Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/8847
8A – Daily News – Thursday, April 8, 2010 WORLD BRIEFING Toyota official said days before recall, ’We need to come clean’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Five days before Toyota announced a massive recall, a U.S. executive at the com- pany wrote in an internal e- mail: ‘‘We need to come clean’’ about accelerator problems, according to doc- uments obtained by The Associated Press. ‘‘We are not protecting our customers by keeping this quiet,’’ wrote Irv Miller, group vice president for environment and public affairs. ‘‘The time to hide on this one is over.’’ The recently retired Miller wrote the Jan. 16, 2010, e-mail as Toyota offi- cials were on their way to Washington to discuss the problems with federal regu- lators. On Jan. 21, Toyota announced it would recall 2.3 million vehicles to address sticking pedals in six vehicle models. ‘‘We better just hope that they can get NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to work with us in coming (up) with a workable solution that does not put us out of business,’’ Miller wrote. The e-mail was addressed to Katsuhiko Koganei, executive coordi- nator for corporate commu- nications for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Control of 1 branch of Kyrgyzstan security forces passes to opposition BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) — Thousands of pro- testers furious over corrup- tion and spiraling utility bills seized internal security headquarters, a state TV channel and other levers of power in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday after govern- ment forces fatally shot dozens of demonstrators and wounded hundreds. A revolution in the Cen- tral Asian nation was pro- claimed by leaders of the opposition, who have called for the closure of a U.S. air base outside the capital that serves as a key transit point for supplies essential to the war in nearby Afghanistan. The U.S. State Depart- ment said transport opera- tions at the Manas base were ‘‘functioning normally.’’ This mountainous for- mer Soviet republic erupted when protesters called onto the streets by opposition parties for a day of protest began storming government buildings in the capital, Bishkek, and clashed with police. Groups of elite offi- cers opened fire. The Health Ministry said 40 people had died and more than 400 were wound- ed. Opposition activist Tok- toim Umetalieva said at least 100 people had died after police opened fire with live ammunition. San Fran man arrested after threats to Pelosi SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FBI says the suspect accused of making threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a 48-year-old San Francisco man. FBI spokesman Joseph Schadler identified the man as Gregory Lee Giusti. He was arrested at his home shortly after noon Wednes- day. Schadler did not disclose the charges against Giusti, but said he’s due in court Thursday. Law enforcement offi- cials told The Associated Press that the suspect made dozens of calls to Pelosi’s homes in California and Washington, as well as to her husband’s business office. They say he recited Thank you to everyone that helped make the Corned Beef & Cabbage Fundraiser for Will Murphy a huge success. Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated William Murphy in support of For Judge Of The Superior Court Office Two, 2010 Paid for by the committee to elect William Murphy WilliamMurphy4Judge.com her home address and said if she wanted to see it again, she would not support the health care overhaul bill that since has been enacted. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly. Pain from torrent in Rio falls heavily on slums RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rodrigo de Almeira had dug for 15 hours through mud and debris, and he looked like it. Auburn mud covered his head, his ripped shirt, his torn jeans and his rubber sandals. When asked Wednesday if he had been able to save anyone from the massive landslide in the slum where PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT he lives, he silently shook his head. Of the 119 people confirmed dead from Rio’s heaviest rains on record, at least 18 died in his shanty- town, Pleasure Hill. ‘‘Right there at least 15 people I know died,’’ Almeira said, staring at a massive mound of mud and debris. Wood planks — remnants of the shacks engulfed by the landslide — poked through the mud as 30 rescue workers gingerly dug at it with picks and shovels, still looking for sur- vivors. ‘‘We found a guy alive this morning, so we had hope,’’ said Almeira, 28. ‘‘He didn’t make it, we were told he died on his way to the hospital.’’ Because of the continu- ing rains, steep hillsides and loose earth, officials said there had been few success- ful rescues. One man, Car- los Eduardo Silva dos San- tos, 24, was pulled alive from under a concrete wall in western Rio. Firefighters said they had no count on how many people had been rescued. Gas in W.Va. mine still too dangerous MONTCOAL, W.Va. (AP) — High levels of dan- gerous methane gas made it impossible for rescuers to venture inside a coal mine Wednesday to search for survivors of an explosion that killed 25 workers. Crews drilled holes to release the gas, but by late afternoon the levels remained far too high for searchers to safely enter the Upper Big Branch mine to look for four people missing in the worst U.S. mining accident in more than two decades. They could not say when they might be able to go in. Workers wanted to drill another hole so they could lower a camera into an air- tight rescue chamber to see if anyone had managed to get inside, Kevin Stricklin of the Mine Safety and Health Administration said at a briefing Wednesday. ‘‘If we’re going to send a rescue team, we have to say it’s safe for them to go in there,’’ Stricklin said. ‘‘We want the air to be clear enough to let them go with- out being in smoke.’’ The disaster has brought new scrutiny for mine owner Massey Energy Co., which has been repeatedly cited for problems with the system that ventilates explosive methane gas and for allow- ing combustible dust to build up. The federal mine agency on Wednesday appointed a special team of investigators to look into the blast, which officials said may have been caused by a buildup of methane. Half of US paying no federal income tax WASHINGTON (AP) — Tax Day is a dreaded deadline for millions, but for nearly half of U.S. house- holds it’s simply somebody else’s problem. About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and exemptions to eliminate their liability. That’s accord- ing to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research organization. Most people still are required to file returns by the April 15 deadline. The penalty for skipping it is limited to the amount of taxes owed, but it’s still almost always better to file: That’s the only way to get a refund of all the income taxes withheld by employ- ers. In recent years, credits for low- and middle-income families have grown so much that a family of four making as much as $50,000 will owe no federal income tax for 2009, as long as there are two children younger than 17, according to a sep- arate analysis by the con- sulting firm Deloitte Tax. Tax cuts enacted in the past decade have been gen- erous to wealthy taxpayers, too, making them a target for President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. Less noticed were tax cuts for low- and middle-income families, which were expanded when Obama signed the massive econom- ic recovery package last year. $6.00 Hair Cuts I fix Barber Shop New extended hours 8:30am - 6pm Mon-Fri 8am - Noon Saturday Oak Street Every 6th April 6th present a “Night of Discovery” Carlino’s Event Center, Rolling Hills Casino April 9, 2010 • 6:30 pm to 9 pm • Discover the World of the Mendocino National forest’s RBRA • Discover the SRDC Summer Camps Program • Discover ways to enjoy the outdoor opportunities in our area • RBUHS ROP Interns will be honored Carlino’s famous buffet dinner will be served Activities will include Live Auction ~ Raffle Prizes ~ 50/50 Slot Tourney Cost $35.00 per person Hosted by Paskenta Band of the Nomlaki, Rolling Hills Casino and D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY Tickets at 1000 Sale Lane, 527-1196 or e-mail ccramer@tehama.k12.ca.us A member of CHW Red Bluff, CA 96080 - April 17th “SHOP-PINK” In Red Bluff! Friday & Saturday See the Round-Up themed decorations in local stores. Select merchants will donate a share of their sales on April 9 & 10 to the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” fundraising campaign! Red Bluff Round Up has joined the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the Tough Enough To Wear Pink fundraising effort. Join us April 18th in the fight against breast cancer. For tickets call 530.527.1000 St. Elizabeth Community Hospital 2550 Sister Mary Columba Drive WESTERN ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Come see us at the Children’s Fair on April 24th Recently expanded and moved near Bidwell Elementary License # 525405817 My qualifications include: B.A. in Elementary Education and experience teaching grades K-8. Accepting state pay programs & cash pay, etc. (530) 209-8743 Barber Shop $ Cheers www.redbluff.mercy.org 530.529.8000 600 Senior Cuts Open 6 days 9-6 570-2304 259 S. Main St. Tractor Supply Center ! Hair Cut FREE 527-8111 • 335 Oak St. Next door to the State Theatre (Customer parking in Winchell’s parking lot.)