French troops deploy in last of Mali rebel strongholds

By Richard Valdmanis and John Irish

DOUENTZA, Mali/PARIS | Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:21pm EST

DOUENTZA, Mali/PARIS (Reuters) - French troops seized the airport in Mali's northern town of Kidal, the last urban stronghold held by Islamist insurgents, as they moved to wrap up the first phase of a military operation to wrest northern Mali from rebel hands.

France has deployed some 4,500 troops in a three-week ground and air offensive to break the Islamist rebels' 10-month grip on major northern towns. The mission is aimed at heading off the risk of Mali being used as a springboard for jihadist attacks in the wider region or Europe.

The French military plans to gradually hand over to a larger African force, tasked with rooting out insurgents in their mountain redoubts near Algeria's border.

Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said French forces using planes and helicopters defied a sandstorm late on Tuesday to capture the airport but had been prevented by the bad weather from entering the town itself.

"The terrorist forces are pulling back to the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains which are difficult to access," Le Drian told a news conference. "There is support from Chadian and Nigerian troops coming from the south."

The deployment of French troops to remote Kidal puts them in direct contact with pro-autonomy Tuareg MNLA rebels, whose rebellion last year was hijacked by the Islamist radicals. Le Drian said France had established good relations with local Tuareg chieftains before sending in troops.

MNLA leaders say they are ready to fight al Qaeda but many Malians, including the powerful military top brass in the capital Bamako, blame them for the division of the country. They view Paris' liaisons with the Tuaregs with suspicion.

French and Malian troops retook the major Saharan trading towns of Gao and Timbuktu at the weekend.

There were fears that many thousands of priceless ancient manuscripts held in Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, might have been lost during the rebel occupation, but experts said the bulk of the texts were safe.

The United States and European governments strongly support the Mali intervention and are providing logistical and surveillance backing but do not intend to send combat troops.

The MNLA rebels, who want greater autonomy for the desert north, said they had moved fighters into Kidal after Islamists left the town earlier this week.

"For the moment, there is a coordination with the French troops," said Moussa Ag Assarid, the MNLA spokesman in Paris.

A spokesman for the Malian army said its soldiers were securing Gao and Timbuktu and were not heading to Kidal.

The MNLA took up arms against the Bamako government a year ago, seeking to carve out a new independent desert state.

After initially fighting alongside the Islamists, by June they had been forced out by their better armed and financed former allies, who include al Qaeda North Africa's wing, AQIM, a splinter wing called MUJWA and Ansar Dine, a Malian group.

RISK OF ATTACKS, KIDNAPPINGS

As the French wind up the first phase of their offensive, doubts remain about just how quickly the U.N.-backed African intervention force can be fully deployed in Mali to hunt down the retreating al Qaeda-allied insurgents. Known as AFISMA, the force is now expected to exceed 8,000 troops.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France's military operation, codenamed Serval (Wildcat), was planned as a lightning mission lasting a few weeks.

"Liberating Gao and Timbuktu very quickly was part of the plan. Now it's up to the African countries to take over," he told the Le Parisien daily. "We decided to put in the means and the necessary number of soldiers to strike hard. But the French contingent will not stay like this. We will leave very quickly."

One French soldier has been killed in the mission, and Fabius warned that things could now get more difficult, as the offensive seeks to flush out insurgents with experience of fighting in the desert from their wilderness hideouts.

"We have to be careful. We are entering a complicated phase where the risks of attacks or kidnappings are extremely high. French interests are threatened throughout the entire Sahel."

An attack on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria earlier this month by Islamist fighters opposing the French intervention in Mali led to the deaths of dozens of foreign hostages and raised fears of similar reprisal strikes across North and West Africa.

NEED FOR RECONCILIATION

The French operation has destroyed the Islamists' training camps and logistics bases but analysts say a long term solution for Mali hinges on finding a political settlement between the northern communities and the southern capital Bamako.

Interim President Dioncounda Traore said on Tuesday his government would aim to hold national elections on July 31. Paris is pushing strongly for Traore's government to hold talks with the MNLA, which has dropped its claims for independence.

"The Malian authorities must begin without delay talks with the legitimate representatives of the northern population and non-terrorist armed groups that recognize Mali's integrity," French Foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said.

After months of being kept on the political sidelines, the MNLA said they were in contact with West African mediators who are trying to forge a national settlement to reunite Mali.

"We reiterate that we are ready to talk with Bamako and to find a political solution. We want self-determination, but all that will be up to negotiations which will determine at what level both parties can go," Ag Assarid said.

There have been cases in Gao and Timbuktu and other recaptured towns of reprisal attacks and looting of shops and residences belonging to Malian Tuaregs and Arabs suspected of sympathizing with the MNLA and the Islamist rebels.

(Additional reporting John Irish and Emmanuel Jarry in Paris, David Lewis and Pascal Fletcher in Dakar; Writing by David Lewis and Daniel Flynn; Editing by Pascal Fletcher and Rosalind Russell)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/N3IVRTwQ3bE/us-mali-rebels-idUSBRE90S0OV20130130

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Georgia GOP Sen. Chambliss won't seek re-election

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced Friday he will not seek a third term next year, saying "this is about frustration" with Washington gridlock that he doesn't see changing in a divided government.

"After much contemplation and reflection, I have decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2014," the 69-year-old Chambliss said in a statement.

The lawmaker rejected suggestions he couldn't have survived a likely GOP primary fight with the tea party, insisting he has a proud conservative record and noting he received more votes than any other statewide official in Georgia history in 2008.

Instead, he cited his dismay with both Democratic President Barack Obama and the lack of meaningful legislation in Congress, especially in addressing the nation's economic woes.

"The debt-ceiling debacle of 2011 and the recent fiscal-cliff vote showed Congress at its worst, and sadly, I don't see the legislative gridlock and partisan posturing improving anytime soon," Chambliss said. "For our nation to be strong, for our country to prosper, we cannot continue to play politics with the American economy."

His strong words of disappointment echoed those of former Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, who also complained about the partisan divide and Washington dysfunction in announcing she wouldn't run again last year.

Chambliss, 69, has been a GOP loyalist for much of his House and Senate career, but he earned the wrath of some in his party for participating in a bipartisan Senate "Gang of Six" intent on finding a way to reduce the deficit. The group advocated a mix of tax increases, anathema to many in the GOP, and spending cuts. But the group failed to reach agreement and produce a bargain.

"Leadership is about taking risks when you don't have to. That's why I respect Saxby Chambliss for his willingness to partner with me and other members of what became known as the Gang of Six as we worked for bipartisan solutions on debt and deficits," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.

Although no major Republican candidate had announced a challenge to Chambliss, he was facing the distinct possibility of a tough race. His decision was certain to set off a GOP scramble for the seat.

Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., an 11-term House veteran, said he was considering seeking the seat. Kingston, 57, said his knowledge of defense and agriculture, important issues in Georgia, would help him in a race.

"Regardless of what happens, it's going to be a 10-person race," Kingston said in a telephone interview from Israel, where he was traveling with other lawmakers. "And I think you'll probably have a self-funder in there, and you can have a mad scramble."

Among other potential Republican candidates is four-term Rep. Tom Price from a district north of Atlanta.

Other possible Republican candidates are two other House members ? Reps. Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey, both physicians. Broun gained national attention last year when he described evolution as a lie "from the pit of Hell." Gingrey claimed the spotlight earlier this month when he defended controversial statements about abortion made last year by failed Missouri Senate hopeful Todd Akin.

Chambliss was first elected to the House in the 1994 Republican wave. He moved up to the Senate after a bruising 2002 campaign in which he defeated Democratic incumbent Max Cleland, a triple amputee from his Vietnam war service.

He was criticized for a slashing campaign against Cleland that included an ad, featuring terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, criticizing the Democrat ? a decorated Vietnam War veteran ? for his record on defense and homeland security issues. Even some of Chambliss' fellow Republicans said it went too far.

Guy Cecil, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Democrats will try to win back the seat.

"Georgia will now offer Democrats one of our best pick-up opportunities of the cycle," Cecil said. "There are already several reports of the potential for a divisive primary that will push Republicans to the extreme right. Regardless, there's no question that the demographics of the state have changed, and Democrats are gaining strength. This will be a top priority."

Democrats hold a 55-45 advantage in the Senate but will be defending more seats next year ? 20 to the GOP's 13. Democrats will be scrambling to hold onto the seat in GOP-leaning West Virginia, where five-term Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller recently announced he would not seek re-election. Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is running for the Senate seat.

Democratic incumbents also face tough re-election races in Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina and Alaska ? all states that went Republican in the last presidential election.

An open seat in Georgia, which has trended Republican, presents a legitimate opportunity for Democrats, especially if the GOP faces a divisive primary. Potential Democratic candidates are conservative Rep. John Barrow, who has survived redistricting in his House races, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Pizza mogul Herman Cain, the failed presidential candidate in 2012 and a tea party favorite, said he would not seek the seat but rather focus on his radio show.

___

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Alan Fram in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-25-Senate-Chambliss/id-022dbd3476cc40b1acd407b7ecb01baf

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Video: Clash of the Titans: Ackman vs. Icahn

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50590407/

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Poll Finds Support For Deficit Reduction, Opposition To Spending Cuts

* Most Americans want deficit reduction in near term
* Opposition to cuts in education, Social Security, Medicare
* Public favors 'Obamacare' exchanges and Medicaid expansion
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Most Americans want President Barack Obama and Congress to reduce the federal deficit without cutting Medicare, Social Security and education, according to polling data released Thursday.
A joint survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Harvard School of Public Health and the Kaiser Family Foundation also showed majorities support President Barack Obama's plan to expand Medicaid and provide subsidized private health insurance to working families through new online state exchanges.
The survey found that two-thirds of Americans want Washington to reduce the deficit in the short term rather than wait for a stronger economy. That included 74 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of independents and 57 percent of Democrats.
At the same time, about two-thirds of the 1,347 adults polled Jan. 3-9 rejected cuts to public education, Medicare and Social Security as a means of deficit reduction. Three-quarters said deficit reduction can occur without cuts to Medicare specifically. The findings have a 3 percentage point margin of error.
The data could suggest public support for Obama as he heads into another round of intensive deficit negotiations with Republicans while vowing to preserve the current structures of Medicare and the national Medicaid program for the poor. The two programs together are expected to cost more than $1 trillion in 2013 and serve just under 100 million people who are elderly, disabled or poor.
But experts said the results suggest political risk for Republicans and Democrats alike as deficit talks go forward.
"Both parties want a grand bargain. But I can't find a detail on either side. They want the other side to say what Medicare would look like before they come to the table. That is nervousness about public opinion," said Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor who studies political trends in healthcare.
Most respondents said deficit reduction can happen without cuts to Medicare and opposed a possible increase in the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 that Democrats and Republicans have considered as a deficit-cutting option.
Majorities also opposed reducing payments to hospitals and other Medicare healthcare providers or raising payroll taxes on workers and employers to help fund the program for the elderly and disabled.
Instead, 68 percent of Americans favored a proposal to save money by reducing prescription drug prices for low-income people who receive Medicare benefits.
Separately, a new poll by Pew Research Center for the People & the Press also found that 72 percent of Americans believe reducing the federal budget deficit should be a top priority. More than two-thirds of the 1,500 adults polled by Pew from Jan. 9 to 13 favored making Medicare and Social Security financially sound.
The survey by Robert Wood Johnson, Harvard and Kaiser also found that majorities of Americans favor two controversial provisions of Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that would extend health coverage to more than 30 million people who currently have no health insurance.
The first provision, which would create state healthcare exchanges, was favored by 55 percent of respondents who said it should be a top priority for their state governors and legislators. Another 31 percent called the exchanges an important but lower priority. Support included clear majorities of Republicans and Democrats.
Additionally, 52 percent of respondents supported the second provision, which would expand the Medicaid program for the poor to nearly all Americans earning up to 133 percent of the poverty line, equaling about $24,000 a year for a family of three. But opinions split sharply along party lines.
Kaiser President and Chief Executive Drew Altman said the results depict a contrast between political ideology and tangible benefits in the mind of the public.
"The overall idea of the (law) creates a very mixed public reaction, certainly if you call it 'Obamacare.' But most of the benefits of the (law) are very popular, even on a bipartisan basis," he said. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Jilian Mincer and Dan Grebler)

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/poll-deficit-reduction_n_2545777.html

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Peugeot unveils hydraulic, air-hybrid 80 mpg car | ExtremeTech

Auto manufacturer?Peugeot?Citroen has teamed up with Bosch to create a hybrid car that uses hydraulics to capture and transfer energy. For city driving it is estimated that the car will be able to get up to 80% of the energy for locomotion from regenerative braking. It will also get over 80 miles per gallon (2.9?liters?of fuel per 100?kilometers) while emitting 69 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

The?Peugeot,? due out in 2016, will be the first major implementation of hybrid fluid power in a car. UPS trucks, which typically go through a lot of stop-start cycles, have used similar systems to reclaim energy from braking to great success. Until now, for smaller vehicles including electric hybrids, it has made more sense to use electric regenerative braking. The technology is being called Hybrid Air, although the real role for air appears just to be that of a compressible fluid to back the hydraulic power conversion.

Integrated into the drivetrain is a matched hydraulic pump and motor which in addition to acting as a hydrostatic drive (essentially a continuously variable transmission) transmitting power derived directly from the engine, it also extracts the energy generated during braking. This energy is then stored within a system of tanks acting as the familiar ?accumulator? in a hydraulic system. Usually an accumulator has an air bladder filled with nitrogen that is compressed by the hydraulic fluid within a giant piston.

Any time a fluid is compressed, significant heat is generated, and in many circumstances this would make such a system less efficient than an equivalent electric system. These disadvantages are seemingly offset by virtue of the fact that batteries typically cannot absorb or deliver power on the scale that stopping a large vehicle necessitates. Unless additional mechanisms like fast-charging supercapacitors are added to the loop, energy will be going to waste on a hard brake.

A true ?all-air? vehicle would just have a huge tank and expand the stored air in its cylinders to extract power. Hybrid versions based on this concept are also being explored by other auto manufacturers, and indeed big rigs effectively control the airflow in their cylinders using brake retarders for additional, albeit lossy, stopping power. For the present time however, the compact form of hydraulic power conversion is already a mature technology. Hydraulic motors and pumps with radial piston configurations and variable displacement can now make pressure conversions very efficient.

Friction in hydraulic system generates significant heat and in designs like the UPS truck (pictured above), dual accumulators and coolers are employed to let the vehicle operate at high duty cycles. On the scale of a compact car, where hydraulic lines are thinner and pumps are smaller, passive radiation of this heat may in fact suffice allowing the system to be much simpler.

There are clearly a lot of variables to consider when comparing fluid and electric hybrid technologies. With a direct on-board source of reliable fluid power, total redesigns of vehicles may even by possible allowing systems like traditional hydraulic brakes or radiators to be integrated into one larger unit. It will be interesting to see just how well the Peugeot design performs when it comes to market. Perhaps the risks of gas under pressure will prove to be more palatable than high voltage ? but then again, with experience as our guide, there are likely to be a few unforeseen details that will emerge between now and 2016.

Now read: Why hybrids are dying: Gas engines are good enough on mpg, plug-ins are sexier

Source: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/146450-peugeot-unveils-hydraulic-air-hybrid-80-mpg-car?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=peugeot-unveils-hydraulic-air-hybrid-80-mpg-car

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Manti Te'o Releases Lennay Kekua Voicemails

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/manti-teo-releases-lennay-kekua-voicemails/

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Sundance 2013: "Toy's House" goes to CBS Films

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - CBS Films late Tuesday acquired the coming-of-age comedy "Toy's House" at Sundance.

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts from a screenplay by Chris Galletta, the movie premiered to rave reviews on Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival.

"Toy's House" stars Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Alison Brie, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Erin Moriarty, Marc Evan Jackson, Thomas Middleditch and Tony Hale. It follows three teenage boys (Robinson, Basso and Arias) as they head into the wilderness with a plan to build a house and live off the land.

Tyler Davidson of Low Spark Films, Peter Saraf of Big Beach and John Hodges are the producers with Richard Rothfeld and Jordan Vogt-Roberts serving as executive producers.

"'Toy's House' couldn't have found a better home than with CBS Films," Vogt-Roberts said in a statement. "We set out to make a comedy that was hilarious and full of heart -- but most importantly we set out to make a comedy that was engaging. CBS Films is so passionate about this movie and share my thoughts that comedy can be poignant and beautiful. The response at Sundance has been overwhelming and I can't wait for CBS Films to share 'Toy's House' with audiences everywhere."

Scott Shooman who negotiated on behalf of CBS Films said, "While comparisons to movies like 'Stand By Me' and 'The Goonies' are inevitable, we found 'Toy's House' to be a fresh, funny and heartwarming story that is a loving throwback for a new generation."

John Sloss of Cinetic Media negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sundance-2013-toys-house-goes-cbs-films-224151699.html

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Basketball coach fired for 'take out' order

An assistant basketball coach at a Massachusetts high school has been fired for telling one of his players to 'take out' another team's coach.

Eric Wheeler was fired Thursday by Amherst Regional High School following an investigation into Monday's incident in which an Amherst player is seen on video pushing South Hadley High coach Jeff Guiel? to the ground from behind. Gueil was out of bounds.

School officials say Wheeler was apparently frustrated because game officials had not penalized Gueil for stepping out of the coaching box and thought contact with a player would result in a technical foul.

Amherst officials determined that head coach Jim Matuszko had no knowledge of the situation. The 16-year-old player also faces punishment.

Gueil, an attorney, says he is "exploring all the options."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Thebostonchannel/local/~3/8L1frIetEG8/index.html

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Green Blog: Q. and A.: Dances With Cranes

George Archibald is fondly known as ?The Man who Dances with Cranes.? After helping to found the International Crane Foundation?in Baraboo Wisc., in 1973, Dr. Archibald earned his reputation for innovative captive breeding through his work with a young whooping crane named Tex in the late 70s.

Tex, who? was born in a zoo, had an irreversible identification with humans and showed no interest in her own endangered species. To persuade this rare bird to lay an egg, Dr. Archibald spent every day over the course of? four springs creating a pair bond with Tex, dancing with her? when she displayed and staying close to her throughout the day.? With the help of artificial insemination and her human bond, Tex laid a fertile egg in 1981.

On Thursday, Dr. Archibald was honored by the National Audubon Society??at the Plaza Hotel in New York as the first recipient of the group?s $100,000 Dan W. Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership.

Recently we spoke with? him about his ongoing love affair with cranes and his foundation?s conservation efforts around the world. Following are excerpts, edited for brevity and clarity.

Q.

You have devoted your life to the conservation of cranes, but why cranes? What is their fascination for you?

A.

Well, for as long as I can remember, I?ve always been drawn to birds and cranes as sort of like super-birds. They are just magnificent, almost magical birds. They are the tallest flying birds in the world and have complicated and beautiful behaviors ? they dance and duet and have all kinds of vocal and visual languages in ways that seem to be human-like. They are devoted to a single mate for life and?rear just one or two chicks at a time. Because of this and other factors, they are also one of the most endangered groups of birds.

Q.

What are the top threats to crane survival?

A.

One of the biggest threats to cranes is the decline of wetlands around the world. Wetlands are drained to make more agricultural land or to accommodate expanding cities. In China, for example, there are plans to dam?the outflow of? the country?s biggest lake, Lake Poyang.?

During the summer monsoons, the lake fills with water, but in the winter the water levels fall, creating a mosaic of mud flats and ponds and grasslands, and the aquatic birds ? cranes, geese, swans, storks, hornbills ? they come in the hundreds of thousands. The dam would keep 19 meters of water [62 feet] in the lake year round and destroy the bird?s habitat.

And this is all exacerbated by climate change, which has led to new and irregular precipitation patterns. Even undisturbed wetlands are threatened by dwindling streams and receding flood plains.

In the Middle East, especially Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is still a lot of uncontrolled sport hunting of cranes. And all over Africa, the most endangered species of crane, the crowned crane, is being trapped and sold to wealthy customers in the Middle East and China.

Crowned cranes are the cranes with that big, flamboyant headdress of feathers. They are the national bird of Uganda, but their numbers have declined by eighty percent there because of this trade.

Q.

What international crane conservation projects are you involved in right now?

A.

Right now. I?m working a lot in North Korea. There used to be a lot of cranes in North Korea, but during the food shortages of the 1990s, they all left and showed up at the D.M.Z. [demilitarized zone] between North and South Korea. But now there is a lot of development in South Korea, so we are trying to prepare a place for them to return to in North Korea. I go there every year ? as a Canadian, I can get a visa and go in through Beijing.

Our project site is on the coast, this huge valley known as the Ambyon Plain. We are helping local people to develop organic farming techniques to increase their food production and restoring wetlands by flooding the rice fields after the harvest. All the aquatic life in the mud comes alive when the fields are flooded, a feast of snails and mud fish for the cranes.

We have a pair of decoy captive red-crowned cranes that are in a big fenced area in the middle of the valley, and they call the wild birds down as they fly south from the breeding grounds.? There are less then 3,000 red-crowned cranes in the world, so any addition to their habitat and range is huge.

Q.

Do you have a favorite species of crane?

A.

Whatever crane I am looking at. I don?t even mean that facetiously.

Q.

And your most memorable interaction with a crane?

A.

Once, when I was in Bhutan,? there was a very young crane that wandered away from its parents and joined a different group of cranes. Those cranes had decided to fly over the mountains and began circling and circling so they could get over this very high range. The parents of the little crane watched the scene.

The male crane then took off and flew like an arrow toward the flock of other cranes, calling to his mate on the ground, who remained with the other chick. The father crane went into the ascending flock and got his chick back. The family was reunited. I was just so touched by that devotion. Also, there is nothing quite like seeing cranes flying over the tops of the Himalayas. I?m just dumbstruck by it, and we still don?t even know how they do it with so little oxygen up there.

I was also very touched by a crane who lost its mate in the D.M.Z. and refused to leave the dead bird?s side even though there was no food and the bird was getting weaker and weaker. That bird was rescued by soldiers, nursed back to health and eventually released back in Siberia on the breeding grounds. But I will never forget that bird mourning its mate.

Q.

Is there any part of the world that you long to visit to see cranes?

A.

Absolutely. I?m not done yet. Every day I read about this war that has broken out in Mali. One of the world?s greatest wetlands is in that region, the Inner Niger Delta. It?s a huge flood plain of the Niger River with spectacular aquatic birds.

I?d also love to go to southern Sudan, to the Sudd,? the upper region of the White Nile River, which originates in Lake Victoria. This region has been unstable for years, but someday I would like to go and see how the cranes are faring. Conflict doesn?t usually bode well for wildlife. Unless of course there is the creation of a D.M.Z.!

Q.

Do you see a role for cranes internationally?

A.

Cranes are ambassadors for the world?s wetlands. Everyone who loves cranes ? and there are so many crane lovers around the world ?? understands that in order to save the cranes, we must save their homes.? So many other species are thus saved by saving wetlands.

They are also ambassadors for international good will. Scientists from North Korea want to work with scientists from South Korea on crane conservation. Cranes create unlikely allies, and I think can bring out the best in people.

Source: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/q-and-a-dances-with-cranes/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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New Taser plan to equip all London police response teams despite misuse and human rights concerns

? Press TV

The London Metropolitan police are splashing out ?800,000 a year to arm officers with the hugely controversial Taser stun guns amid mounting worries over their use and breach of human rights.

The London mayor's office has revealed that they are allocating an annual ?817,864 to equip the police with more than 6,500 Taser guns so that all police response teams in the capital are armed with the weapons.

The revelations made after a question by Jenny Jones, Green Party London assembly member, from the mayor's office for policing and crime, follow several cases of Tasers' misuse by officers including on totally innocent people.

"Last October police in Lancashire Tasered a 61-year-old blind man after mistaking his white stick for a samurai sword," Jones said.

A few weeks earlier, James McCarthy, a 22-year-old man from Liverpool, was left critically ill in hospital following a disturbance at Albert Dock after a night out with friends.

The incident came after Flying Squad officers also used a Taser on a 17-year-old boy by in Turnpike Lane in September.

The user of Tasers into everyday weapons for unarmed British police officers has been a pet project of the current Metropolitan Police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The police are now planning to increase the total number of officers using Tasers from 12,000 to 36,000 across England and Wales.

This comes as activists including lawyers have launched their own efforts to pressure officials into limiting the use of Tasers.

Sophie Khan, a solicitor-advocate who is the director of the first legal action group in England and Wales helping people take action against the police, has announced her organization named Police Action Centre (PAC) is investigating the user of Tasers by British police since they were first issued to non-firearms officers in 2008.

Khan has so far revealed embarrassing Taser uses, which are left unreported, including a case in which the police hit a mentally ill man on a roof with a Taser and the muscle spasms led to him falling off the roof as well as a case in Birmingham where a disabled man was Tasered after police demanded him to leave his mobility vehicle that he couldn't.

"Their use is too wide and too loose. There needs to be more control and restraint; training needs to be looked at, otherwise we are in a situation where police are breaching article 3 of the Human Rights Act and the state is responsible for such breaches," Khan said.

Latest figures show police force in England and Wales have used their Taser guns more than 1,500 times in the year to March 211.

Source: http://www.sott.net/article/256542-New-Taser-plan-to-equip-all-London-police-response-teams-despite-misuse-and-human-rights-concerns

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College basketball: Canby alum Andrew Evans making most of starting role at Corban

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Source: http://canbyherald.com/news/2013/January/15/Sports/college.basketball.canby.alum.andrew.evans.making.most.of.starting.role.at.corban/news.aspx

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MARKET SNAPSHOT: Wall Street Mulls Bank Results; Apple Rebounds

NEW YORK ? ?A rebound for Apple Inc. buoyed the technology sector on Wednesday, while Wall Street adopted a generally wary stance and considered results from several banks including J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

"We're meandering along on relatively low volume, digesting some of the gains and waiting to see what's next," said Brad Sorensen, director of market and sector research at Charles Schwab.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) lost 22.98 points, or 0.2%, to 13,511.91, with 15 of its 30 components losing ground.

Boeing Co. (BA) led the blue-chip slide, its shares down 3.3%, after Japan's two largest airlines grounded all their 787 Dreamliner planes as a safety precaution after one made an emergency landing. Wednesday's incident is the latest in a series of mishaps plaguing the airliner in recent weeks.

The S&P 500 index (SPX) held steady at 1,472.56, with telecommunications hit the hardest and the recently beaten-up technology sector the best performer of its 10 major industry groups.

The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) rose 8.68 points, or 0.3%, to 3,119.46, with the technology-laden index bolstered by Apple (AAPL) rebound from its recent slide.

For every two stocks gaining roughly three declined on the New York Stock Exchange, where 206 million shares traded as of noon Eastern.

Composite volume hit 1.3 billion.

Investors are "back to the sidelines waiting to get a decent read on fourth-quarter earnings and, more important, first-quarter 2013 revenue and earnings guidance," said Fred Dickson, chief investment strategist at Davidson Cos.

Shares of J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM) rose 0.2% after the bank reported fourth-quarter profit that exceeded estimates and 2012 revenue down from the prior year.

Goldman Sachs (GS) climbed 2.8% as the investment bank's quarterly profit nearly tripled.

"Financials have outperformed recently, and earnings have not dissuaded that. Balance sheets are improving, especially among the big banks, which can continue to grow revenues and meet estimates," said Sorensen at Charles Schwab.

The S&P 500 is up more than 3% so far this year, but four leading indicators of a market top are signaling that the bull market is on shaky ground, according to Mark Hulbert.

In economic news, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday that U.S. industrial production rose for a second month in December on increased demand for business equipment.

The Fed's Beige Book, a collection of anecdotes on the U.S. economy prepared in advance of its Jan. 29-30 meeting, will give clues as to the state of the economy in the aftermath of a legislative deal that prevented most income taxes from rising but kept uncertainty on government spending and even functioning. The Beige Book will be released at 2 p.m.

On Tuesday, the World Bank sharply curtailed its forecast for global growth in 2013, warning of the negative impact of the political battle in the United States over spending cuts and raising the nation's debt limit.

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Copyright ? 2013 Dow Jones Newswires

Source: http://feeds.foxbusiness.com/~r/foxbusiness/technology/~3/UIwBxFXCeOw/

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Grand Gulf Energy targeting higher Louisiana oil production

Thursday, January 17, 2013 by Bevis Yeo

(ASX: GGE) is participating in the drilling of a well targeting up to 500,000 barrels of oil in the East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

The Port Hudson-1 well is designed to encounter several U Wilcox sands and is expected to produce at initial rates of about 250 barrels of oil per day.

Dry hole costs are estimated to be about $1.2 million with Grand Gulf?s 15% share fixed at $232,000. Completion and facilities costs are expected to add another $70,000 to this figure.

The Port Hudson project was generated from re-processed, proprietary seismic. The sand deposition is uniform in the area targeting multiple individual sands ranging in thickness from 10 to 25 feet.

Pipeline facilities are present in the area and the well is likely to be put on production within two months of completion.

?

Proactive Investors Australia is the market leader in producing news, articles and research reports on ASX ?Small and Mid-cap? stocks with distribution in Australia, UK, North America and Hong Kong / China.

Source: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/38365/grand-gulf-energy-targeting-higher-louisiana-oil-production-38365.html

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Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Crocs are market movers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:

NYSE

The Boeing Co., down $2.60 at $74.34

After an emergency landing of the aircraft maker's 787, Japan's two biggest airlines grounded all their 787s for safety checks.

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., up $5.50 at $141.09

Fourth-quarter earnings almost tripled, beating analysts' estimates, as investment banking revenues surged.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., down $16.38 at $280.94

The Denver-based casual dining chain warned that fourth-quarter earnings will miss estimates because of higher food costs.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc., up $2.39 at $50.38

Shares of the gun maker rose after President Barack Obama unveiled his plan to cut gun violence, which includes banning assault weapons.

First Republic Bank, up $1.06 at $35.60

The San Francisco-based bank said its fourth-quarter net income rose as it made more money off its loans and investments.

Cobalt International Energy Inc., down $1.91 at $24.84

The oil and natural gas driller said that some of its biggest investors were selling 40 million of the company's shares.

Nasdaq

Crocs Inc., down $1.52 at $14.19

The footwear company, known for its colorful plastic shoes, said in a filing that it experienced a difficult holiday season.

The Wendy's Co., up 18 cents at $5.08

The hamburger chain posted fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street's expectations and maintained its 2013 forecast.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boeing-goldman-sachs-crocs-market-214818755.html

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Richardson delivered letter for detained American in North Korea

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson delivered a letter for an imprisoned American to officials in North Korea during his trip there this week.

Richardson was unable meet with Korean-American Kenneth Bae, a 44-year-old tourist who was detained in North Korea late last year, but he said he was able to give a letter from Bae's son to authorities.

"I delivered the letter to North Korean officials," Richardson told Reuters on Friday. "They said they would provide that to him."

Bae has been charged with unspecified crimes against the state. Richardson said in Beijing on Thursday that he was told judicial proceedings against Bae would start soon.

Richardson made the trip to North Korea along with Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, who said the purpose of his visit was to discuss a free and open Internet.

The timing of the trip was criticized by the U.S. State Department. It came after North Korea carried out a long-range rocket launch last month, which Washington considers a provocative test of ballistic missile technology.

Richardson, a former New Mexico governor who was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the 1990s, has made numerous trips to North Korea that have included efforts to free detained Americans.

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/richardson-delivered-letter-detained-american-north-korea-181441718.html

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U.S. Effort on Ocean Acidification Needs Focus on Human Impacts

A beachgoer harvests oysters near New Kamilche, Washington. Scientists fear increasing ocean acidification as a result of greenhouse gas emissions could impair the ability of oysters and other sea creatures to grow a shell, impacting the lives and livelihoods of many dependent on the sea. Image: Flickr/cswtwo

A federal plan to tackle ocean acidification must focus more on how the changes will affect people and the economy, according to a review of the effort by a panel of the National Research Council.

"Social issues clearly can't drive everything but when it's possible they should," said George Somero, chair of the committee that wrote the report and associate director at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station. "If you're setting up a monitoring station, it should be where there's a shellfish industry, for example."

Acidification is one of the larger problems associated with greenhouse gas emissions, as oceans serve as a giant sponge for carbon dioxide. When carbon dioxide is dissolved in seawater, water chemistry changes and acidity increases. More acidic seawater can hurt ocean creatures, especially corals and shellfish, because it prevents them from properly developing their skeletons and shells. Shrinking coral reefs could dent eco-tourism revenue in some coastal areas. It also could trigger a decline in fish populations dependent on those reefs.

Decreasing shellfish populations would harm the entire ocean food chain, researchers say, particularly affecting people who get their protein or paycheck from the sea. Globally, fish represent about 6 percent of the protein people eat.?

The acidification blueprint was drafted by nine federal agencies in March 2012. It establishes guidelines for federal research, monitoring and mitigation of ocean acidification. In reviewing the plan, the research council, which advises the government on science policy, recommended that federal research and action be focused on issues with human and economic consequences.?

Pacific Northwest
The panel cited the Pacific Northwest as an economic example, where high acidity levels have hampered oyster hatcheries, worth about $270 million and 3,200 jobs to coastal communities there. It is unclear if ocean acidification is the culprit, but it could be a harbinger of things to come, according to the report.

In 2011, U.S. commercial fishers caught 10 billion pounds of seafood valued at $5.3 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The panel also suggested the plan should have a clearer mission, prioritized goals and ways to measure progress.

"This plan would cost a lot of money so there needs to be priorities and ways to prove impact," Somero said. "The federal budget simply won't allow for everything that needs to be done."

In 2009, Congress passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act, creating a federal program to deal with ocean acidification.?

Somero said the agencies will take the recommendations and "tune up" the plan.

Ocean acidification is an "emerging global problem," according to NOAA. Over the past 250 years, about one third of the carbon dioxide produced by the burning of fossil fuels has ended up in oceans, according to a 2010 study. Over that time, ocean acidity has increased about 30 percent, according to the National Research Council.

Ocean advocacy groups supported the panel's recommendations.

"Ocean acidification is one of the greatest threats to marine life and fisheries," said Matthew Huelsenbeck, a marine scientist at Oceana. "We are encouraged that the Council has suggested communicating this issue to policy makers and the public to increase awareness and hopefully lead to solutions."

Julia Roberson, a director at the Ocean Conservancy, said the original plan was a good first step and she hopes government will use the council's suggestions.

Amid recommendations, the panel also offered praise for the federal effort, saying the plan does "an excellent job of covering the breadth of current understanding of ocean acidification and the range of research that will be required to advance a broadly focused and effective National Ocean Acidification Program."

This article originally appeared at The Daily Climate, the climate change news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=54ac1c965bf72fbbc3eab1dd93d35996

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CES 2013: Archos hopes Titanium line of Android tablets is budget buyers' choice

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the Archos 97 Titanium HD, a 9.7-inch Android tablet that has a Retina Display-like resolution of?2,048x1,536. Now the French company has launched its entire Titanium line, which includes three additional tablets.

Notable among the other slates is the?80 Titanium, which is a rare 8-inch model (a.k.a. iPad mini size) that will cost $169. It joins the 7-inch 70 Titanium at $119 and the 10-inch?101 Titanium for $199. All four tablets use?IPS displays, include a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU and quad-core GPU, and run?Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. We now have a price for the 97 Titanium, which will cost $249 -- or $150 less than the Google Nexus 10 with a 2,560x1,600 display.

In addition to a lower-res screen, the 97 Titanium probably doesn't have the build quality of the Nexus 10, as Engadget's hands-on report details its "cheap-feeling plastic" rear casing. Then again, you're compromising something for a much cheaper price. Ironically, Engadget says the 8-inch and 10-inch Titaniums feel more solid in the hand.?

While it was good of Archos to provide pricing details on the Titanium lineup, the company still hasn't disclosed when any of the tablets would be available. Will the low prices be worth the wait? ?

Source: http://www.zdnet.com/ces-2013-archos-hopes-titanium-line-of-android-tablets-is-budget-buyers-choice-7000009678/

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Sony hopes to turn on PlayStation web shop in US this month

Sony is way beyond fashionably late to the console web store party in the US next to the likes of Microsoft, but it told CNET here at CES 2013 that it hopes to officially bring its Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) store stateside this month. Though we already spotted the service recently (which allows you to order movie, TV and video content and set it to download automatically to your PS3), it was still in beta at that point and only in Europe. Residents there can place orders, with items appearing on Vita or PS3 download lists, but until the official launch happens, nothing will download for now -- at least not without some hacking, from what we saw before. It's not clear whether it'll launch stateside in the same fashion or go live, fully functional, on both sides of the pond at the same time. If Sony's words ring true, though, we shouldn't have to wait long to find out.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/10/sony-hopes-to-turn-on-playstation-web-shop-in-us-this-month/

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LaGuardia Community College Professor Serving as Consultant to Hunan University of Science of Technology

January 10, 2013 | LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY?Dr. Xiwu Feng (???), a LaGuardia Community College Communication Skills professor, has been approached by the Hunan University of Science and Technology in Hunan Province, China, to share his expertise and help in the redesign of its graduate linguistics program.

?The university is launching a campaign to innovate its programs and is calling upon professors from foreign institutions to guide them in the process,? said Dr. Feng, who was given the title of 2012 Overseas Chair Professor of ?the ?Xiangjiang Scholars Program.?

Dr. Feng, who has taught Communications Skills at LaGuardia for 15 years, has been asked to work with administrators and faculty at the university?s School of Foreign Studies to transform their traditional linguistics and applied linguistics graduate programs to include a teacher training sequence. ?Added to the curriculum will be classes that cover Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL), second language acquisition, and theory and practice.

The plan to revamp the programs, said Dr. Feng, was to meet the needs of the society.? ?The university realized that graduate students in the linguistics programs were facing challenges because there were limited job prospects when they graduated,? said Dr. Feng who added that 250 graduates are enrolled in the School of Foreign Studies of the university. ??Adding an educational component to the curriculum will provide graduates with teaching credentials and additional job options.?

This past December Dr. Feng visited the university where he delivered speeches to an audience of language and education professors and grad students on theories and applications in literacy education, curriculum and pedagogy, second language acquisition and TESOL methodology.

While teaching at LaGuardia, Dr. Feng will continue to lend support and advise on program design to his Chinese partner via online communication or visits during vacations.

?Dr. Feng is one more example of LaGuardia?s extraordinary faculty sharing their knowledge and expertise far and wide,? said Dr. Gail O. Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College.? ?LaGuardia faculty are respected leaders in their disciplines and Dr. Feng will now be able to enrich the students and faculty at Hunan University as he has been able to do here in New York City.?

Report on Dr. Feng?s lectures on campus:? http://dep2.hnust.cn:8080/wyxy/news/1073.jhtml

Dr. Feng in discussion with the school?s research team: http://dep2.hnust.cn:8080/wyxy/news/1069.jhtml

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LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, was founded in 1971 as a bold experiment in opening the doors of higher education to all, and we proudly carry forward that legacy today. LaGuardia educates students through over 50 degree, certificate and continuing education programs, providing an inspiring place for students to achieve their dreams. Upon graduation, LaGuardia students? lives are transformed as family income increases 17%, and students transfer to four-year colleges at three times the national average. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), LaGuardia is a nationally recognized leader among community colleges for boundary-breaking success educating underserved students. At LaGuardia we imagine new ideas, create new curriculum and pioneer programs to make our community and our country stronger. Visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

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Source: http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2013/01/10/laguardia-community-college-professor-serving-as-consultant-to-hunan-university-of-science-of-technology/

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PackerPedia: Going to California to Strike Gold - Jan 10,2013

On his show, Comedian Rodney Perry covers arts and entertainment, everything from comedy and politics to music and acting, with his signature comedic slant.

MashUp Radio is a 30-minute podcast that discusses the fusion of technology, life, culture and science. Host Peter Biddle, engineer and executive for Intel?s Atom Software, dishes up a thought-provoking discussion.

Joy Keys provides her listeners with insight to improve their lives mentally, physically, monetarily and emotionally. Past guests on the show have included Meshell Nedegeocello, Blair Underwood, in addition to an impressive list of CEOs, humanitarians and authors.

Host Barry Moltz gets small businesses unstuck. He has founded and run small businesses with a great deal of success and failure for more than 15 years. This is a business radio show where he shares all the craziness of small business. It?s that craziness that actually makes it exciting, interesting and totally unpredictable.

The Bottom Line Sports Show is hosted by former NBA stars Penny Hardaway, Charles Oakley, Mateen Cleaves. Tune in to get the inside scoop on what's happening in sports today.

Deepak Chopra Radio provides an online forum for compelling and thought provoking conversations on success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being and spirituality.

Hits Radio covers basketball, sports culture and entertainment with past guests including Jason Kidd, Robin Lundberg and Chris Herren.

Listeners get an earful on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Talk Radio for Fine Minds. Whether it?s the current political cocktail or the latest must-read award-winning book, Halli tackles all topics and likes to stir ? and sometimes shakes ? things up.

Official Internet radio show of forthcoming epic paranormal investigation book by Eric Olsen and "Haunted Housewife" Theresa Argie.

Award-winning World Footprints is a leading voice in socially responsible travel and lifestyle. Hosts Ian & Tonya celebrate culture and heritage and bring a unique voice to the world of travel.

Football Reporters Online is a group of veteran football experts in the fields of coaching, scouting, talent evaluation, and writing/broadcasting/media placement. Combined, the group brings well over 100 years of expertise in sports.

Host John Martin interviews the nation's leading entrepreneurs and small biz experts to educate small business owners on how to be successful. Past guests have included Emeril Lagasse and Guy Kawasaki.

The Movie Geeks share their passion for the art through interviews with the stars of and creative minds behind your favorite flicks and pay tribute to big-screen legends. From James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola to Ellen Burstyn and Robert Duvall, The Geeks have got'em all.

Sylvia Global presents global conversations pertaining to women, wealth, business, faith and philanthropy. Sylvia has interviewed an eclectic mix from CEOs and musicians to fashion designers and philanthropists including Randolph Duke and Ne-Yo.

Mr. Media host Bob Andelman goes one-on-one with the hottest, most influential minds from the worlds of film, TV, music, comedy, journalism and literature. That means A-listers like Kirk Douglas, Christian Slater, Kathy Ireland, Rick Fox, Chris Hansen and Jackie Collins.

Paula Begoun, best-selling author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, separates fact from fiction on achieving a radiant, youthful complexion at any age. She?s regularly joined by health and beauty experts who offer the latest on keeping your skin in tip-top shape.

Source: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/packerstalk/2013/01/10/packerpedia-going-to-california-to-strike-gold

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Parade float driver won't face charges in Midland train crash

by BETSY BLANEY

Associated Press

Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:05 PM

MIDLAND (AP) ? A grand jury has declined to indict the driver of a parade float involved in a train collision that killed four U.S. military veterans.

The panel decided Wednesday that Dale Andrew Hayden won't face charges in the Nov. 15 accident in West Texas that killed four veterans who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The flatbed truck Hayden was driving was hit by a Union Pacific train traveling at 62 mph. The truck was the second float in a parade organized to honor wounded veterans and their wives.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.

Union Pacific Corp. said in December that it was adjusting the timing of the crossing signal where the collision occurred.

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/Parade-float-driver-wont-face-charges-in-Midland-train-crash-186222772.html

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