Texas
Plant that blew up carried only $1M liability policy
McALLEN, Texas The Texas fertilizer plant that exploded last month, killing 14 people, injuring more than 200 others and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to the surrounding area had only $1 million in liability coverage, lawyers said Saturday.
Tyler lawyer Randy C. Roberts said he and other attorneys who have filed lawsuits against West Fertilizers owners were told Thursday that the plant carried only $1 million in liability insurance.
Brook Laskey, an attorney hired by the plants insurer to represent West Fertilizer Co., confirmed the amount Saturday in an email to The Associated Press, after the Dallas Morning News first reported it.
Roberts said he expects the plants owner to ask a judge to divide the $1 million in insurance money among the plaintiffs, several of whom he represents, and then file for bankruptcy.
California
Supremacist gets 26 to life in killing of molester
SACRAMENTO, Calif. A Northern California white supremacist convicted of killing a child molester has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, while his wife convicted of being an accessory will be released from jail in about two months, The Sacramento Bee reported Saturday.
Charles Francis Gaskins, 48, was sentenced Friday after pleading no contest in March for the killing of Neil Hayes in 2009. A probation report said Gaskins was a member of a supremacist group that required its members to attack anyone with a history of child molestation.
As part of his no-contest plea, Gaskins insisted authorities go easy on Sheaves, who also was charged with Hayes murder.
New York
Sept. 11 museum officials say admission fee needed
NEW YORK Faced with hefty operating costs, the foundation building the Sept. 11 museum at the World Trade Center has decided to charge an admission fee of $20 to $25 when the site opens next year.
The exact cost of the mandatory fee has not yet been decided.
Entry to the memorial plaza with its twin reflecting pools will still be free.
The decision to charge for the underground museum housing relics of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks has been met with dismay by some relatives of the victims.
Memorial foundation head Joseph Daniels said Saturday that the museum has little choice. Its expected to cost nearly $60 million a year to operate the site.
Daniels said the museum will be free during certain hours every week.
Ohio
9-inch copter lands in arms of Ohio court statue
MARION, Ohio An unwanted modern addition has flown into the arms of a Lady Justice statue that sits atop a county courthouse in north-central Ohio.
A 9-inch, remote-control helicopter flew into Lady Justice on the Marion County Courthouse on April 27 and has been there since resting on the hilt of her sword more than 100 feet high.
Video producer Terry Cline said he was using the $1,500 camera-equipped helicopter to shoot a promotional video for the city when it was caught by an unexpected breeze.
Since then, Cline has been trying figure out how to get the helicopter back.
County officials say they wont pay to remove it or risk anyones life for it.
For now, Lady Justice gets to keep her new toy.
Associated Press
