was delayed to Jan. 13. The delay is because of the Dodgers' decision to pursue civil action against the two suspects in the assault.

Motions in the criminal case were heard Friday against two suspects in the beating. Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, are accused in the attack on Stow, 42, as he left the stadium with friends.

A pre-trial hearing in that case will likely be set next month.

Both men pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered both held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Stow's family said earlier this week he is showing progress. He remains hospitalized in the Bay Area.

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Autopsy Report Reveals New Information on Cop Shooting Suspect Dejon White

On August 6th, Officer Jeremy Henwood was gunned down while sitting in his patrol car on University Avenue. In his autopsy report, we've learned more about what happened on that August evening.

The report says one of White's neighbors overhead him saying he shot a police officer and called 9-1-1. Police spotted Dejon as he was leaving his apartment. When they tried to stop him, the report says White stopped his car and raised a shotgun towards officers who fired 20-30 rounds.

The report also details, concerns White's family had about a group he joined.

His father told police he was "recruited by the Earth Center" while staying at a homeless shelter.

The report says Dejon seemed pretty normal after joining the group but his father noticed his diet dramatically changed, he started working out, and lost weight...

His father also told police since joining the group Dejon shared "everything with his fellow believers, but not his family....and he felt the group had "gotten in his head".

A website for the Earth Center says the goal of the organization is to strengthen "traditional Kemetic culture and spirituality in all aspects of life."

I was able to talk to a member of the organization who confirmed White was a student and says what he did sent shockwaves through the organization. He sent over this statement:

The Earth Center represents peace, unity and understanding among humanity. Although we are not a religious organization, we do not condone, teach or promote violence in any form.

The unfortunate recent events involving a student of the traditional education the Earth Center offers sent shockwaves throughout the organization. We know many people are looking for an answer as to why this happened...so are we. Our sympathy goes out to the families who were affected by this terrible incident.

 

Washington Monument Pyramidion Inspection Complete

Engineers have completed an inspection of earthquake damage at the pyramid-like top of the Washington Monument, National Park Service officials said Friday.

Engineers also completed inspection of six levels of stone below the pyramidion.

The team is rappelling down the monument, removing loosened pieces of stone and mortar from numerous cracks. The work will continue through the weekend and is expected to be completed Tuesday, Park Service spokesman Bill Line said.

The main priority is to remove any loosened debris from the monument so that it doesn't fall and injure someone, Line said. He stressed that engineers say the monument is still structurally sound and not at risk of falling over.

Engineers returned to the building Friday morning and resumed rappelling operations.

Slain Officer Autopsy Reveals Final Act

A recently released medical report about Officer Jeremy Henwood revealed that he safely moved his police car after being shot.

The report states that although Henwood was shot in the face, he somehow managed to pull his vehicle to the side of the road and place it in park. Bystanders rushed to the scene to help him, but the officer died shortly after.

Henwood was also an organ donor and doctors were able to use his heart, lungs, kidneys and other tissue, according to the medical report.

Anyone who would like to donate to officer Henwood's memorial fund can mail a check to the San Diego Police Officer Association at:

Officer Jeremy Henwood Family Trust

c/o San Diego Police Officers Association

8388 Vickers Street, San Diego, CA 92111

 

5 Hurt in School Stabbing

Five people, including an alleged assailant, were hospitalized after a stabbing at South East High School on Friday morning, according to authorities.

A female student was stabbed multiple times during a lunchtime argument shortly before 11 a.m. near the west gate of South East High School, said inspector Matt Levesque of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

"The male student stabbed the female student, and the dean interceded. He received non-life threating injuries, but was wounded," said LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy. "Another student also jumped in to stop this. That student received injuries, but also non-life threatening."

A school police officer complained of chest pains and was taken to the hospital, said Levesque.

A total of five people -- including the assailant -- were hospitalized, Levesque said.

The school was placed on precautionary lockdown and is scheduled to dismiss on time, said Deasy.

South East High School is located at 2720 Tweedy Blvd. in South Gate.

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Police Arrest Would-Be Rapist in Queens Attack

Police have arrested a would-be rapist accused of dragging a woman off the street into the woods near a Queens highway before she was saved by an ex-Marine.

A suspect was arrested and charged Friday with attempted rape, according to the Daily News.    

Ex-Marine Bryan Teichman heard the woman's screams and yelled at the suspect, who then fled the scene.        

Police say the woman was standing on the street when the suspect grabbed her from behind and forced her into the brush near the Cross Island Parkway at about 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.     

The victim told police the man threw her to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her.     

Teichman said he felt he did what anyone would do in that situation.     

He told the News he had just dropped off his daughter at the baby-sitter's home when he heard the woman's screams.     

Prostitution Sting at Chula Vista Motel With Seven Arrests

Seven people were arrested during prostitution sting at a Chula Vista motel, Thursday evening, according to Chula Vista police.

The prostitution sting took place at a motel along the Broadway corridor, said Lt. Lon Turner in a media release.

Three suspects were arrested for felony violations of conspiracy to commit prostitution, said Turner.

The suspects were later booked into county jail on charges of conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and felon in possession of ammunition, Turner added.

Police identified the suspects as Wallace Bass, 29, of Spring Valley, Davina Perry, 29, of San Diego and Desiree Lablanc, 20, of Spring Valley.

During the sting four additional suspects were taken into custody for a misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution. Each of them were cited and then later released at the scene, according to a report.

NJ Marine Killed in Afghanistan

A Gloucester County Marine was killed in Afghanistan Wednesday, according to the U.S. Defense Department. He was 27.

First Lt. Ryan K. Iannelli, of Clarksboro, N.J., died during combat operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, according to officials.

His cause of death is under investigation.

Iannelli, who graduated from Kingsway Regional High School as class president, was assigned to a Marine helicopter squadron.

Iannelli left for his first combat tour on Aug. 14.

 

Top Male Athletes in the 2011 Chicago Marathon

Runners from all over the world will compete in the prestigious 2011Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9. Here is a look at some of the top contenders working towards the first-place win.

Moses Mosop, 26, is from Kenya and is no stranger to the racing world. Mosop competes in both marathons and cross-country events. He was a competitor in the 2007 Olympic games in Athens where he placed seventh. In 2011, Mosop ran his first marathon in Boston, capturing one of the fastest times recorded at 2 hours, 3 minutes, 6 seconds.

Ryan Hall, 28, is an American runner from Big Bear Lake in California. A successful competitor in marathon and cross country, Hall won first place at the 2006 Aaramco Houston Half Marathon, setting an American record at 59 minutes, 43 seconds. He also completed the 2007 US Olympic Trials Marathon, setting a championship record at 2:09:02.

Bazu Worku is a 21-year-old Ethiopian. Worku won the Paris Half Marathon in 2009 (1:01:56), later breaking into full marathons and achieving a second place at the 2009 Paris Marathon. He placed third at the Ottawa Marathon and the Berlin Marathon in 2010.

Evans Cheruiyot is 29 and one of the leading runners from Kenya. Cheruiyot won the Chicago Marathon in 2008 and hopes to reclaim his title in 2011. He ran his first marathon in 2007 in Milan, Italy, where he took home second place. Cheruiyot won the Rotterdam Half Marathon in 2007 in 59 minutes, 48 seconds.

Marilson Dos Santos, 34, is from Brazil. The long-distance runner has won several races, including two New York City Marathons, though he was unable to compete during the Beijing Olympic games in 2008. Santos achieved fourth place in 2011, setting a personal best (2:06:34) at the Virgin London Marathon.

Bernard Kipyego, 25, is among the elite athletes from Kenya. He has been successful at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, won bronze at the 2007 Kenya race and finished first with the Kenyan team in 2007 and 2008 at the Scotland race. Kipyego achieved a personal best at the Rotterdam Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 1 second.

Bekana Daba, 23, is from Ethiopia. He won first place win at the 2009 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon and the Carlsbad 5000. Earlier in 2011, Daba set a record in the Houston Marathon (2:07:04), taking the record away from fellow Ethiopian Teshome Gelana.

Atsushi Sato is a Japanese long-distance runner. Not often seen outside of Asian running circles, the 33-year-old is one of the strongest competitors. He is the Japanese record holder for half marathons at 60 minutes, 25 seconds. In 2008 he raced in the Beijing Olympic Games.

Joshua Chelenga, 38, is a long-distance runner from Kenya. Chelenga ran several marathons since 2000 before winning the Rotterdam Marathon in 2007. Later that year, he won the JoongAng Seoul Marathon. He has competed in the Commonwealth Games and the Boston Marathon.

Wesley Korir, 28, is a marathon runner form Kenya. He won the Las Angeles Marathon back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. He wanted to win in 2011 but fell short, placing fourth in the race. He broke the course record at the L.A. Marathon in 2009. He is a graduate for the University of Louisville.

Md. Failed to Collect $1.7 Billion in Unpaid Child Support

The state of Maryland failed to collect almost $2 billion in unpaid child support, according to a newly released legislative audit.

The audit of the Department of Human Resources Child Support Enforcement Administration covered three years, from 2007 to 2010. During that time, the CSEA collected $530 million, leaving $1.72 billion outstanding.

Most of the money is collected by withholding of wages, but the agency has not used all of its collection tools effectively, according to the report.

Recommendations include seizure of bank account funds when more than $500 is owed, suspension of occupational or drivers licenses for those delinquent, and improved review of local offices to make sure they're running efficiently.

The CSEA agreed with most of the findings in the audit, and said it is working to resolve the problems.

To read the entire audit, click here.

Carlsbad Schools on Lockdown

All Carlsbad district schools are on a voluntary lockdown after a threatening email was sent to a district office, according to police.

The message was sent at around 11:20 a.m. and warned that a kid had a weapon at a Carlsbad school, but the sender did not specify which campus.

Added police presence has been added to each school.

Police are investigating the situation.

Check back for updates on this story.