Diberdayakan oleh Blogger.

Popular Posts Today

Oratory Skills Showdown in Dallas

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 19 Januari 2013 | 14.01

advertisement

Click Here!

Elementary schoolchildren showed off their oratory skills on Friday.

Eight finalists for the 21st annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory competition presented original speeches in front of a packed audience at the Majestic Theater in Dallas.

Each finalist answered this year's question for this annual oral showdown honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "If you could talk directly to Dr. King about your dream for our future, what would you tell him?"

The fourth- and fifth-graders tackled the realities and hardships of daily life.

"I hate the fact that babies, little kids, families and the elderly have to go without eating because they can't afford to buy food," said Karyme Herrera, a fourth-grader at Frederick Douglass Elementary School.

They also discussed their idea of a perfect future.

"I have a dream that this world will be drug-free, unemployment-free," said Ahmad Crawford, a fourth-grader at Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary School.

For this year's winner, Chinelo King, it's gratitude toward the civil rights leader. He also took the time to highlight future aspirations of his own.

"I dream of becoming an engineer of mankind, an architect of great scholars and contractor of community service," said King, a fourth-grader at John Neely Bryan Elementary School.

King's parents and seven siblings supported him throughout the process.

"It was even more rewarding seeing him work on his speech," said Hamah King, his father. "The work ethic that he put forward really makes me proud."

How did King overcome his nervousness Friday?

"I just saw it, relaxed, and all the butterflies just went away," King said.

King won a $1,000 prize, and the rest of the finalists received a monetary gift in different amounts.

The annual competition is presented, hosted and sponsored by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP and the Dallas Independent School District.


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Meets Woman Who Saved His Life: "I'm Speechless"

advertisement

Click Here!

Weatherford truck driver Elias Uribe wasn't sure what to say Friday night to the Dallas woman who saved his life in a fiery crash last week.

"I'm speechless," he said as he got out of his pickup with a huge bouquet of flowers and a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

"It's the least that I could do," he said.

The two met for dinner at a Weatherford restaurant -- the first time they had seen each other since early last Wednesday morning.

Uribe was driving his 18-wheeler when he lost control near Interstate 30 and Interstate 35 near downtown Dallas.

Terry Sims drove by the accident on her way to work the early shift at the post office and stopped to help.

Woman Pulls Man From Burning 18-Wheeler

A Parker County truck driver says he owes his life to a passer-by who pulled him out of his burning 18-wheeler after a crash in Interstate 30 in Dallas.

More Photos and Videos

Uribe's truck was on fire. He was trapped inside the cab. The door was jammed shut. She single-highhandedly pulled him out the window and dragged him to safety.

In the confusion, Uribe told her thank you but wanted to meet her again.

The two met at an On the Border restaurant in Weatherford.

"From Weatherford, Texas, to Dallas, Texas, with love," he said as the two embraced.

They couldn't stop hugging as Uribe's three children looked on.

"Are you OK?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he said. "Thank you so much. Thank you so much."

His children had written letters to her, and they read them to her outside the restaurant's front door.

Twelve-year-old Elias Uribe Jr. wrote: "Dear Terry Sims, thank you for helping my dad get out of the truck, and thank you for your hard effort and your love and heart. May God bless you."

Ten-year-old Elizabeth Uribe wrote: "Dear Terry Sims, thank you for taking my dad out of the truck and pulling him out of the truck and your willingness to risk your life to save his life. Thank you for your bravery and your love for others. Sincerely, Elizabeth."

And 8-year-old Eliazar Uribe wrote: "Dear Terry, thank you for saving my dad's life and your great effort. May God bless you. Sincerely, Eliazar Uribe."

Sims smiled.

"Appreciate that," she said. "I love that. That's so sweet."

Later, inside the restaurant, the two had plenty to talk about.

"And I could hear you and I think that's when I said, 'I need some help,'" Uribe said.

"Yeah, I remember that," she said.

The two went over the rescue second by second.

"And then you almost fell on top of me," Uribe said.

"You fell backwards," she said.

"OK," he said, admitting he didn't have a clear memory of what had happened.

Uribe told Sims a simple "thank you" wasn't enough for what she did.

"I don't have any words to describe my gratitude to you," he said.

But somehow, especially after this, no words seemed necessary.

14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

AA Unveils Bold New Logo, Livery

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 18 Januari 2013 | 14.01

advertisement

Click Here!

Marketing Experts Weigh In on AA's New Look

Marketing experts say it's about time American Airlines updated its image.

More Photos and Videos

The world-famous silver bird of Fort Worth-based American Airlines is getting a bold new makeover.

American Airlines CEO Thomas Horton debuted the airline's new livery in a recorded video on the airline's website at 9 a.m. Thursday. Two hours later, Horton hosted a news conference at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where a 737 with the new livery, pictured above, was on display.

The old livery, which has been in use since the 1960s, relied on the plane's metallic fuselage for much of its look, along with iconic red, white and blue stripes that stretched the length of the fuselage.

Instead, there will be a silver, mica-painted plane with an American flag emblazoned on the tail.

"Since the polished metal look was no longer an option [due to the composite skin of new aircraft on order], the importance of the paint selection became critical to honoring American's silver bird legacy," the airline said in a news release.

Ahead of the wings, the word American in big, thin gray letters along the fuselage will be easily read from the ground. Closer to the cockpit on both sides of the fuselage, the company's new eagle logo looks forward, toward the direction of travel. The look can be seen in the photo above and in the gallery to the below, left.

The new logo will debut on Jan. 31 with a flight from DFW to Brazil.

"Our new logo and livery are designed to reflect the passion for progress and the soaring spirit, which is uniquely American," said Virasb Vahidi, American's chief commercial officer. "Our core colors -- red, white and blue -- have been updated to reflect a more vibrant and welcoming spirit. The new tail, with stripes flying proudly, is a bold reflection of American's origin and name. And our new flight symbol, an updated eagle, incorporates the many icons that people have come to associate with American, including the 'A' and the star."

American hopes to have 25 to 30 percent of its fleet outfitted with the logo change by the end of year. By the end of next year, most of the fleet should be outfitted.

Horton said the timing of the new livery went well with shipments of the Boeing 777-300ER coming into service. A shipment of 59 Boeing 737s and 777s will become part of the fleet by the end of the year.

The airline also has composite aircraft on order -- the Boeing 787 and planes from Airbus.

"Since placing our landmark aircraft order in July of 2011, we've been building anticipation toward a moment in time when the outside of our aircraft reflects the progress we've made to modernize our airline on the inside," Horton said. "While we complete the evaluation of whether a merger can build on American's strengths, we remain steadfast in each step we take to renew our airline, a step we take with great respect for our name American. Today marks important progress in that journey as we unveil a new and updated look for the first time in more than 40 years."

The makeover comes at a time when the company is still evaluating whether a merger with US Airways could benefit the company. Even with a merger, some analysts believe the new look would help signify a reinvented American Airlines and a signal that the brand is here to stay.

"It's a new day and they are restructured, reimagined, reinvented, they certainly want their customers to know that," said Jeff Millet, of Holmes Millet Advertising.

After the reveal Thursday morning, travelers at DFW Airport said they liked the new look but said that what the airline does next to emerge from bankruptcy matters the most. The pilots and flight attendants unions shared the sentiment.

"We'd prefer that the focus be on fixing AA's systemic network, revenue and cultural problems rather any cosmetic issues such as painting schemes," Allied Pilots Association spokesman Tom Hoban said.

"APFA is excited about the change this means for our employer," said Leslie Mayo with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. "We hope this rebranding is the first of many steps toward making American Airlines a company that we can be proud to work for and one that can grow and compete in today's marketplace. That can only happen with a merger inside bankruptcy. A merger is the best path forward for our company, our industry, the employees and the traveling public, and APFA hopes to celebrate an announcement shortly."

"We applaud our friends at American as the new brand elements and livery mark the culmination of a significant amount of work and coordination, and clearly those efforts have produced a compelling result," US Airways said in a statement. "As American continues its restructuring, today's announcement represents the ongoing evolution of both the brand and the company, and we look forward to seeing the new American brand across their planes and around the world."

Horton said Thursday that the switch to the new brand may take years to filter down to all planes, airports and terminals, but that the switch would happen soon at hubs in DFW, New York, Miami and Chicago.

DFW Airport's Terminal A will also feature the new look when it is complete in early February.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Boeing 777-300ER has a composite skin. The Boeing 777-300ER is an aluminum plane. NBC 5 regrets the error.

NBC 5's Kendra Lyn, Ray Villeda and Christina Miralla contributed to this report.

14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Former Haltom High Teacher Accused of Sex With Students

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

Former Haltom High teacher Tonya Flink is accused of having sex with four of her students. She has been indicted is and is free on bond.

Teacher Indicted on Improper...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Click Here!

A Tarrant County grand jury has indicted a former teacher at Haltom High School who is accused of having sex with four of her students.

According to a September 2011 search warrant, parents of a Haltom High graduate and former student of Tonya Flink reported to police that their son was living with her at her apartment. They told police that they believed the relationship began while their son was a senior in high school.

In the same month, investigators learned of other relationships, according to the warrant.

According to the report from police, the former student in question admitted that the relationship began when he would stay after school and Flink would help him with his grades. Flirting led to Flink "pushing herself onto him," according to police.

Flink would go on to tell the student that "she loved him," that she "liked young Hispanic kids like him" and that their eventual sexual relationship involved "everything you could imagine," police said in the warrant.

Police also reported that they found evidence that Flink made at least 850 phone calls to one of the students in question over a period of a few months. Investigators also reported that she bought clothes for some of them and that she went to the home of one of her students and secretly knocked on his back door so she could meet with him.

According to police, Flink resigned from her position as a computer technology teacher at Haltom High in August 2011, shortly before police began their initial investigation.

Flink went on to teach for a time at Carter Riverside High School in the Fort Worth Independent School District, but resigned from her position long before the district ever learned of her alleged involvement with students, a district representative said.

Flink, 39 is free after posting $10,000 bond. She is due in a Tarrant County courtroom next week, according to her attorney.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Texas Bill Would Ban a Federal Firearms Ban

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 17 Januari 2013 | 14.01

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

Lawmakers in Austin are coming up with a plan to make it illegal to enforce any federal ban on semi-automatic firearms or gun magazine sizes.

Texas Considers Making Any...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Click Here!

Texans have loved guns longer than the Lone Star State has been in the United States.

One Texas lawmaker is pushing to keep a possible federal ban on the purchase of certain firearms out of the state.

Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, is authoring the Firearm Protection Act, which he says would "make any federal law banning semiautomatic firearms or limiting the size of gun magazines unenforceable within the state's boundaries."

The bill would also make it a felony to enforce any such federal law.

Toth told reporters that his phone and email has been inundated with calls of support.

"It's not going to be hard to get people behind this," he said. "The level of excitement is already there for it."

Gun owners and gun rights advocates say they like the idea.

"I am definitely in favor of keeping our firearms, keeping our magazines, keeping the right to bear arms," said Tom Mannewitz, who runs the Target Master gun store and range in Garland.

But Mannewitz said the bill has a long legal battle ahead.

"I say power to him on that point," he said. "I'm not sure a state can override government, but if it's possible, I think he's got something working for him."

Toth said he is aware of the legal issues that could face the bill but is prepared. He said he is asking Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to look over the bill for legal hang-ups.

"There is this thing called the Supremacy Clause, but there also is this thing called the United States Constitution and the Second Amendment of the Constitution says that the government shouldn't make any laws regarding our firearms," he said.

The full text of the bill is not yet available.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Third Drowning in Three Years in FW's Trinity Park

advertisement

Click Here!

Woman Drowns in Trinity River

The Fort Worth Fire Department pulled a woman's body from the Trinity River Wednesday afternoon after receiving calls of a woman yelling for help.

More Photos and Videos

A Fort Worth man whose wife drowned in the Trinity River in 2011 says more warning signs are needed after another woman died Wednesday in the same spot.

"I'd like to tell the city to do something about it, to put something bigger there," Gerardo Ladino said.

Ladino and his family were visiting Trinity Park when his 7-year-old son slipped into the river. His wife, Dania, jumped in to save him. The boy made it out, but she drowned. Ladino said he nearly drowned trying to save her.

On Wednesday, Fort Worth firefighters were called to the same area when office workers in a nearby building heard screams and saw someone struggling in the water.

When firefighters arrived, the woman was already under water. A dive team recovered her body.

The woman's identity wasn't immediately released. Fire department spokesman Lt. Tim Hardeman said the woman was in her late teens or early 20s.

She is the third person to die in the same area in less than three years. Many people walk across a rock dam which appears to be a walking path.

One sign on the bank of the river warns "Safety first, Watch your children." Another small sign, attached to the rocks themselves, is a symbol of a person walking with a circle and red line through it.

"I feel really sorry for the family that went through this today," Ladino said. "I don't have any words to tell them, especially when this should not be happening, I think."

City spokesman Bill Begley said no city officials were available to comment on the tragedy or whether the signs are enough. He also noted the river itself is owned by the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Water district spokesman Chad Lorance said the warning signs now in place are clear.

"There are inherent dangers when you're around any water," he said. "It can happen anywhere."

Ladino said the river looks deceptively calm but he quickly learned when he was trying to rescue his wife how powerful the water can be.

"The currents on the edge, it was pulling me under, so I had to let go of her to get my breath and pull myself out, too," he said.

In July 2010, a man drowned trying to save a 7-year-old girl whom he and his wife were trying to adopt. A passing bicyclist managed to save the man's wife and the girl.

"It's very slippery, and people will fall in," Hardeman said. "We do want people to know that is not a walkway."

Ladino said he hopes people are more cautious and called for stronger-worded warning signs.

"How many more is it going to take before they can understand this is dangerous?" he asked.

14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Plano ISD to Add Armed Guards to Every Campus

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 16 Januari 2013 | 14.01

Ellen Goldberg, NBC 5 News

A multimillion-dollar plan to put armed guards at every Plano ISD school has overwhelming support from school board members.

Plano ISD to Add Armed School Guards

Copy

Close

Link to this video

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Click Here!

The Plano school district unveiled a plan to put armed guards at every school in the district.

The multimillion-dollar proposal was met with overwhelming support from school board members.

The plan calls for private, armed security guards at all 72 campuses in the Plano Independent School District and, perhaps, even two armed guards on senior high school campuses.

As it stands now, only Plano high and senior high schools have a police presence -- liaisons from the Plano Police Department.

Superintendent Richard Matkin said additional guards would provide an immediate response to any type of security threat on campus in the wake of the school shooting in Connecticut.

The district estimates the plan to put armed guards on every elementary, middle and high school campus would cost anywhere from $2.2 million to $2.7 million, which is double the district's current budget for security.

The district hopes the Legislature will step in and help with the funding. If not, it plans to turn to taxpayers.

"When we sat down the day after the incident with the police chief and said, 'What's the most important way to make sure you have done everything you can to protect your campuses?' and he said, 'An armed guard in your building' -- that's all they needed to say to me," Matkin said.

The next step for the school district is to solicit bids for as many as 75 security positions.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Flu Leads to More 911 Calls

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

MedStar says it is receiving more calls because of the current flu outbreak.

More Calls to 911 With Flu Outbreak

Copy

Close

Link to this video

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Click Here!

Fort Worth's ambulance service says it is seeing a dramatic rise in 911 calls because of the flu.

MedStar EMS said it averaged 267 calls per day in December, but the average daily call volume in the first nine days of January has been 299 calls -- a 12.1 percent increase. The daily average is also 15.8 percent higher than in January of last year.

And calls that were potentially flu-related -- for breathing problems, chest pain and for a sick person -- were up by double digits, MedStar said. Calls relating to headaches were up by 111.1 percent.

"We encourage people to call 911, because if they think they're having an emergency, we really need to respond to them," MedStar spokesman Mike Zavadsky said. "But we may modify the type of response that we're sending to them because of the dramatic increase in call volume."

MedStar has increased staffing to handle the high volume of calls.

A screening program that the ambulance service launched last year that sends non-emergency calls to a nurse to determine if the caller needs an ambulance also has seen a sharp increase in activity, MedStar said.

MedStar said more people in emergency rooms is also affecting response times.

"Not only has our response volume increased, but many more patients are seeking care in our area emergency rooms overall, which consumes emergency room bed availability," Mike D'Agostino, MedStar director of operations, said in a press release. "This is having a dual impact since it sometimes takes longer for our crews to transfer care to the emergency room staff."

NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

State-Funded Gun Training for Educators Proposed

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 15 Januari 2013 | 14.01

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

Some Texas lawmakers want to allow Texas school teachers to carry a gun into the classroom. The State Senate is drafting a bill that would use taxpayer money to pay for gun training for teachers.

Copy

Close

Link to this video

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Click Here!

Reading, writing and revolvers could become a reality in the classroom for Texas teachers, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is backing the idea.

On Friday, Dewhurst told a crowd at a Texas Public Policy Foundation event that he is asking the Texas Senate to consider using taxpayer money to pay for school workers to go through training to bring a concealed handgun to class. Dewhurst said school districts would choose which school employees would be eligible to bring the weapon to class, which could mean a janitor, a teacher or even a principal.

"With the increased violence we've seen in public schools in recent years, we must do everything we can to protect the safety and well-being of our most precious possession -- our children," Dewhurst said in a statement.

Dewhurst has asked Sen. Dan Patrick and Sen. Craig Estes to hold hearing and look at other safety measures.

Some teacher advocacy groups aren't thrilled with the idea.

"I think, quite frankly, it's too much," said Rena Honea, head of Alliance-AFT in Dallas. "Teachers go into education because they want to make a difference in the lives of the child. Their primary responsibility is the education of that student."

Honea said one of the reasons her organization doesn't support the idea is that there is too much room for errors and accidents.

"If a child were to be able to get a hold of that gun -- whether it be curiosity or an intentional thing; say it was an older student, an innocent child or an innocent bystander or a school employee -- their life could be lost," she said.

Honea said the state money could be used to protect schools in other ways.

"I would much rather see those dollars put into training to fund having someone professionally trained to handle that on every campus," she said.

Honea said some teachers might support the measure.

Steven Poole with the United Educators Association, which advocates for teachers in Tarrant County, said his group doesn't like the idea either. He said the push for school safety is coming from lawmakers, not teachers.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Parkland to Parents: Don't Bring Kids During Visits

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

Parkland Hospital is asking parents not to bring children to the hospital unless necessary as part of its effort to prevent the spread of the flu.

Parkland Visitors Asked to Leave Kids...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Click Here!

Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas is asking parents not to bring their children along when they visit the facility.

"We're asking parents to think before they bring their kids to the hospital about whether or not they really need to be there," said Janet Glowicz, a nurse epidemiologist and the hospital's director of infection prevention.

The move is an effort to prevent the spread of the flu, hospital representatives said Monday evening.

"We're not going to bar anybody, so it's not a mandate," Glowicz said. "It's not a hard-and-fast rule. It's just something we want the public to think about."

"We want healthy children to stay healthy, and we want to focus our care on the sick folks," she said.

If a parent must bring their child with them into the emergency department, a hospital staff member may ask the parent if the child has had a cough or a fever. And if the answer to either question is yes, the staff member may ask the child to put a medical mask on, according to a hospital news release.

Parkland is currently awaiting delivery of more masks so they can provide all children, healthy or sick, with protection.

At least one parent did not need any extra warning from the hospital.

Maria Cerrato said she left her two children at home Monday while she visited a relative in the emergency department.

"And with the whole flu and everything going around, I wasn't going to risk them getting sick," she said.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

AA Asks for Another Extension on Business Plan

Written By Unknown on Senin, 14 Januari 2013 | 14.01

Getty Images

The Fort Worth-based airline asked for an extension until April 1. It's the fifth time the carrier has asked to delay the process.

advertisement

Click Here!

American Airlines late Friday asked a bankruptcy judge for a delay in filing a business plan to emerge from restructuring -- a sign a consensual merger with US Airways is unlikely anytime soon.

The Fort Worth-based airline asked for an extension until April 1.

It's the fifth time the carrier has asked to delay the process.

American was joined in the request by the influential Unsecured Creditors' Committee, or UCC.

The airline has made "significant progress" in its restructuring effort but still needs more time, the company said.

"The work proceeds on many fronts concurrently, but is time and resource demanding, and therefore, additional time is necessary," the airline's attorneys wrote.

The board of directors of American's parent company, AMR Corp., met this week but made no announcements.

Friday's request, filed as the bankruptcy court in New York closed for the day, is an indication the airline has chosen to continue to evaluate its options and has decided not to pursue an immediate merger with US Airways.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Natural Gas Explosion Levels Lewisville Duplex

advertisement

Click Here!

A natural gas explosion destroyed a duplex in Lewisville hours after construction workers mistakenly cut a gas line.

The duplex behind the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church of God is owned by the Christian Community Actions, an organization that assists people who are in need.

The home exploded at 12:30 p.m., while crews were working to repair a gas leak. Construction workers mistakenly cut a 4-inch gas line in the area at about 10 a.m., investigators said.

Emergency crews at the time told NBC 5 they had the issue under control and that no evacuations were necessary. But fire officials later told another NBC 5 reporter that they had evacuated a block downwind of the gas leak.

The house that exploded was not included in the evacuations.

Atmos Energy said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Two Lewisville firefighters and a man who was inside the duplex at the time of the explosion were sent to area hospitals after the explosion, according to fire officials.

Witnesses said the explosion "felt like a bomb went off" and said they could feel the shock wave from blocks away.

"Honestly, I didn't see anything at first," said Danny Vigil, who lives in the area. "What I felt was a huge explosion. It was almost as if you were sitting in a movie, a big action movie -- you hear bombs going, that's what it sounded like."

"Pictures were rattling, falling onto the ground," he said. "The first thing I did was run out the front door -- ran all around because I thought some car hit our home. [I] ran to the back, I saw flames, smoke, debris in the air, shingles, branches. It was just an unbelievable sight."

"I was sitting at my desk whenever was a loud explosion," Dwayne Ryaman said. "[I] literally thought maybe an 18-wheeler had ran into my building at first."

"When I came out of my door, I immediately saw the black smoke and flames," he said. "I got a little bit closer to the scene, saw the debris that was strewn out in the middle of the street."

Debris covered the roadway in the 500 block of East Main Street in Lewisville. The road was shut down while emergency crews worked near the scene.

None of the surrounding homes or businesses were damaged in the explosion.

The man who was inside the duplex was critically injured and taken to Medical Center of Lewisville. He underwent surgery and was later airlifted to Medical Center of Plano, where he was in intensive care Friday night. He is expected to survive.

The injured firefighters were released from the hospital later Friday.

Crews are put out hot spots at the location of the explosion. Atmos Energy crews assisted, along with fire crews from Lewisville, The Colony and Carrollton.

NBC 5's Ellen Goldberg and Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

AA Asks for Another Extension on Business Plan

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 13 Januari 2013 | 14.01

Getty Images

The Fort Worth-based airline asked for an extension until April 1. It's the fifth time the carrier has asked to delay the process.

advertisement

Click Here!

American Airlines late Friday asked a bankruptcy judge for a delay in filing a business plan to emerge from restructuring -- a sign a consensual merger with US Airways is unlikely anytime soon.

The Fort Worth-based airline asked for an extension until April 1.

It's the fifth time the carrier has asked to delay the process.

American was joined in the request by the influential Unsecured Creditors' Committee, or UCC.

The airline has made "significant progress" in its restructuring effort but still needs more time, the company said.

"The work proceeds on many fronts concurrently, but is time and resource demanding, and therefore, additional time is necessary," the airline's attorneys wrote.

The board of directors of American's parent company, AMR Corp., met this week but made no announcements.

Friday's request, filed as the bankruptcy court in New York closed for the day, is an indication the airline has chosen to continue to evaluate its options and has decided not to pursue an immediate merger with US Airways.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!


14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Natural Gas Explosion Levels Lewisville Duplex

advertisement

Click Here!

A natural gas explosion destroyed a duplex in Lewisville hours after construction workers mistakenly cut a gas line.

The duplex behind the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church of God is owned by the Christian Community Actions, an organization that assists people who are in need.

The home exploded at 12:30 p.m., while crews were working to repair a gas leak. Construction workers mistakenly cut a 4-inch gas line in the area at about 10 a.m., investigators said.

Emergency crews at the time told NBC 5 they had the issue under control and that no evacuations were necessary. But fire officials later told another NBC 5 reporter that they had evacuated a block downwind of the gas leak.

The house that exploded was not included in the evacuations.

Atmos Energy said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Two Lewisville firefighters and a man who was inside the duplex at the time of the explosion were sent to area hospitals after the explosion, according to fire officials.

Witnesses said the explosion "felt like a bomb went off" and said they could feel the shock wave from blocks away.

"Honestly, I didn't see anything at first," said Danny Vigil, who lives in the area. "What I felt was a huge explosion. It was almost as if you were sitting in a movie, a big action movie -- you hear bombs going, that's what it sounded like."

"Pictures were rattling, falling onto the ground," he said. "The first thing I did was run out the front door -- ran all around because I thought some car hit our home. [I] ran to the back, I saw flames, smoke, debris in the air, shingles, branches. It was just an unbelievable sight."

"I was sitting at my desk whenever was a loud explosion," Dwayne Ryaman said. "[I] literally thought maybe an 18-wheeler had ran into my building at first."

"When I came out of my door, I immediately saw the black smoke and flames," he said. "I got a little bit closer to the scene, saw the debris that was strewn out in the middle of the street."

Debris covered the roadway in the 500 block of East Main Street in Lewisville. The road was shut down while emergency crews worked near the scene.

None of the surrounding homes or businesses were damaged in the explosion.

The man who was inside the duplex was critically injured and taken to Medical Center of Lewisville. He underwent surgery and was later airlifted to Medical Center of Plano, where he was in intensive care Friday night. He is expected to survive.

The injured firefighters were released from the hospital later Friday.

Crews are put out hot spots at the location of the explosion. Atmos Energy crews assisted, along with fire crews from Lewisville, The Colony and Carrollton.

NBC 5's Ellen Goldberg and Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

14.01 | 0 komentar | Read More
techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger