safety concerns News

Former New Jersey Transit Worker Says He Was Fired for Raising Safety Concerns

A recently fired New Jersey Transit compliance officer told lawmakers on Friday that he was terminated for raising safety and other concerns and that the agency is a “runaway train.” Todd Barretta told a joint Assembly and Senate oversight committee …

Tour Operator in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country Gets in Tiff Over His Tuk-Tuk

Pennsylvania utility regulators are making a big to-do over Timm Wenger’s tuk-tuk. The 48-year-old entrepreneur wants to use his three-wheeled, open-sided electric shuttle to offer sightseeing tours of Lancaster the urban core of a region best known for its undulating …

Rhode Island Family Hospitalized with Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A family of five from Rhode Island has been taken to the hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Smithfield Fire Chief Robert Seltzer says it appears the two adults and three children were overcome by carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning …

State Officials Urge Residents to Avoid Driving as Winter Storm Hits Northeast

Plow trucks and shovelers in the Northeast attacked the region’s newest winter storm as fresh powder piled on top of ever-growing piles and whiteout conditions made roads unsafe, immobilizing millions of residents. Winter storm warnings were in effect from upstate …

Insurers Won’t Pay Boat Owner’s Claim in Rhode Island Lost-at-Sea Case

Insurers say they will not cover the loss of a boat owned by a Vermont man that sank off Rhode Island with his mother aboard. Nathan Carman and his mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman of Middletown, Connecticut, left on a fishing …

NTSB to Probe Pennsylvania Trolley Crash that Hurt Nearly 50

Federal crash investigators are heading to Philadelphia a day after a collision between two trolley cars injured nearly 50 people. A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman says the agency is sending a team to look into the crash in west …

Drought Conditions and Low Water Supply Raise Fire Concerns in Rhode Island

Fire officials in Rhode Island say water sources that continue to dry up amid ongoing drought conditions in southern New England are raising safety concerns. Tiverton fire Capt. Bruce Reimels tells WLNE-TV the town has just four dry hydrants and …

Iowa Lawmakers Say No to Higher Speed Limits

Efforts to increase speed limits on Iowa freeways and rural roads failed in the Legislature this year amid safety concerns, but officials acknowledged such moves are popular with drivers and likely will come before lawmakers again. Several bills were introduced …

Renewed Safety Concerns as Chinese River Ferry Capsizes with 400 People Aboard

Rescuers in central China are scrambling to find survivors from a cruise ship carrying more than 400 people that overturned in the Yangtze river Monday night, as confirmation of passenger deaths begin to emerge. Five bodies were found and 12 …