Topic: Philadelphia

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'Full Upright and Locked Position': 7 (sometimes sobering) facts about air travel

From the facts about airline food to the truth about why bags get lost, writer and former FAA chief counsel Mark Gerchick takes a hard look at traveling by plane in "Full Upright and Locked Position."

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USA Update Heat wave: Northeast faces a few more scorchers. Then, relief!

With the highest above-normal heat in the nation, New York opens more than 400 cooling centers. Some 100,000 Maryland residents may be without water for days. But cooler air is expected Friday.
Stifling heat wave settles over northeast quarter of US. Not cool.

From the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast and back through Michigan, extreme heat is firing up this week over a broad area, prompting cities to prepare cooling centers.
Ariel Castro now facing 977 charges in Cleveland: A statement by prosecutors?

A new indictment, announced Friday, nearly triples the number of charges against alleged Cleveland captor Ariel Castro following his arrest in May. He’s due to be arraigned again next Wednesday.
Gay marriage: Pennsylvania attorney general pulls an Obama on DOMA

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane says she will not defend her state's ban on gay marriage in court. Obama took a similar tack with the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Zimmerman trial: Did wall-to-wall media coverage inform, or entertain?

While some say the extensive media coverage of the George Zimmerman trial provided a civics lesson to the US public, others saw a play for ratings that did little to address key issues in the case.
Statue of Liberty reopens on Independence Day (+video)

The Statue of Liberty reopening was a sign of recovery as the nation used the day to celebrate its independence in a wide variety of ways — from fireworks tributes to fallen firefighters to parades, concerts, and hot-dog eating contests.
Energy drinks, scrutinized for effects on kids, tout organic ingredients

Energy drinks manufacturers are pushing their organic ingredients to compete in an industry under fire for its products' ill effects on children and adolescents.
Lauderhill Mall fight: Teens summoned by social media, new trend? (+video)

Lauderhill Mall fight : A group of 100 or more teen apparently responding to social media calls to gather at Lauderhill Mall erupted in a fight. It's similar to violence at several other spontaneous gatherings in shopping malls and districts around the nation.
Bensalem tower fire: Crews dismantle cell tower that caught fire in Pa.

Bensalem tower fire: Officials had said the tower was leaning, which prompted the evacuation of nearby homes. But the fire was put out a short time later and there were no reports of injuries.
Ohio air show crash leaves wing walker, pilot dead

Ohio air show crash: A Stearman aircraft crashed Saturday. at the Vectren Air Show near Dayton, Ohio.The crash killed the pilot and his wing walker.
House GOP passes major antiabortion bill. Why Democrats are pleased. (+video)

House Republicans passed legislation Tuesday that would ban abortions after 20 weeks' pregnancy. The party's social conservative base is happy, but Democrats see a political boon.
School prayer: Can a caring religious presence steer clear of prayer ban?

School prayer was banned by the Supreme Court 50 years ago, but many public schools and faith-based groups partner to help at-risk youth by offering a caring presence..
'Full Upright and Locked Position': 7 (sometimes sobering) facts about air travel

From the facts about airline food to the truth about why bags get lost, writer and former FAA chief counsel Mark Gerchick takes a hard look at traveling by plane in "Full Upright and Locked Position."
Crusade for smartphone 'kill switch' heats up, but would it work?

Law enforcement officials are pushing smartphone manufacturers to develop a kill switch to disable stolen phones. They see it as a way to stem rampant smartphone theft.
Severe weather forecast: Worst could be from Delaware to North Carolina (+video)

Heavy rain is also predicted for New York and New England. But the storm system will not have the same characteristics as a derecho that blew through the mid-Atlantic a year ago.
Golf fans, what do you know about the US Open?

As defending champion Webb Simpson and the rest of the 113th US Open field tackle the Merion Golf Club's 18-hole layout near Philadelphia June 13-16, test your knowledge of US Open history by taking this 18-question quiz.
Colorado secede? Counties weigh exit plan to form state of 'North Colorado'

Colorado secede? It sounds implausible, but the idea of counties withdrawing from one state to form a new one isn’t impossible. But some big hurdles – like the US Constitution – make it very difficult.
USA Update Philadelphia building collapse: Was demolition being done correctly?

The Philadelphia building collapse that killed six and injured 14 happened as the building was being demolished. Eyewitness accounts offer clues into what might have gone wrong.
Cheerios mixed-race ad to stay, company not deterred by hate

A new ad for Cheerios, featuring a mixed-race family and biracial daughter, caused YouTube commenters to flood the commercial's page with bigotry. But Cheerios won't be taking down the ad, the company says.
Philadelphia building collapse: Rescuers dig through rubble

The cause of the collapse of a four-story building in downtown Philadelphia on Wednesday is still under investigation, said officials. Authorities do not know how many people were inside a nearby thrift store or on the sidewalk at the time of the collapse.
Philadelphia building collapse: 'Ground-shaking'

A four-story building collapsed onto a next-door thrift store on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Thirteen people were injured and one woman died in the incident. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, which witnesses describe as 'ground-shaking.'
Philadelphia building collapse: 12 injured, two trapped, fire official says (+video)

Philadelphia building collapse: A four-story building in the Pennsylvania city, in the process of being demolished, collapsed on Wednesday morning.
Report reveals inmates suffer high levels of sexual abuse from guards

A new report by the Justice Department found prison inmates in Indianapolis, Baltimore, St. Louis, and Philadelphia suffered a higher-than-average rate of sexual abuse at the hands of guards.
Plane makes belly landing at Newark airport (+video)

Plane makes belly landing Saturday with no injuries. A US Airways flight from Philadelphia made an emergency belly landing in Newark when the landing gear could not be lowered.
Stocks fade in late trading

Stocks fell on Wall Street Thursday on signs of a slowing economy mixed with indications the Federal Reserve would end its bond-buying program this year. Wal-Mart stocks sank after warning of weaker earnings ahead.