Top Local News Stories for Balcones Heights, Texas.

Top San Antonio Area Local News Stories

UN passes resolution condemning Syria

The United Nations General Assembly passed Thursday by an overwhelming margin a nonbinding resolution endorsing the Arab League plan for the Syrian president to step down. The vote was 137 in favor and 12 against, with 17 abstentions. The symbolic resolution that condemns President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown in Syria was introduced into the assembly after China and Russia blocked the Security Council from approving enforceable measures aimed at curbing the violence. The vote followed news that al-Assad has moved up a vote on a constitutional referendum touted by his government as an important reform initiative. Critics have derided the move as window dressing.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:59:36 GMT

Payroll tax deal heads to final House, Senate votes

A bipartisan group of congressional negotiators signed off on an agreement Thursday to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits while avoiding a fee cut for Medicare doctors for the rest of the year. The measure now goes to the House and Senate for final votes. The deal "is a fair agreement and one that I support," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday morning. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, also voiced her support, and said it appeared Congress "may be voting shortly" for the deal. "I don't see a scenario where our members will vote against it," she added. Earlier in the day, Montana Sen. Max Baucus, the top Democrat on the 20-member conference committee tasked with writing the bill, called the deal "very good for the country." The panel's top Republican, Michigan Rep. Dave Camp, said he's "confident this can be concluded ... and we're moving forward." The roughly $100 billion payroll tax cut, a key part of Obama's economic recovery plan, has reduced how much 160 million American workers pay into Social Security on their first $110,100 in wages. Instead of paying in 6.2%, they've been paying 4.2% for the past year and two months. The break is worth about $83 a month for someone making $50,000. The agreement came together after House Republicans dropped a key demand Monday, saying they would accept the extended payroll tax cut without including spending cuts elsewhere to pay the $100 billion cost. Boehner defended the decision to move forward with an unpaid payroll tax cut extension by arguing it was the only way to prevent a tax hike. "We were not going to allow Democrats to continue to play games and cause a tax increase for hardworking Americans," the speaker told reporters on Wednesday. "We made a decision to bring them to the table so that the games would stop and we would get this worked out." Aides and lawmakers from both parties anticipate a final vote on the measure Friday. While a number of conservatives are upset that the deal will add to the deficit, some GOP House members have nevertheless said they expect the package to ultimately pass with support from a majority of Republicans as well as Democrats. "It's the art of a deal. I mean, it's a compromise," said Rep. Steve Latourette, R-Ohio. "You have people that didn't get ... 100% of what they wanted." The agreement covers all three measures -- the payroll tax cut, the unemployment benefits extension, and the so-called "doc fix" -- for the rest of 2012. The latter two measures -- costing a combined $50 billion -- will be paid for. Funding sources to pay for the benefit extension and the doc fix include savings from broadband spectrum sales, increased pension contributions by new federal employees, and cuts to Medicare hospital and specialist fees that would not affect patients, according to the House Ways and Means Committee. One top House Democrat -- Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer -- said he would vote against the package because, in his opinion, it treats federal employees unfairly. Under the terms of the deal, the maximum time an unemployed person can receive benefits will drop from 99 to 73 weeks. The maximum length of time for people in states with an average unemployment rate will drop to 63 weeks. In addition, states will be allowed to perform drug tests on individuals applying for unemployment benefits if those people lost their previous job because they either failed or refused an employer's drug test, according to sources. Individuals receiving unemployment assistance could also be tested if they are seeking a job that generally requires a drug test. Also, welfare beneficiaries will be banned from accessing public assistance funds at ATMs in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos. The payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits and enhanced doc fix payments are currently set to expire at the end of February -- a timeline put in place through a short-term agreement reached by Congress in December. That agreement also set up the conference committee that resumed negotiations last month on a longer-term deal. Monday's decision by House GOP leaders to drop their insistence that the tax cut extension be paid for by offsetting spending cuts was a sharp turnaround for House Republicans. Top party members previously insisted that a failure to fully pay for the tax break would be financially reckless. But the debate over whether and how to extend the tax cut has been a political loser so far for the Republicans, who publicly questioned its value last year. Democrats have gleefully highlighted the GOP's reluctance, using the issue to portray Republicans as defenders of the rich who are indifferent to the plight of the middle class. Political analysts believe the showdown over the payroll holiday has eroded GOP strength on the party's core issue of lower taxes. Fearing negative repercussions, Republican leaders have now backtracked on the issue twice: dropping their opposition to the two-month extension last December and dropping their insistence on paying for a longer extension on Monday. "December was a debacle," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said Wednesday. "We don't want to repeat that." "I think the GOP has read the writing on the wall when it comes to the payroll tax cut," said Brown University political scientist Wendy Schiller. "Americans are benefiting from it, and to take it away at this juncture leaves them open to charges of raising taxes. ... It would severely hamper the GOP presidential nominee's effort to defeat Obama." Boehner and other top House GOP leaders tried Monday to separate the payroll tax extension from provisions dealing with unemployment benefits and the doc fix, but quickly backed away from the proposal. Democrats objected loudly to the idea.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:50:22 GMT

Hezbollah denies it had role in recent bombings of Israeli targets

The head of Hezbollah denied involvement Thursday in attacks this week on Israeli targets in India, Georgia and Thailand. "We are not afraid to say that we had nothing to do with these explosions," Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address from an undisclosed location in Lebanon. He denied that the death of a Hezbollah commander in 2008 in an explosion in Damascus, Syria, inspired the attacks. "The blood of Imad Mogniyeh will always haunt the Israelis," he said, referring to the commander whose death Hezbollah blamed on Israel, and Israeli denied. Hezbollah has longstanding close ties with Iran and Syria. "It is quite insulting to accuse Hezbollah of plans to kill average Israeli civilians in retaliation of killing our leaders," Nasrallah continued. "Those who we will take our revenge from know themselves very well and they will need to keep taking precautions for their safety." His remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Tehran for the attacks. "Iran is a threat to the stability of the world; they are targeting innocent diplomats," he said. "The international community has to denounce the Iranian actions and to indicate red lines concerning the Iranian aggression." But Ramin Mehmanparast, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, "condemned the blasts and said that Israeli agents are often the perpetrators of such terrorist acts," Iran's state-run Press TV said on its website. And state-run Iranian news agency IRNA quoted an analyst as saying the Israeli allegations against Iran involving the bombings in India and Thailand represent "a prelude to terrorist attacks against the Islamic Republic." Thai state-run MCOT Television said Thursday that the country's criminal court had issued arrest warrants for four Iranians on charges related to Tuesday's Bangkok bomb incidents. The approval came after police submitted closed-circuit television pictures, explosive devices seized from their rented house and testimony of witnesses, MCOT reported. Thai authorities said they are holding three Iranian suspects -- Saeid Moradi, 28, whose legs were blown off by his own bomb -- and Mohammad Hazaei, 42, who was taken into custody Tuesday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport as he tried to board a plane to Malaysia. Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, 31, was arrested Wednesday by Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur, MCOT said. All three face charges that include joint assembling of explosive devices, joint possession of explosive devices without permits and causing an explosion injuring other persons. Moradi also faces charges of attempted killing of state officials on duty and the intentional attempted killing of other persons, it said. A fourth Iranian, a woman identified as Rohani Leila, remained at large. She is suspected of renting the house where the first device exploded, apparently by accident, MCOT said. A Thai police official said Wednesday that Israeli diplomats were the intended target of the Bangkok blasts. "I can tell you that the target of the operation of this group is specifically aimed at Israeli diplomats," Police Gen. Priewpan Damapong told CNN affiliate Channel 3. His comments came after a senior Thai security official had drawn a tentative link between the Bangkok blasts and attacks aimed at Israeli officials in India and Georgia, saying the materials used in the explosive devices were similar. In the events Monday, a device attached to an Israeli Embassy van in New Delhi exploded, wounding four people. Another device, found on an embassy car in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, was safety detonated. Indian police said Thursday that they have not established an Iranian tie to the New Delhi bombing. The materials used in the Bangkok bombs were similar to those used in India, the Thai National Security Council said. The attacks and accusations come amid tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel had made clear it is considering attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. Israel, the United States and other countries have expressed concern that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons, despite Tehran's insistence that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes. Iranian officials have openly antagonized Israel, and Israeli officials have described the regime in Tehran as an existential threat.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:47:47 GMT

Norovirus found on Washington college campus

Approximately 85 students at George Washington University in Washington have been sickened by norovirus this week, according to the University's Student Health Service. Since Monday, the virus has been found at GW's Foggy Bottom campus, Mount Vernon campus and other off-campus locations. Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness commonly found on cruise ships. It causes severe inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Also known as stomach flu, viral gastroenteritis and food poisoning, it is highly contagious, passed person to person through direct contact by food, drink or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, low grade fever, muscle ache, headache, chills and stomach pain. The DC Department of Health has been working with university to address the problem and says it's not unusual for these types of gatrointestinal viruses to occur around this time of year. "Since January 1, 2012, DOH has investigated a total of four confirmed norovirus outbreaks [in Washington, D.C.], including the outbreak at GWU," said Najma Roberts, Public Information Officer for the DC Department of Health. "Now is typically the time of year in which the city experiences a rise in this type of illness and it can cease as quickly as it occurs. While norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year, nationally over 80% of them occur during November to April." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with the virus are contagious up to two weeks after they begin to have symptoms. Typically, most people get better within a couple of days, but this can be a serious illness for some and there is no treatment or vaccine. The CDC estimates that there are more than 20 million cases a year. In fact, norovirus is the cause of more than half of all foodborne illness outbreaks. The best way to prevent transmission of the virus, according to the CDC, is wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water; if infected, clean and disinfect possible contaminated surfaces and don't prepare food if you're sick.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:45:25 GMT

Christmas Day bomber sentenced to life in prison

The man who smuggled a bomb in his underwear aboard a commercial airliner on Christmas Day in 2009 has been sentenced to life in prison, months after he pleaded guilty for his role in what officials later determined was an al-Qaida plot. U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds imposed a life sentence Thursday on Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, who entered the courtroom in Detroit wearing an oversized white T-shirt and a white skull cap. His hands were unshackled once he entered. He argued a life sentence would be "cruel and unusual punishment," as well as unconstitutional. The judge rejected the argument. Prosecutors brought a video showing the detonation of a replica of the device AbdulMutallab attempted to use. The judge ruled that the video will be shown during the sentencing hearing. In the sentencing report, prosecutors called now 25-year-old Nigerian "an unrepentant would-be mass murderer, who views his crimes as divinely inspired and blessed." AbdulMutallab previously pleaded not guilty to the eight charges against him, which include attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism. On Dec. 25, 2009, passengers aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam heard a loud noise on the plane as it descended toward Detroit. Witnesses described it as sounding much like a firecracker. The device failed, but AbdulMutallab became enveloped in a fireball that spread to the wall and carpeting of the plane. Four passengers quickly restrained him and helped put out the fire, witnesses said, and he was escorted up to the first-class section of the plane and taken into custody by authorities when it landed. AbdulMutallab later acknowledged in a courtroom statement that he had traveled to Yemen and was "greatly inspired" to participate in such a plot by U.S.-born militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in September. U.S. officials later said the terror group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had helped foment the failed attack."I carried with me an explosive device to avenge the killing of innocent Muslims," AbdulMutallab said in the statement, adding that the failed plot was in retaliation for "U.S. tyranny and oppression of Muslims. "The flight was carrying 289 people.The decision to try AbdulMutallab in a civilian court prompted controversy at the time, particularly among Republican lawmakers pushing for a military tribunal. He's been held at a Michigan federal prison since 2009. Prosecutors, however, said the case demonstrated the value of civilian courts. "We should not limit ourselves to military tribunals," said U.S. District Attorney Barbara McQuade. The case shows "the world that our system of justice works."CNN's Kiran Khalid contributed to this report.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:04:44 GMT

'Colbert Report' abruptly suspends tapings

Comedy Central has suspended production of the "Colbert Report" for at least two days without a clear explanation. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with show, said an emergency in Stephen Colbert’s family halted the show's production. The network aired a rerun Wednesday night, leading with old news about onetime presidential candidate Herman Cain. Comedy Central said another rerun would air on Thursday due to "unforeseen circumstances," but did not elaborate. Fans with tickets to Wednesday shows received a similar email that said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have cancelled our taping for the date of your ticket reservation, February 15, 2012." “The Colbert Report” regularly airs Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:48:39 GMT

Suspected drunk pilot kept off Omaha flight

A Chautauqua Airlines pilot was kept off a flight in Omaha, Nebraska, Thursday morning after he failed a blood-alcohol test, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said. Authorities said they were tipped off by a hotel shuttle bus driver, who called airport police to report he suspected the pilot was drunk. FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said the agency is investigating the incident. The male pilot, whose identity was not released, was scheduled to fly Frontier Flight 1894 from Omaha to Milwaukee at 6 a.m., according to the airline. Both Chautauqua and Frontier are owned by Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. But shortly before the flight, a shuttle bus driver called the Eppley Airfield Airport Police to report his concerns about the pilot, said Chris Martin, director of operations for the Omaha Airport Authority. "The pilot did make it through the checkpoint and he was met by our police officers near the gate of departure," Martin said. Airport police talked to the pilot and handed the investigation over to Frontier Airlines, as well as notifying the FAA, Martin said. Under the FAA's so-called "bottle-to-throttle" rule, pilots are prohibited from flying or performing any safety-sensitive operation within eight hours of consuming alcohol, or if they have a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher. But Frontier Airlines spokeswoman Lindsey Carpenter said Frontier and Chautauqua enforce policies that are even more strict than the FAA's eight-hour rule. The airline said 29 passengers and a three-person crew were on Flight 1984, an Embraer 145 aircraft. "Because this is a personnel issue, we can't and won't comment on specifics other than to say that because of concern for the condition of the crew member, the crew member was replaced," Carpenter said. "Frontier and Chautauqua have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol that has resulted in a 100% safety record for both carriers." "Appropriate action will be taken with the crew member when our investigation is complete," she said.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:46:18 GMT

Home buying: Most affordable in decades

Buying a home is now more affordable than it has been in the last 20 years. Thanks to continued declines in home prices and rock-bottom mortgage rates, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index hit a record level of affordability. According to the index, 75.9 percent of all new and existing homes sold during the three months ended Dec. 31 could have been comfortably purchased by families earning the national median income of $64,200. That was the highest percentage recorded in the 20-year history of the index, and a sharp increase from just three months earlier when 72.9 percent of all homes sold were considered affordable. Unfortunately, being able to afford a home and actually being able to buy one are two different matters entirely. According to Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla., potential home buyers are still finding it difficult to land mortgages. "While today's report indicates that home ownership is within reach of more households than it has been for more than two decades, overly restrictive lending conditions confronting home buyers and builders remain significant obstacles to many potential home sales," he said. Those who do land a mortgage, will be able to take advantage of rates that seem to hit a new low every week. This week interest rates for 30-year loans averaged a record low of 3.87 percent, according to Freddie Mac. Youngstown, Ohio, is the most affordable major metro area in the nation to buy a home, according to the NAHB. The faded steel town, located in eastern Ohio, could be on the verge of an economic renaissance with new gas drilling techniques that could help exploit nearby gas reserves, according to the report. There, 95.1 percent of homes sold during the quarter were deemed affordable to typical local households earning the area's median family income of $54,900. The other metro areas near the top of the list included Lakeland, Fla., Modesto, Calif., Harrisburg, Pa., and Toledo, Ohio. Among small housing markets, Kokomo, Ind. had the highest housing affordability index with more than 99 percent of all homes sold there affordable to typical families. Fairbanks, Alaska, Cumberland, Md., Lima, Ohio, and Rockford, Ill., were all very affordable as well. New Yorkers could only shake their heads at the housing opportunities available outside their metro area. Just 29 percent of the homes sold in the New York metro area during the last three months of 2011 were affordable for the typical local family. That's the lowest level in the U.S. -- even though locals typically earned $67,400, roughly $3,000 more than the national median. It was New York's 15th consecutive quarter as the least affordable metro area. Nearly as expensive are housing markets in Honolulu, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Calif., and Los Angeles.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:35:10 GMT

IRS: Beware of 'dirty dozen' tax scams

As the tax season kicks off this year, the IRS is keeping an eye out for scam artists who steal identities, lie about charitable donations and hide income in offshore accounts, among other abuses. The IRS released its annual list of "dirty dozen" tax scams on Thursday, outlining the most common ways taxpayers are cheating the system. "Scam artists will tempt people in-person, on-line and by e-mail with misleading promises about lost refunds and free money," said IRS commissioner Doug Shulman. "Don't be fooled by these scams." Here are the 12 scams to be most wary of this year: 1. Identity theft A growing number of identity thieves are using other taxpayer's personal information to file fraudulent tax returns and claim undeserved refunds, the IRS warns. In 2011, the agency stopped more than $1.4 billion in refunds from getting into the wrong hands, and it plans to weed out more identity thieves this year. If you believe someone stole your personal information for tax purposes, call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. 2. Phishing Scammers can steal your personal information from e-mails, phone calls, text messages or social media like your Facebook page. Some fake websites are also set up to dupe potential victims into giving out their information. If you see anything suspicious or receive a message from someone claiming to be from the IRS, don't open any attachments or click on links included in the e-mail. Instead, forward the message to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. 3. Sketchy tax preparers With about 60% of taxpayers expected to use professionals to prepare and submit their taxes this year, be careful about who you entrust with personal information. There are many preparers out there who will take a portion of a client's refunds, charge more than they should for services and lure taxpayers to their offices by promising unattainable refunds. Federal courts have issued hundreds of injunctions ordering tax professionals engaging in these scams to stop preparing returns, and the Department of Justice has issued many complaints against preparers as well. This year, all paid preparers are required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) so customers can verify that they are legitimate. Be wary if your preparer doesn't sign the return or put their PTIN on it, doesn't give you a copy of your return, promises unusually large refunds, charges a percentage of the refund amount as a fee, adds forms to the return you've never filed before, or encourages you to include false information on your return, the IRS says. 4. Hiding income offshore Taxpayers who have an offshore bank account, brokerage account, credit card or even an offshore insurance plan, are urged to come forward voluntarily in order to limit the possibility of criminal prosecution. As part of its ongoing crackdown on hidden offshore accounts, the agency announced another initiative this year that gives taxpayers a reduction in penalties -- and no jail time -- if they fess up to any undisclosed overseas accounts. Since starting the crackdown in 2009, about 30,000 individuals have come forward and voluntarily disclosed their offshore accounts. 5. No such thing as "Free Money" Flyers and advertisements have been showing up in community churches claiming that taxpayers can file returns with little or no documentation and receive big amounts of money, the IRS said. These ads typically target low-income individuals and the elderly and often promise non-existent Social Security refunds or rebates. Inevitably these returns get rejected by the IRS. But by the time that happens, the scam artists have already disappeared with the victims' money. The IRS warned that intentionally filing incorrect returns can result in a $5,000 penalty. 6. Inflating income and expenses Claiming income you didn't actually earn or expenses you didn't pay to boost credits and refunds is another common scheme taxpayers attempt. If the IRS catches you in the act, you could end up repaying the extra money you claimed, along with interest and penalties -- and, in some cases, you could even be subject to prosecution. 7. Filing false forms Some scam artists are filing fraudulent forms with their returns that contain fabricated information in order to get fatter refunds. "Don't fall prey to people who encourage you to claim deductions or credits to which you are not entitled or willingly allow others to use your information to file false returns," the IRS said. "If you are a party to such schemes, you could be liable for financial penalties or even face criminal prosecution." 8. Picking a bone with the IRS There are even people who charge money in exchange for advice on how to argue with the IRS in order to avoid paying taxes. The agency has a list of legal positions that have been "thrown out of court" and cannot be used against the IRS, including the argument that filing a tax return is voluntary and that the IRS must prepare a return for anyone who fails to file. So pick your fights carefully this tax season. 9. Falsely claiming zero wages In an attempt to lower the amount of taxes they owe, some taxpayers file phony wage-related information returns instead of the required returns. This is typically done by filing Form 4852 (a substitute W-2 form) or a "corrected" Form 1099 to fraudulently lower a person's taxable income to zero. 10. Exaggerating charitable donations It can be tempting to overvalue the items you give to charity when reporting them on a return -- especially for non-cash donations such as furniture or artwork -- but the IRS is keeping an eye out for suspiciously high-valued donations this year. The agency is also looking out for taxpayers who abuse charitable deductions by temporarily donating money or items to tax-exempt organizations, just to shield the money from getting taxed. 11. Disguising corporate ownership It's time to fess up to that business you own. The IRS is currently working with state authorities to identify corporations and other entities that are hiding ownership of a business. Often these businesses are hidden because the true owner uses a third party with its own employer identification number, whose businesses or financial services can be used for the underreporting of income, fictitious deductions, money laundering, financial crimes and even terrorist financing. 12. Misuse of trusts Beware of anyone that tries to convince you to transfer money into a trust in order to reduce your taxable income, deductions for personal expenses and/or estate taxes. The IRS has seen an increase in the number of taxpayers improperly using trusts -- especially private annuity trusts and foreign trusts -- to skip out on tax liabilities. "While there are legitimate uses of trusts in tax and estate planning, some highly questionable transactions promise reduction of income subject to tax, deductions for personal expenses and reduced estate or gift taxes," the IRS said. "Such trusts rarely deliver the tax benefits promised and are used primarily as a means of avoiding income tax liability and hiding assets from creditors, including the IRS."

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:01:03 GMT

Accusations emerge as Honduran prison fatalities rise

The death toll from a prison fire in central Honduras rose to 382 Thursday, as new narratives emerged about what happened that night in the overcrowded facility. In the aftermath of the blaze, the government was focusing on recovering and transporting bodies from the prison in Comayagua to the capital, Tegucigalpa. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the federal government has asked for patience as it investigates. But desperate families want to recover the remains of their loved ones. "What we are hoping for is that they give them to us so we can leave because we cannot stand the hunger, too," said Francisca Gomez, the sister of one of the victims. "We have our children with us and you know that we've been here waiting and no one gives us answers." "Like all the other mothers we are here for justice and ask that they be conscientious and give us our sons to see what we can do," said Maria Avila, the mother of another victim. The Comayagua fire department gave the new death toll, and said that it remained unknown if others escaped or would be added to the casualty list. The hypothesis that a mattress fire started the fire is gaining traction, fire operations chief Jorge Turcios said. The fire started Tuesday night in Unit 6 of the prison, and affected five of the facility's 10 units, he said. Arson experts from the United States were expected to arrive Thursday to lend a hand, Turcios added. Authorities have not determined what caused the fire, but the nation's electric utility will review wiring in all prison facilities as a "preventative measure," Honduran President Porfirio Lobo said, "because that can be one of the causes of these types of disasters." However, the governor of Comayagua said she received a call from an inmate inside the prison reporting the fire. "What I know, according to what I've been told, is that someone lit a mattress on fire and said, 'We're all going to die,'" Gov. Paola Castro said. Inmates have also complained that guards were slow to open doors for them to escape. One survivor said prisoners were breaking out of the facility any way they could. "The authorities should have opened the gates," said Odalis Aleyda Najera, a relative of a victim. "It is preferable to face the responsibility for a mass escape of prisoners and avoid situations like this where there are more than 300 dead inmates." Outrage over the fire increased after the president of the country's supreme court admitted that only 40% of the inmates in the prison had been convicted. The majority were awaiting trial or waiting for charges to be filed against them. It was the third fatal prison fire in recent years in the country. In 2003, 61 prisoners were killed in a fire at a prison in La Ceiba. In 2004, 107 died in a fire at a San Pedro Sula prison. The U.S. State Department published a report last April criticizing conditions at Honduras' 24 prisons. Prisoners "suffered from severe overcrowding, malnutrition, and lack of adequate sanitation," the report said, citing human rights groups.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:26:57 GMT

Deaths mount in Syria as General Assembly meets

Syrian security forces resumed their fierce shelling of opposition targets in Homs Thursday but appeared to be losing their tight grip in the northern region. Government troops were stretched thin in their effort to control all fronts in the volatile country, while violence raged in the grass-roots anti-government uprising. The revolt has now entered its 12th month and the U.N. General Assembly prepared to take up a symbolic resolution condemning President Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown. Syrian forces shelled the flashpoint city of Homs for a 13th straight day Thursday, targeting the opposition stronghold neighborhoods of Baba Amr, Inshaat and Khalidiya, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition activist group. Heavy sustained bombardment that commenced around 5 a.m., and dozens of injuries were reported. As evening came on Thursday night, the artillery shelling on the neighborhoods of Inshaat and Baba Amr was intensified. Regime forces also shelled the northern neighborhood of Qosair, a city in Homs. In Idlib province in the northwest, people appear to be preparing for the possibility of a military offensive. Much of the region is in open revolt with villages and towns in the north out of government control for months. At least 70 people died across several provinces Thursday, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, the opposition activist group. They include 38 in Idlib, 12 in Hama, and others in Rif Damashq -- the Damascus suburbs, Homs, Daraa , Deir Ezzor and Raqqah. The LCC said they include 36 unidentified bodies, 13 soldiers, three women and two pre-term infants. Col. Malek Al Kurdi, deputy head of the Free Syrian Army, reported shelling by government forces in Hama and Daraa province. He cited civilian and FSA casualties. Among the dead are 10 military defectors in Hama, activists say. In Idlib, the bodies of 19 people who tried to flee to Turkey were found. The LCC said they were arrested and executed by security forces. The LCC also said security forces and pro-government militias attacked mourners at a funeral in Damascus. Security forces raided homes in the city of Zabadani, outside Damascus, and arrested more than 250 people. Shops were looted, houses were burned and regime gunfire rang out in the city, in its 20th day without access to medicine, water or electricity, the LCC said. The LCC said a father and son died in Zabadani after regime forces burned their home. CNN cannot independently confirm opposition and government reports of violence because the Syrian government has severely restricted the access of international journalists. Arrests in central Damascus on Thursday targeted local journalists. The regime's security forces, backed by armed operatives, raided the office of activist and journalist Mazen Darwish, the director of the Syrian Center for Media and Free Expression, the LCC said. Darwish, his wife, U.S.-born blogger Razan Ghazzawi and freelance journalist Hanada Zahlout, blogger Hussein Ghreir and 10 others were arrested. The Committee to Protect Journalists voiced alarm at the arrests and said the group has played a "key role in getting out information about daily developments in Syria, as foreign journalists are virtually banned from the country." "These arrests are a blatant attempt to close off a vital source of information not only for Syrians but for the international media," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "Anyone, whether a professional journalist or citizen with a mobile phone, who dares to report on the unrest in Syria is in danger of arrest or physical violence. Damascus should immediately release all those detained and stop its brutal crackdown." The uprising in Syria -- influenced by the Arab Spring movement that forced regime change in Egypt and Tunisia -- was sparked about a year ago in the southern city of Daraa with demonstrators angered by the arrests of young people who scrawled anti-government graffiti. Their grievances and calls for reforms were met with a violent security crackdown, and the unrest there served to catalyze anti-government ferment across the nation. Thousands have died in the crackdown -- well over 5,000, according to the United Nations, but the LCC puts the toll at well over 7,000. Syria's actions have been strongly denounced around the world. But international powers have backed the Arab League's efforts to deal with the uprising and some countries and groups, such as the Arab League, Turkey, the United States and the European Union, have initiated sanctions against al-Assad's government. But they have not been able to agree on strong action at the United Nations to rein in what is a non-stop government's onslaught. James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, said Syria's president will not leave or change course, short of a coup. Clapper testified Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, saying the regime, despite economic problems, continues to have the support of the military. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that he "is now considering all the necessary options once either the General Assembly or the Security Council takes a decision on Syria." He met Thursday with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe. Ban said the top priority was to stop the violence and establish humanitarian access. He said all relevant U.N. agencies were coordinating efforts to provide humanitarian help to the people of Syria. This afternoon, the U.N. General Assembly is scheduled to consider a resolution after China and Russia blocked the Security Council from approving enforceable measures aimed at curbing the violence. The anticipated vote follows news that al-Assad has moved up a vote on a constitutional referendum touted by his government as an important reform initiative, a move critics say is nothing more than window dressing. That vote is set for February 26. While a resolution adopted by the 193-member nation General Assembly would not be binding, it would mark the strongest U.N. statement to date condemning al-Assad's regime. The draft resolution calls on Syria to end human rights violations and attacks against civilians immediately. It condemns all violence "irrespective of where it comes from" and "calls on all parties," including "armed groups," to halt violence. Along with urging the government to cease violence, the resolution calls on it to protect the population, release prisoners "detained arbitrarily" during recent events, withdraw security personnel from cities and towns to barracks, and "guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstration." It also calls for an "inclusive" and violence-free "Syrian led political process." For nearly a year, al-Assad has denied reports that his forces are indiscriminately targeting civilians, saying they were fighting armed gangs and foreign fighters bent on destabilizing the government. But the vast majority of accounts from within the country say that Syrian forces are slaughtering civilians as part of a crackdown on anti-government opposition calling for al-Assad's ouster. It is unclear what, if any, effect a resolution would have on what many world leaders see as a relentless campaign by al-Assad's forces to stamp out opposition. The General Assembly's anticipated vote follows news that France is bringing another resolution before the U.N. Security Council. "We are currently renegotiating a resolution at the U.N Security Council to see if we can persuade the Russians," Juppe told radio station France Info Wednesday. Russia is seen as the linchpin in winning passage of a resolution that could force change in Syria because it could open al-Assad's regime up to U.N. sanctions as well as expose the president and his inner circle to possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Syria is not a signatory of the Rome Statute that established the ICC's authority. The Security Council is on the only world body that can refer crimes against humanity to the international court. Russia, a Soviet-era ally with trade and arms ties to Syria, has been adamantly opposed to a resolution that calls for al-Assad to step down, saying it amounts to a mandate for regime change. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated Moscow may be open to supporting a Security Council resolution that stipulates -- under certain conditions -- that peacekeepers could be deployed to Syria. "If the issue is about stopping gunfire, everything is possible," Lavrov said at joint a news conference with his Dutch counterpart Uri Rosenthal, according to state-run RIA-Novosti news agency. Russia has given mixed messages as to whether it would accept a U.N. arms embargo or economic sanctions, even though it has said it is concerned about the prospect of a Syrian civil war. Meanwhile, China announced Thursday that it was sending an envoy to Syria in an attempt to help defuse the crisis, according to state-run China National Radio (CNR). Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun is scheduled to travel to Syria beginning Friday for a two-day visit, CNR said. The report did not say who the minister would meet with, saying only "his detailed schedule is still in planning."

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:25:32 GMT

Man has heart attack at heart attack grill

The Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas lived up to its name this past weekend when a customer suffered cardiac arrest while eating the Triple Bypass Burger. Owner Jon Basso, who dresses as a doctor, thought the waitress was joking when she told him a man in his 40s was experiencing chest pains while consuming the signature 6,000-calorie burger Saturday, Las Vegas TV station KVVU reported. Paramedics rushed the man to the hospital, and he is now recovering. The Heart Attack Grill is no stranger to controversy, with slogans like, "Taste worth dying for!" and a house policy that allows diners weighing more than 350 pounds to eat for free, according to KVVU.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:15:27 GMT

Snow damages Colosseum, Medieval churches in Italy

Heavy snow in recent weeks has already wreaked havoc across Europe -- now it is damaging some of the continent's most recognized historic monuments. The Colosseum in Rome has been forced to shut after small pieces of its walls crumbled away as a result of freezing temperatures. And buildings in the historic walled town of Urbino -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- are reported to be at risk of collapse under the weight of snow, following unprecedented blizzards in the area. In the Italian capital, thousands of tourists have been disappointed to discover the Colosseum, one of the city's most popular attractions, is closed to visitors, while checks are carried out to determine the extent of the damage and to help prevent further movement. Rossella Rea, archaeologist and superintendent of the Colosseum, told CNN: "Tests and evaluation of the damage is still ongoing, especially on the second level of arches." Rea said the enforced closure of the site would have a serious financial impact -- the Colosseum attracts some 7,000 visitors a day, paying 12 euros for a ticket -- but that it was necessary in the circumstances. "At the weekend, some of the tourists didn't understand why the Colosseum was closed -- for people from northern countries, the snow is not a problem. "But it's very unusual for us and it caused the detachment of dust, concrete and bricks. Little quantities but if they fall from a certain height they can be dangerous." Cristiano Brughitta, spokesman for Italy's Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, said the damage was caused by ice forming on the walls of the monument. "When the temperatures drop below zero, and there is rain and snow, it causes ice to form which, with the increase in volume, pushes the external plaster masonry and causes small pieces to fall off," he said. David Pickles, senior architect at English Heritage, told CNN such damage was an extreme version of the natural wear and tear buildings face during everyday weather. "There's a whole freeze/thaw cycle of damage to buildings where moisture gets into the stonework, into the pores of the stone, it then freezes and expands very significantly, it then breaks up the stone and then when it thaws, bits of stone will start falling off. "That's happening all the time, of course, that's one of the major decay mechanisms in historic buildings anyway, because they're largely water permeable... You can't treat stone to stop it happening." In Urbino, in the Marche region of Italy, partial collapses have been reported at the convents of San Francesco and San Bernardino, while the roof of the Church of the Capuchins outside the town center has reportedly caved in. The town's Duomo (cathedral) is also shut, because of water damage. Checks are being carried out on vulnerable buildings in the area. "Our biggest worry is the buildings in the historic center, which have wooden joists and delicate roofs," said Gabriele Cavalera, a spokesperson for the local council. According to Cavalera, residents of some private homes in the historic center are adding extra support to the old roof beams in an attempt to prevent any further cave-ins. "It's an enormous quantity of snow compared with what we normally get in winter and it's had a heavy impact, the equivalent of a flood," said Cavalera. Brughitta agreed that conditions were exceptional: "Maybe every 30 years it gets this cold, but it's very rare." A number of Italy's historic monuments, including the Colosseum and Pompeii, have suffered in recent years from damage and collapse. The Colosseum, which is scheduled to reopen to the public Thursday, is due to undergo restoration works later this year with sponsorship from luxury brand Tod's. In case of similar snowfalls in the future, Brughitta in Rome suggests using a type of cold-weather "blanket" for exposed monuments such as the nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum. Though Pickles said such plans may be difficult, on a practical level: "For a building like the Colosseum, I should think it would cost a fortune to cover it, because we're talking about a huge wall area." And while delicate, these buildings are nonetheless tenacious when it comes to adverse weather and acts of god. After all, said Cavalera, The Ducal Palace in Urbino, which is around 500 years old and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, managed to resist collapse during the earthquakes of the 1990s and is so far holding out against the snow.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:58:47 GMT

Feds propose limits on driving distractions

For the first time, the federal government is proposing recommendations that would encourage car manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices, the Department of Transportation announced Thursday. The voluntary guidelines issued by the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would establish specifics for electronic devices installed in vehicles at the time they are manufactured -- devices that require visual or manual operation by drivers. It could also mean drivers will not be allowed to text or dial numbers while the car is moving. "We have been on a crusade for more than three years," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in making the announcement in a conference call with reporters. He said the guidelines will "continue the drumbeat" as one of the department's top safety initiatives. More than 3,000 people died in 2010 in crashes blamed on distracted driving. The initial proposed guidelines "offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want -- without disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. The recommendations include reducing the complexity and task length required by the device, limiting device operation to one hand (leaving the other hand on the steering wheel to control the vehicle), cutting down to no more than two seconds the individual off-road glances required for device operation and limiting unnecessary visual information in the driver's field of view. They also suggest limiting the amount of manual inputs required for device operation. The proposed department guidelines would also recommend disabling a number of in-vehicle electronic devices while the car is moving, unless the devices are being used by passengers and cannot "reasonably be accessed or seen by the driver." These various operations include visual-manual text messaging, Internet and social media browsing, 10-digit phone dialing, navigation system destination entries by address and displaying more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task. NHTSA is also considering additional voluntary guidelines in the future that might address electronic devices not built into the vehicle but are brought into the vehicle such as smart phones, electronic tablets and pads and GPS. Strickland said transportation officials have met with individual automakers and while the proposed guidelines are voluntary, he "doesn't expect them to be a burden." The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a coalition of 12 car and light truck manufacturers which helped develop the nonbinding guidelines, said in a statement it will review the recommendations. "Consumers expect to have access to new technology, so integrating and adapting this technology to enable safe driving is the solution," said AAM spokeswoman Gloria Bergquist. President Barak Obama called for $330 million over six years in the 2012 federal budget for distracted driving programs to increase awareness of the problem. The public will have 60 days to comment on the first phase of the proposals, which were published in the Federal Register. There will be a series of public hearings next month in Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago to discuss the federal guidelines. Last December, the National Transportation Safety Board called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving. It would apply to hands-free as well as hand-held devices, but devices installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer would be allowed, the NTSB said. The recommendation would not affect passengers' rights to use such devices. At any given daylight moment, some 13.5 million drivers are on hand-held phones, according to a recent study by NHTSA.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:48:20 GMT

Wis. girl kept in basement, starved, police say

Wisconsin authorities have jailed the father and stepmother of a 15-year-old girl police say was kept in a basement and starved before being found last week, Madison police said Thursday. The teenager weighed only 70 pounds when a passerby found her barefoot and in her pajamas Feb. 6, according to a Madison police report. A doctor who examined her described her as a victim of "serial child torture with prolonged exposure to definite starvation," the report states. Her weight was more than 30 pounds below the median for her age, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Investigators learned the girl was kept in the basement of her home with little food and no bathroom, the report states. The girl's 40-year-old father and 42-year-old stepmother were arrested on child neglect charges, police said. Neither the girl nor her relatives were immediately identified. When the girl was taken to a hospital, her father "provided medical explanations for her physical condition," the report states. But a hospital social worker raised doubts about his account, and investigators learned the girl had been the subject of a prior abuse claim in 2007. The girl did not back up the third-party allegation at that time, and the family did not cooperate with investigators, according to the report.

Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:39:09 GMT

BalconesHeights.com HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS