| Voltage problems halt some Amtrak service |
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Thousands of evening commuters and rail travelers in the Northeast are on their way to their destinations after train service was shut down for more than an hour by a power problem.
NJ Transit and Amtrak say train service was restored at about 5:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Amtrak says train service from Boston to Philadelphia, including New York City, suffered a power outage after severe thunderstorms passed through the region. The outage also extended west to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Amtrak says the cause of the outage is under investigation.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 7:30pm EST July 23, 2008
| Insurance tests raise questions about some pickups |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Safety questions are being raised about small pickup trucks, at a time when sales are up because of their improved gas mileage.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says several small pickups from the 2008 model year offer dismal protection in side crashes. Versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and its twin, the GMC Canyon, not equipped with optional side air bags earn the institute's lowest rating of "poor" in the side test.
Several other pickups were judged "marginal," the second-lowest in the four-scale ratings.
Safety institute president Adrian Lund says people thinking about buying a small pickup, "won't find many that afford state-of-the-art crash protection."
A GM spokeswoman defends the vehicles. She says the institute's test simulates "a very severe crash," and says the Colorado and Canyon have performed well in other tests.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 2:31am EST July 24, 2008
| Pittsburgh cancer center warns of cell phone risks |
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The head of a cancer research center is urging his faculty and staff to limit their cell phone use.
Dr. Ronald Herberman of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute is worried about the possible risk of brain cancer. He says there's a "growing body of literature" linking long-term cell phone use with adverse health effects, including cancer. He's basing his warning on early, unpublished data.
Herberman is urging his faculty and staff to keep cell phones away from their heads, and use the speakerphone or a wireless headset. He says children should use cell phones only for emergencies.
Other researchers point to numerous studies which have found no link between cell phone use and brain tumors. The Food and Drug Administration says if there is a risk it's probably very small.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 7:09pm EST July 23, 2008
| House approves housing rescue bill |
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House has passed legislation that aims to help 400,000 strapped homeowners who are facing foreclosure and prevent troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from collapsing.
The 272-152 vote on Wednesday reflected a congressional push to send election-year help to struggling borrowers and to reassure jittery financial markets about the health of two pillars of the mortgage market.
The measure is on track to pass the Senate and become law within days. President Bush dropped his opposition earlier in the day.
The White House swallowed its distaste for $3.9 billion in grants the bill would provide for devastated neighborhoods.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 5:05pm EST July 23, 2008
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- One of 38 people charged in a global crime ring that allegedly stole personal information from unsuspecting Internet users has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge in Connecticut.
The Romanian citizen (Ovidiu-Ionut Nicola-Roman) faces a prison term of 46 to 57 months and possible fines and restitution payments when he is sentenced October 10th.
He also faces similar federal charges in California, where most of the defendants were indicted.
Authorities accuse the defendants of stealing names, Social Security numbers, credit card data and other information from Internet users. Federal indictments allege the Romania-based phishing scams sought to rip off thousands of consumers and hundreds of financial institutions.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 7:28pm EST July 22, 2008
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