Tunneling Toward Six Lost Miners; Imus Faces Lawsuit for Foul Talk; Elvis Lives During Death Anniversary; Manhattan's New Price of Admission'; In Civilian Court, Padilla Found Guilty; Duct-Tape Plan Falls Apart
Tunneling Toward Six Lost Miners
The frustrated effort to rescue six miners in Huntington, Utah, took another tragic turn last week, when a tunnel collapse killed three rescue workers. The miners disappeared under 1,800 feet of earth when the mine collapsed August 6.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by the shifting mountain, which has burst tunnel walls. "This mountain is still alive," said Robert Murray, who co-owns the mine. "The seismic activity has just been relentless."
Engineers said there is air to breathe and water to drink, if the miners survived the initial collapse.
But hopes of finding the miners alive faded as the effort stretched through its second week. Listening devices and cameras threaded through holes in the mountainside haven't detected signs of life.
Imus Faces Lawsuit for Foul Talk
A Rutgers women's basketball player is taking aim at disgraced radio host Don Imus, filing a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court in New York City last week alleging slander and defamation of character. In April, Imus referred to members of the basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." He was later forced to resign.
Rutgers center Kia Vaughn filed the suit on the same day that Imus settled with CBS Radio, his former employer, for an undisclosed amount. Insiders estimate he received as much as $20 million. Imus is now free to sign with another broadcaster.
While Imus didn't refer to Vaughn by name, the suit claims she was publicly humiliated by Imus's remarks. "This is about Kia Vaughn's good name," says her attorney.
Elvis Lives During Death Anniversary
Burning love conquers all, even the heat. An estimated 75,000 Elvis Presley lovers crammed into boiling Memphis last week to celebrate the King on the 30th anniversary of his August 16 death. The faithful suffered through 105-degree heat during Wednesday's graveside procession and, undaunted by another 100-degree day, congregated for a Thursday vigil along Elvis Presley Boulevard.
The temperatures claimed the life of a 67-year-old woman from New Jersey, and officials treated at least six others suffering from the heat. But for most, the weather was only an inconvenience. Hotels sold out across the area. Black, white, Asian, and female Elvis impersonators from around the world battled for the honor of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist. Others honored the dearly departed by making the 110-mile pilgrimage from his hometown of Tupelo, Miss., to his final resting place in Memphis.
Manhattan's New Price of Admission
A drink, a meal, an overnight stay—everything seems to be more expensive in Manhattan. There could be something else: driving. Last week New York City received $354.5 million from the federal government to fund Mayor Michael Bloomberg's traffic gridlock plan, the bulk of which will go to improving public transportation and traffic signals. To promote environmentally friendly growth, the plan would make New York the first U.S. city to charge for driving inside it—$8 for cars and $21 for trucks during prime hours. The proposal is similar to a system in central London. But opposition from commuters and some state lawmakers could put the brakes on the mayor's vision. When the Legislature reconvenes, he has 90 days to move the idea through. No small feat. The last time he forwarded the plan? It gridlocked.
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