In brief: Lawmakers decry F-22 problem
RICHMOND, Va. – Two members of Congress say new information from the Air Force shows an oxygen-deficit problem on F-22 fighter jets is worse than previously disclosed.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said Thursday that through May 31, the Air Force reported more than 26 incidents of apparent oxygen deprivation per 100,000 flight hours. They say that’s at least 10 times higher than that of any other Air Force aircraft.
The Air Force grounded its F-22s for about four months last year because of the problem. In May, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered new flight restrictions on the F-22 and directed the Air Force to enlist the help of Navy and NASA experts to determine why some pilots continue to experience dizziness and other symptoms while flying.
Carlotta expected to become hurricane
MIAMI – Forecasters say Tropical Storm Carlotta in the Pacific is expected to become a hurricane by the time it reaches the southern coast of Mexico today.
Carlotta’s maximum sustained winds rose Thursday night to 65 mph. Hurricane strength is 75 mph.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Mexico’s Pacific coast from Salina Cruz to Punta Maldonado.
The tropical storm was centered about 250 miles south-southeast of Puerto Angel, and about 460 miles southeast of Acapulco. It is moving north-northwest near 10 mph.
Tropical storm conditions are expected by this afternoon and significant coastal flooding is expected.
Baldwin’s claims against Costner rejected
NEW ORLEANS – A federal jury late Thursday rejected claims that Kevin Costner and his business partner duped fellow actor Stephen Baldwin and a friend out of millions of dollars from a BP contract for using oil cleanup devices in the aftermath of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill.
The panel deliberated for less than two hours before delivering the verdict in the lawsuit brought by Baldwin and his friend Spyridon Contogouris. Their lawyer had asked the eight-member jury to award the plaintiffs more than $17 million in damages.
The jury gave them nothing.
Costner, who smiled and shook his attorney’s hand after the verdict, said he was grateful for the opportunity to clear his name.
“My name means more to me than money and that’s why we didn’t settle,” he said shortly after the verdict.
Los Angeles court to lay off 431
LOS ANGELES – Squeezed by state budgets cutbacks, the Los Angeles County court system is launching massive job layoffs, pay cuts and transfers, court officials said Thursday.
Cutbacks that will be implemented today will affect 431 court employees and 56 courtrooms throughout the nation’s largest superior court system.
The union representing state and municipal employees called today’s action a “freeze on justice in Los Angeles” and warned that the county would experience “an end to timely justice” with cases being delayed for years, particularly in civil courts.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees planned to have representatives on hand to assist employees who will not know they are losing their jobs until they are informed today.