News
Pa. Proposes Gas Drilling Health Advisory Panel
May 7, 2013 2:11 pm | by Kevin Begos, Associated Press | CommentsThe Health Advisory Panel on Shale Gas Extraction would look at potential public health impacts from drilling, along with potential health benefits from natural gas use. The members wouldn't be paid for their two-year terms, and it's not clear how much funding will be needed for the proposal.
Appeals Court Strikes Down Union Poster Rule
May 7, 2013 1:58 pm | by Sam Hananel, Associated Press | CommentsA federal appeals court has struck down a National Labor Relations Board rule that would have required millions of businesses to put up posters informing workers of their right to form a union.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia says the board went too far in trying to force employers to display the posters.
Lawsuit: Intel Worker Subjected To 'Kick Me' Prank
May 7, 2013 1:46 pm | by Russell Contreras, Associated Press | CommentsIntel workers secretly taped a "Kick Me" sign to the back of a co-worker as a prank, then kicked the confused man a number of times as employees at the Rio Rancho Intel plant laughed hysterically at the episode, according to a federal lawsuit.
German Industrial Orders Up Strongly
May 7, 2013 11:24 am | CommentsGermany's economy defied the eurozone gloom as official figures released Tuesday showed industrial orders rose strongly for a second straight month. Orders for goods from Europe's biggest economy grew 2.2 percent compared with the previous month.
Ammonium Nitrate Was Explosive In Texas Plant Blast
May 7, 2013 11:22 am | CommentsThe finding was expected, and officials had said they were focusing their investigation on the explosive chemical used in many fertilizers, said Rachel Moreno, spokeswoman for the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. A spot where the ammonium nitrate was stored is now a 90-foot-wide crater, Moreno said Monday.
Safety Agency Watches Ford Vans For Rust Signs
May 7, 2013 11:20 am | CommentsU.S. auto safety regulators are monitoring about 100,000 Ford and Mercury minivans that were not covered by a recall issued earlier this year for rust problems. Ford recalled about 230,000 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans in March to fix rust in the wheel wells that can cause the third-row seats to come loose.
U.S. Job Postings Fell In March; Hiring Slowed
May 7, 2013 11:18 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | CommentsU.S. employers posted fewer job openings in March compared with February and slowed overall hiring, underscoring a weak month of job growth. The Labor Department says job openings fell 1.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted 3.8 million jobs. Total hiring declined 4.3 percent to 4.3 million.
FDA Wants Cancer Warnings On Tanning Beds
May 7, 2013 8:20 am | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | CommentsThe FDA has regulated tanning beds and sun lamps for over 30 years, but for the first time ever the agency says those devices should not be used by people under age 18. The agency wants that warning on pamphlets, catalogues and websites that promote indoor tanning.
Machinists Overwhelmingly OK United Tech Contract
May 7, 2013 8:17 am | CommentsUnion Local President Tony Walter said union members won an annual 2.5 percent raise and a $2,000 signing bonus. Pensions will be increased by $7 per month for each year of service and employee contributions to health insurance coverage will increase by as much as $12 a week.
Nun's Nuclear Protest Trial Gets Underway
May 7, 2013 8:01 am | by Erik Schelzig, Associated Press | CommentsAn octogenarian nun and two codefendants used bolt cutters to cut through fences and spent about two hours inside a Tennessee national security plant that has had a hand in making, maintaining or dismantling parts of every nuclear weapon in the country's arsenal, federal authorities allege.
GM Recalls More Than 38,000 Cars For Battery Control Defect
May 7, 2013 7:56 am | CommentsGeneral Motors Co. is recalling 38,197 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, Buick LaCrosse and Buick Regal sedans in the U.S. because a defective battery control module could stall the engine or cause a fire. Vehicles from the 2012 and 2013 model years equipped with GM's eAssist hybrid system are affected.
Ethiopian Air Wants Compensation For 787 Grounding
May 7, 2013 7:54 am | CommentsThe chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines says his company will seek compensation from Boeing for the grounding of its 787 Dreamliner planes. The airline grounded its four Dreamliners in January following the FAA order for a safety review on the aircraft after incidents of overheating by its lithium batteries. Ethiopian Airlines began flying the 787s again last month.
BMW Recalls 3 Series For Faulty Air Bags
May 7, 2013 7:51 am | CommentsBMW is recalling 45,500 3 Series sedans in the U.S. and Canada because their passenger air bags may not inflate properly. The recall affects 3 Series from the 2002 and 2003 model years. The defective air bags have an inflator housing that can rupture during deployment and send shrapnel flying into the vehicle.
China's Struggling Automakers Jump On SUV Boom
May 7, 2013 7:48 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | CommentsThe SUV boom clashes with Beijing's efforts to push automakers to develop electric cars and to sell smaller vehicles to help curb smog and demand for imported oil. But the SUV's image of safety appeals to prosperous Chinese drivers who face chaotic city streets while electrics from BYD and other producers struggle to attract buyers.
Microsoft Touching Up Windows 8 To Address Gripes
May 7, 2013 7:43 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | CommentsThe tune up announced Tuesday won't be released to consumers and businesses until later this year. The changes, part of a software package given the codename "Blue," are a tacit acknowledgment of the shortcomings in Windows 8, a radical overhaul of Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous operating system.
Pentagon: Chinese Government Waging Cyberattacks
May 6, 2013 2:05 pm | by Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press | CommentsThe Pentagon for the first time is officially accusing the Chinese government and military with conducting computer-based attacks against the U.S., including efforts to steal information from federal agencies.In a new report, the Defense Department goes a small step further than it has gone previously.
Ex-Iowa Slaughterhouse Manager Faces Charges
May 6, 2013 2:00 pm | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | CommentsAmara pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiring to harbor workers who were in the country illegally and conspiring to provide false immigration papers at what was the nation's largest kosher slaughterhouse. He faces 25 counts related to harboring and two counts related to document fraud.
BMC Software To Be Sold For $6.6B
May 6, 2013 1:57 pm | CommentsBMC Software Inc. has agreed to be sold to a private investor group for about $6.6 billion in cash. The Houston-based maker of system management software for businesses said Monday that the deal is for $46.25 per share. That's less than 2 percent above Friday's closing stock price of $45.42.
Merck Plays Up Consumer Products In New Campaign
May 6, 2013 1:45 pm | CommentsThe new campaign is the first major campaign to promote its consumer products, which include Coppertone sunscreen, Dr. Scholl's shoes and shoe inserts, and Claritin over-the-counter allergy medication. Called the "Active Family Project," the campaign features a website, Facebook page and other social and digital media aimed at moms to help promote healthy lifestyles.
FAA Safety Oversight Of Aircraft Repairs Faulted
May 6, 2013 1:41 pm | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | CommentsThe Department of Transportation's inspector general said in a report released Monday that a supposedly risk-based safety inspection system adopted by the FAA "falls short of being truly risk-based." The report said this is especially true for foreign repair stations.
