Storm paralyzes cruise ship
Storm paralyzes cruise ship — A cruise liner carrying 791 passengers and crew was limping towards a Sardinian port last night after a storm knocked out its engines and forced it to call for help. French and Spanish rescue aircraft and boats went to the assistance of the vessel Grand Voyager, which was en route from Tunisia to Barcelona when it was hit by violent storm force 11 gales, 60 miles southeast of Menorca.
BBC show takes aim at Norwalk hotel — The BBC 1 program Inside Out sent an undercover forensic scientist into Scarborough’s Grand Hotel who later said that two of the rooms he had checked were the worst he had ever inspected. The scientist claims he found millions of bacteria in a salad and that he had found the E-coli bug in two bathrooms.
Airport smoking takes a hit — Next week marks the 15th anniversary of smoke-free domestic airline flights, but frequent fliers may still be getting a dangerous dose of secondhand tobacco smoke. Most of the nation’s large hub airports continue to allow smoking in some areas, says a recent report by private health experts and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most small airports prohibit smoking.
Air Canada uses bankruptcy to brush off complaints — An Air Canada passenger with a serious fish allergy was assured that an appropriate snack would be served during her flight. Instead, she was given a box lunch of salmon sandwiches. The woman suffered an allergic reaction and required two tanks of oxygen. She filed a complaint against the airline. So far, she has been thwarted because the carrier allegedly using its recent bankruptcy protection to avoid settling the claim.
Michigan couple appeals Cuba travel fine — Michigan missionary couple fined $5,250 by the government for traveling to Cuba will appeal the ruling, their attorney said Monday. Attorney Kurt Berggren said he will file the appeal for Michael and Andrea McCarthy by Thursday, which is the deadline.
In Virginia Beach, homeless call hotels ‘home’ — Beach officials believe that more and more families are living temporarily in hotels or motels. Early data from a citywide homeless count taken several weeks ago shows at least 250 people spread among roughly 20 lodges in Virginia Beach.