News Digest:
Friday, April 18, 2008 1:31 PM PDT
GOOD AFTERNOON
THE NATION
Senators slam FAA chief on airline safety, maintenance issue
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s top aviation regulator on Thursday faced another fiery round of questioning from lawmakers worried that his agency may be quicker to fix problems of public relations than those of public safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s cozy regulatory climate with airlines led to the suppression of whistleblower complaints against Southwest Airlines that, once uncovered, led to stepped-up inspection efforts of all carriers’ maintenance records and hundreds of planes being grounded in recent weeks.
‘‘We need an FAA that actually fixes problems as they are found rather than one that rushes into a public relations campaign to assure everyone that there isn’t a problem,’’ said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., during the fourth hearing here this month focused on aviation safety.
Citigroup reports $5.1 billion loss on hefty write-downs
NEW YORK (AP) — Citigroup Inc. lost $5.1 billion during the first quarter as poor bets on mortgages and leveraged loans lopped billions of dollars from its investment portfolio.
Write-downs related to mortgages and turmoil in the credit markets reached about $12 billion, and costs stemming from consumers’ credit problems surpassed $3 billion, the bank said Friday.
OREGON
Grand jury frees man who surrendered on murder charge
PORTLAND (AP) — Less than a month ago David Lee Patterson turned himself into Texas authorities, admitting to killing a man in Portland nearly 17 years ago. Thursday a Multnomah County grand jury declined to file charges, believing his claim of self defense.
Patterson, 60, shot and killed Eric Lamon, 21, when Lamon kicked Patterson awake as he slept outside a funeral home and shouted racial slurs at him in May of 1991.
‘‘It’s like a ton off my shoulders,’’ Patterson said. See the full story, Page A3.
