Tsunami warning mistakenly issued
A false tsunami warning was automatically sent to television and radio stations throughout Alaska on Monday morning, the National Weather Service said. The agency said it was not clear how the mistaken warning got out.
“It went out by mistake. There is no danger of tsunami anywhere,” said K.B Bennekamper, a meteorologist in the agency’s Anchorage forecast office.
It was not immediately clear how the automatic warning was issued, except technicians were working on a computer and showing a new intern how warnings are issued.
PASCO, Wash.
Asparagus group’s checks forged
Checks totaling $63,000 from the Washington Asparagus Commission have been forged and a former bookkeeper is under investigation, the state panel has been told.
The unauthorized check writing was detailed Friday by commission director Alan Schreiber and private accountants at the group’s annual meeting.
No charges have been filed. The only person under investigation is Jennifer “Jenna” Watkins, 26, of Kennewick, Schreiber and Franklin County sheriff’s Detective Jim R. Johnston said.
Watkins, hired in 2003, did not answer telephone calls from the Tri-City Herald following the meeting.
Schreiber said money also was missing from Agriculture Development Group, his private business in Eltopia. He believes about $30,000 from his business was used to repay part of the money taken from the commission.
Portland
Attorney worries about ‘show trial’
The lawyer for a doctor under investigation in Australia in the deaths of at least 13 patients said Monday he hopes that American courts wouldn’t extradite his client to face “a politically orchestrated media show trial.”
Stephen Houze, of Portland, said his client, Jayant Patel, could not win a fair trial and blamed the premier of the eastern state of Queensland, Peter Beattie. He said the premier and “his press agents have yet again taken an opportunity to poison public opinion against Dr. Patel.”
Australian police have recommended that Patel face four charges of manslaughter, six counts of grievous bodily harm and 16 charges of fraud. State Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said Monday the state’s public prosecutor would decide whether to bring charges.
If Queensland prosecutors decide to bring charges against Patel, he could be extradited to Australia under a 1974 treaty between the two countries.
Seattle
Gynecologist gets 20-year term
A King County gynecologist has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping and fondling women who came to his clinics for treatment.
Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey sentenced Charles Momah on Monday, nearly three months after a jury convicted him on two counts of rape and two counts of indecent liberties with patients. The standard sentencing range was 17 to 23 years.
Prosecutors alleged that Momah performed gynecological exams without wearing gloves, sexually touched patients, probed them unnecessarily with a vaginal ultrasound wand and flirted with them inappropriately. The documents also say the obstetrician-gynecologist prescribed addictive painkillers for no good medical reason, pressured patients into surgeries and double-billed insurance companies for procedures.
By June 2004, 44 women had filed lawsuits against him.