WAIKOLOA, Hawaii – Preliminary damage estimates from the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that shook Hawaii over the weekend hit $46 million on Tuesday, and President Bush declared a major disaster, opening the way for federal aid.
Damage to seven schools and a harbor on the island of Hawaii accounted for most of the figure, said Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman for Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim. Damage to businesses, homes, roads and bridges accounted for the rest.
The damage estimate included $31 million for schools, $8 million at Kawaihae harbor, $4.89 million to businesses, $650,000 to homes, $800,000 to roads and $750,000 to bridges, Snyder said.
Sunday’s earthquake was the strongest to hit the islands in more than two decades. No deaths or serious injuries were reported, and the damage appeared to be scattered, allowing most tourists and residents to resume life as normal.
By comparison, the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that struck the Los Angeles area in 1994 caused $25 billion in damage.
Kentucky: Social worker found slain
A social worker who had taken a 10-month-old boy to his mother’s house in Henderson for a visit was found slain, and the baby was apparently abducted, authorities said. Police found the body of Boni Frederick, 67, at the house on Monday after she failed to return to work. Her car was missing. Police searched on Tuesday for the missing boy, who was believed to be with his mother, Renee Terrell, 33, and her boyfriend. The child had been taken from his mother when he was 13 days old because of neglect, police said.
Washington: Cloned food favored
The government said Tuesday it is moving closer to approving meat and milk from cloned animals. The Bush administration is currently reviewing Food and Drug Administration plans to regulate cloned animals and food derived from them, the agency said, and a draft of the plans should be released by the end of the year. The agency has “studies that show that the meat and milk from cattle clones and their offspring are as safe as that from conventionally bred animals,” the FDA said.
Former FDA chief pleads guilty
Former FDA commissioner Lester Crawford pleaded guilty Tuesday to conflict of interest and falsely reporting information about stocks he owned in food, beverage and medical device companies that he was in charge of regulating. Crawford appeared before U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson and admitted falsely reporting that he had sold the stock when he continued holding shares in the firms governed by FDA rules. The charges – conflict of interest and false reporting – are misdemeanors, and each carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
Florida: Foley to name his abuser
Former Rep. Mark Foley will reveal to the Archdiocese of Miami the name of the Roman Catholic clergyman he says abused him as a teenager, Foley’s civil attorney said Tuesday. “It’s going to be very clear in the coming days that it is a fact as opposed to any possible allegations that it was a fantasy or something made up for political purposes,” attorney Gerald Richman said. Foley, a Florida Republican, abruptly resigned in September over sexually explicit Internet communications he had with teenage boys who worked as pages on Capitol Hill.
Nevada: Pot measure on the ballot
Gambling, prostitution and now pot? Organizers of a Nevada ballot measure hope voters in a state where almost everything goes will go one better and legalize marijuana. If it passes Nov. 7, Nevada would be the first state to allow adults to possess up to an ounce of pot that they could buy at government-regulated marijuana shops.
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