San Diego, CA –A family is suing the United States government for compensation for an accident that occurred in 2008 when a military jet crashed into their home and killed four of their family members.  The jet belonged to the Marine Corps and the accident was caused by mechanical failure and bad judgment.  The family members that were killed were two children, their mother and grandmother.  The trial will go before a judge on Monday.  On Dec. 8, 2008 a plane being flown by a student pilot suffered mechanical …

Washington D.C. — The head of the Federal Aviation Administration was arrested for drunk driving on Saturday night.  Jerome Randolph Babbitt, 65, has been placed on administrative leave and DOT officials are reviewing his employment status with their attorneys.  Babbitt was driving on the wrong side of Old Lee Highway when he was pulled over.  He was alone in his car and was about nine miles from his home.  He was not involved in any accident.  Police took him to the adult detention center, and he was charged and later …

Los Angeles, CA — Those of us who either were a part of or watched the demonstrations in the 70’s and the efforts by the police to disperse demonstrators, might be asking if the police and government officials have learned anything from the past. Just in the past few weeks the police have tried to disperse encampments in Oakland and UC Davis and both have attempts have made matters worse.  Not only do these types of confrontations cause both police and protestors to act violently, but the fact that the …

Irvine, CA –A new ordinance passed by the Irvine City Council this week fines party hosts up to $750 for the first warning, up to $1500 fro the second warning within a 12-month period and up to $3,000 for further warnings if you serve alcohol to minors.  Any person who makes alcohol available and/or permits the consumption of alcohol by an underage person at a gathering or event held on private property could be fined.  Authorities are hoping this ordinance will cut down on DUIs.  About 8% …

Virginia State Police have charged Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) with making an unsafe lane change after an accident Friday night in which a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by the lawmaker collided with a 1996 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle in Nottoway County.
According to reports Perriello did not suffer any injuries, but one of the three passengers in the other vehicle was treated for minor injuries.  Alcohol or speed was not considered a factor in the crash.  The accident occurred near Burkeville which is 60 miles southwest of Richmond.
Perriello …

The chairman of the Irvine Co. and the 45th richest man in the world according to Forbes, Donald Bren, recently had a $1.4 million tax refund check stolen from him in an identity theft case the Secret Service is investigating.
According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in May a man who looks nothing like Bren set up bank accounts in Bren’s name earlier this year, deposited Bren’s refund check into one, and then transferred most of the money out.
The complaint did not say how the man obtained …

An estimated 89 deaths could have been related to the unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles in the last decade, according to the government.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2000 to mid-May, it had received more than 6,200 complaints involving sudden acceleration in Toyotas.  89 deaths and 57 injuries over the sam period are included in the reports.  Previously, 52 deaths had been suspected of being connected to the problem.
More than eight million vehicles worldwide have been recalled by Toyota Motor and a record $16.4 million fine has …

David Paterson, New York Governor, proposed a way to generate $815 million annually to help close a $9.2 billion budget deficit on Thursday, May 20, 2010.  According to reports the Governor proposed his idea to generate $815 million annually to help close the $9.2 billion budget deficit.  His proposal includes lifting the sales tax on diet soda, and implementing a new “sugar tax” to full calorie drinks.
An older version of the “soda tax” proposal was rejected by the state legislature.  The beverage industries also took a strong stance against it. …

City Administrative Officer and top financial officer for Los Angeles, Miguel Santana, 40, announced that he had enrolled in an alcohol treatment center just days after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Santana issued a statement on Sunday that he had checked into an undisclosed program Saturday.
In the statement Santana said, “I do not know how long this stage of my journey will be. I apologize to my family, friends, the mayor, City Council, CAO staff, and the entire city family for my irresponsible behavior,”
California Highway Patrol arrested …

Way down south in a little town called Houston, TX, which is actually the fourth largest city in the nation, history was made over the weekend as Houston became the largest city to elect an openly gay mayor.  Annise Parker’s run-off win over former City Attorney Gene Locke.
Ray Hill, the dean of Houston’s gay activists, saw victory in more ways than one.
“For me, it means 43 years of hard work has finally paid off,” Hill said. “For Houston, it means we have finally reached the point where being gay cannot …