Obama asks for $60.4 billion in hurricane aid
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $60.4 billion in federal aid for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Hurricane Sandy, congressional aides said Friday.
Officials from the affected states praised the request and urged Congress to enact it as quickly as possible.
The aid would help states rebuild public infrastructure like roads and tunnels and help thousands of people displaced from their homes. Hurricane Sandy was the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Second Powerball winner claims prize•PHOENIX — The other ticket holders in last week’s record $577.5 million Powerball jackpot have claimed their half of the prize but aren’t stepping into the spotlight just yet, the Arizona Lottery said Friday.
The winner is a married man in his 30s from Fountain Hills, Ariz., lottery officials said Friday. He opted to take the cash option of $192 million. State officials haven’t released his name.
Tour bus driver found not guilty of manslaughter •NEW YORK — A tour bus driver who prosecutors said was all but asleep at the wheel was acquitted Friday of manslaughter and negligent homicide in a crash last year that killed 15 gamblers on their way from a Connecticut casino to New York City.
Ophadell Williams was found guilty on one count of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. On the count which he was found guilty, the judge sentenced him to 30 days in prison, which he has served. He also was ordered to pay a fee of $500.
Chavez returns home •CARACAS, venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived home in Caracas early Friday after 10 days of medical treatment in Cuba, but his failure to show up at a regional meeting in Brazil raised new questions about his health.
Chavez, who has been fighting an unspecified type of cancer for the past year and half, for unexplained reasons skipped a Friday meeting in Brasilia with leaders of the South American trade bloc Mercosur.
Typhoon deaths rise to 456 •MANILA, philippines — The death toll from the typhoon that tore through the southern Philippines this week rose to 456 on Friday, with more than 500 missing. There were claims that climate change, deforestation, poor planning and other factors had worsened the catastrophe.
Climate talks go into overtime•DOHA, qatar — Delegates worked through the night to salvage a deal at United Nations climate talks, as efforts to bridge gaps over financing for poor countries and demand for bolder actions by rich countries on emissions made little headway.
The two-week U.N. conference in the Qatar capital of Doha was never meant to yield a global climate pact to curb emissions of greenhouse gases. But even the goals of extending the Kyoto Protocol and laying the groundwork for a 2015 deal only served to reopen old disputes between rich and poor countries that have dogged the talks for decades.
Corporate money to help pay for Obama’s inauguration•WASHINGTON — In a reversal from four years ago, President Barack Obama will accept unlimited sums of money from corporations and individuals to pay for events surrounding his inauguration, a spokeswoman said Friday.
Lobbyists, political action committees and foreign entities will still be banned from underwriting the costs of the gala events, said spokeswoman Addie Whisenant. The committee also will reject donations from companies that haven’t paid back loans from the 2008 federal bailout of Wall Street, as well as corporate sponsorship deals.
Clinton: Northern Ireland peace takes vigilance •BELFAST, northern ireland — Extremists scheming to spoil Northern Ireland’s fragile peace can be beaten through a commitment to political sacrifice, compromise and vigilance, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday as she visited Belfast.
Clinton stood shoulder to shoulder with the leaders of Northern Ireland’s 5-year-old unity government to denounce this week’s violence and intimidation fueled by arguments over flying the British flag.
“Peace does take sacrifice and compromise and vigilance, day after day,” she said. Denver Post wire services
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to an editing error, the amount of aid sought in the wake of Hurricane Sandy was incorrect. President Barack Obama requested $60.4 billion.
