Witnesses testified that businessman and former Auburn University’s punter Tommy Lunceford Jr. was in a dispute with a couple leasing his Gulf Shores (Alabama) restaurant and faced foreclosure when the building burned as the couple, sleeping upstairs, narrowly escaped injury. …
The National Safety Council, which campaigned to get U.S. states to enforce seatbelt laws, is taking on cellphones, saying it is starting a campaign to ban all use of mobile phones while driving. Even so-called hands-free devices should be banned …
According to catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the earthquake, which struck Costa Rica last week, measured 6.1. The epicenter was located about 35 km (22 miles) northwest of the capital city, San …
Morris and Annelies Sheehan promise North Haven, Connecticut firefighters they won’t use real candles on their Christmas trees anymore. The Sheehan’s lit the candles for a guest from Germany Friday night and the tree went up in flames, along with …
The state of Vermont is planning to begin issuing enhanced driver’s licenses on Feb. 17. The new licenses will allow holders to cross the United States-Canada border without a passport or other supporting documents. The new licenses are designed to …
A federal jury in Pittsburgh has cleared discount grocer Aldi Inc. of discriminating against an employee’s religious rights. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Aldi in 2006, saying the Batavia, Ill., chain refused to let Kimberly Bloom, who worked …
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced it would allow mobile homes for hurricane victims in areas that new maps indicate are at risk of future flooding in Cameron Parish. But the occupants must be out of the units by …
The biotechnology industry says it remains firmly opposed to the labeling of food products as “biotech-free” or “genetically engineered-free.” The industry contends such labels “wrongly plant the idea with consumers that biotech food products are inferior or pose a health …
Business groups want to halt efforts to adopt mandatory workplace ergonomics standards in Michigan. Commissions set up by state regulators are scheduled to take preliminary but key votes on potential rules next week. A coalition including the National Federation of …
Kentucky’s largest state-chartered bank has sued Merrill Lynch for $40 million over failed securities bought through the investment firm. Pikeville-based Community Trust Bank filed the suit in federal court on New Year’s Eve. Community Trust Bank claims it now holds …