Chilean president says it could take years to rebuild region destroyed by quake and tsunami
DICHATO, Chile (AP) — Chile's president says it will take three years to rebuild the region wracked by an earthquake and tsunami, something all too clear to the people cleaning up this splintered tourist town.
Dichato is nestled between pine-forested hills and a lovely sheltered bay where colorful fishing boats served coastal communities and export companies. Its population of 4,000 triples each January and February with tourists — many were in town when disaster struck — and residents count on that brief summer vacation for much of their income.
The quake and tsunami killed at least 19 people in Dichato and smashed neat wooden houses and small hotels into huge splinter piles. The surge ruined most other buildings in town, which stank Thursday with decomposing fish. One fishing boat marooned far inland was full of rotting octopus.+
President Michelle Bachelet said Thursday that she is confident "Chile will rise" from the devastation — but not as fast as some might want.
She said it could take at least three years to bring the region back.
___
Support from influential NYC black leaders may buy time for Gov. Paterson amid scandals
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson might have won some time when he received what has become rare support from influential black leaders as he tries to ride out allegations in two scandals that threaten his job and led to the resignation of three top staffers.
Paterson and his administration are seeking to regroup Friday in what one official described as pep talks. Late Thursday night, black leaders in New York City said he deserves his right to due process and should stay in office.
Paterson is facing allegations that he and his staff interfered in a domestic violence case involving a top governor's aide. Also, a state ethics panel has accused him of seeking and accepting World Series tickets from the New York Yankees last year despite a gift ban, then lying to the panel about it.
Paterson lost a third top deputy Thursday when communications director Peter Kauffmann abruptly resigned after weeks of serving as the defending voice of the governor.
"As a former officer in the United States Navy, integrity and commitment to public service are values I take seriously," Kauffmann stated in a brief statement sent on his private e-mail account. "Unfortunately, as recent developments have come to light, I cannot in good conscience continue in my current position."
___
Gunman tied to online grievances about feds shoots 2 Pentagon officers, dies from return fire
WASHINGTON (AP) — Resentment of the U.S. government and suspicions over the 9/11 attacks have surfaced in writings by the Californian identified as the gunman who shot two Pentagon police officers before he was mortally wounded in a hail of return fire.
The shooter's death was confirmed early Friday, hours after the Thursday evening assault, as authorities searched for a motive behind the brazen attack. The two officers, grazed by bullets, were treated in a hospital.
The attack unfolded at the subway entrance to the massive Defense Department headquarters, as an eerie calm and silence were broken by the explosion of gunfire.
"He just reached in his pocket, pulled out a gun and started shooting" at point-blank range, said Richard Keevill, chief of Pentagon police. "He walked up very cool. He had no real emotion on his face."
The Pentagon officers returned fire with semiautomatic weapons, sending the shooter to the hospital with critical injuries. Beverly Fields, chief of staff of the D.C. medical examiner's office, confirmed the man's death and said his body arrived at her office shortly after midnight.
DICHATO, Chile (AP) — Chile's president says it will take three years to rebuild the region wracked by an earthquake and tsunami, something all too clear to the people cleaning up this splintered tourist town.
Dichato is nestled between pine-forested hills and a lovely sheltered bay where colorful fishing boats served coastal communities and export companies. Its population of 4,000 triples each January and February with tourists — many were in town when disaster struck — and residents count on that brief summer vacation for much of their income.
The quake and tsunami killed at least 19 people in Dichato and smashed neat wooden houses and small hotels into huge splinter piles. The surge ruined most other buildings in town, which stank Thursday with decomposing fish. One fishing boat marooned far inland was full of rotting octopus.+
President Michelle Bachelet said Thursday that she is confident "Chile will rise" from the devastation — but not as fast as some might want.
She said it could take at least three years to bring the region back.
___
Support from influential NYC black leaders may buy time for Gov. Paterson amid scandals
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson might have won some time when he received what has become rare support from influential black leaders as he tries to ride out allegations in two scandals that threaten his job and led to the resignation of three top staffers.
Paterson and his administration are seeking to regroup Friday in what one official described as pep talks. Late Thursday night, black leaders in New York City said he deserves his right to due process and should stay in office.
Paterson is facing allegations that he and his staff interfered in a domestic violence case involving a top governor's aide. Also, a state ethics panel has accused him of seeking and accepting World Series tickets from the New York Yankees last year despite a gift ban, then lying to the panel about it.
Paterson lost a third top deputy Thursday when communications director Peter Kauffmann abruptly resigned after weeks of serving as the defending voice of the governor.
"As a former officer in the United States Navy, integrity and commitment to public service are values I take seriously," Kauffmann stated in a brief statement sent on his private e-mail account. "Unfortunately, as recent developments have come to light, I cannot in good conscience continue in my current position."
___
Gunman tied to online grievances about feds shoots 2 Pentagon officers, dies from return fire
WASHINGTON (AP) — Resentment of the U.S. government and suspicions over the 9/11 attacks have surfaced in writings by the Californian identified as the gunman who shot two Pentagon police officers before he was mortally wounded in a hail of return fire.
The shooter's death was confirmed early Friday, hours after the Thursday evening assault, as authorities searched for a motive behind the brazen attack. The two officers, grazed by bullets, were treated in a hospital.
The attack unfolded at the subway entrance to the massive Defense Department headquarters, as an eerie calm and silence were broken by the explosion of gunfire.
"He just reached in his pocket, pulled out a gun and started shooting" at point-blank range, said Richard Keevill, chief of Pentagon police. "He walked up very cool. He had no real emotion on his face."
The Pentagon officers returned fire with semiautomatic weapons, sending the shooter to the hospital with critical injuries. Beverly Fields, chief of staff of the D.C. medical examiner's office, confirmed the man's death and said his body arrived at her office shortly after midnight.
