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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Two rescued after plane crash in river

Compiled from wire reports The Spokesman-Review

Yonkers, N.Y. A student pilot and his instructor were rescued from the Hudson River on Monday after their single-engine plane crashed off the Yonkers city pier, police said.

When rescuers arrived, one was clinging to the wreckage and the other was swimming with the aid of a seat cushion. They were in the water for 15 to 20 minutes. Rescue helicopters lifted the victims by basket and flew them to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

Both men had hypothermia but were stable at the hospital, New York Police Department spokesman Detective John Sweeney said.

The student was flying the Piper Warrior south along the river when the engine quit, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters.

Independence Air plans to shut down Thursday

Chantilly, Va. Independence Air, which won fans with its low fares, announced plans Monday to cease operations just days into the new year.

The carrier said its money troubles will force it to cancel all departures after 7 p.m. Thursday. The end came less than 19 months after the airline’s first takeoff.

Thursday will be last day of work for most of the 2,700 employees, though about 180 will remain to close out the carrier’s affairs.

The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in November. Parent company FLYi Inc. tried in vain to find a major investor or buyer.

Tropical Storm Zeta expected to weaken

Miami Tropical Storm Zeta moved slowly westward over the central Atlantic on Monday, posing no threat to land, forecasters said.

The 27th and last named storm of the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season, Zeta had top sustained winds near 50 mph at late afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

While the wind had stayed the same since Monday morning, Zeta was expected to begin weakening by today, forecasters said. It was not expected to become a hurricane.

Former representative to challenge DeLay

Houston Former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson said Monday that he has filed paperwork to run for the congressional seat held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Lampson, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress, made his announcement at a restaurant before about 100 supporters. He filed the paperwork Friday in Austin.

DeLay, a Republican, is seeking a 12th term in his suburban Houston district.

Lampson, a conservative Democrat, represented an adjacent district for eight years until redistricting that DeLay engineered cost him enough Democratic votes that he lost to U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Houston, in 2004.

Lampson is the first Democrat with name recognition and political experience to challenge DeLay since he was first elected in 1984.