Chrysler recalls 840,000 vehicles. Is yours on the list?

Chrysler recalls 840,000 vehicles. Is yours on the list?, Chrysler Group LLC said on Wednesday it will recall 840,000 vehicles in the United States and other countries, mostly for active-restraint head rests that are possibly flawed.

Five separate recalls include nearly 500,000 cars and SUVs for the active-restaint head rest issue, and another 282,000 minivans for possible malfunctioning air bags, Chrysler said.

While Chrysler has improved its scores on third-party quality assessments such as Consumer Reports in recent years, it has issued 12 separate recalls since early June involving about 4 million vehicles.

This figure includes 2.7 million older Jeep models Chrysler recalled after initially resisting U.S. regulators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [ID: nL2N0EU1IX]

Chrysler is majority-owned by Italy's Fiat SpA, which took over management of the Michigan-based company in 2009.

Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said the recalls are "an indication of our aggressive quality-control protocol."

Chrysler said there have been three reported accidents and one "minor" injury as a result of the air bag issue in the minivans and that it is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to the head rest issue.

Most of the affected vehicles are in the United States.

Included in the recalls announced on Wednesday are about 490,000 cars and SUVs that have potentially faulty micro computer components for head rests that are designed to move forward during rear-end crashes.

This recall affects 2011-2013 Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger and Jeep Liberty vehicles, as well as 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro SUVs.

"The potentially faulty microcontrollers were installed in a supplied component," Chrysler said in a statement. "They entered the supply chain after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused a worldwide microcontroller shortage."

The maker of the component was TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. , according to papers filed by Chrysler with U.S. safety regulators.

Chrysler will fix the vehicles by upgrading a power module or the "occupant restraint control module," the automaker said in papers filed with NHTSA.

The recall affects 442,000 vehicles in the United States, 25,000 in Canada, 10,000 in Mexico and 12,000 outside North America.

Some 282,000 model year 2013 minivans in the United States, Canada, Mexico and outside North America are to be recalled because a side air bag software component was not programmed properly, which could affect proper deployment, Chrysler said. Of these, 224,250 are in the United States and 49,30 in Canada.

Affected models are 2013 Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country and Ram Cargo Van.

In another recall announced on Wednesday, Chrysler said 69,000 of its 2013 Ram 1500 pickup trucks with all-wheel drive may have an electronic stability control software glitch.

Chrysler said it has received a "small amount" of reports from dealers that the electronic stability control lamp was illuminated, indicating that the system was disabled.

There have been no reported accidents or injuries related to this issue, Chrysler said.

In the Ram 1500 recall, about 46,000 vehicles are in the United States, 21,000 in Canada, 1,400 in Mexico and 770 outside North America.

Two smaller recalls announced Wednesday affect 1,060 commercial vans and 226 minivans not yet in dealer hands for issues that have not led to any accidents or injuries, Chrysler said.

Chrysler Group LLC said on Wednesday it will recall 840,000 vehicles in the United States and other countries, mostly for active-restraint head rests that are possibly flawed.

Five separate recalls include nearly 500,000 cars and SUVs for the active-restaint head rest issue, and another 282,000 minivans for possible malfunctioning air bags, Chrysler said.

While Chrysler has improved its scores on third-party quality assessments such as Consumer Reports in recent years, it has issued 12 separate recalls since early June involving about 4 million vehicles.

This figure includes 2.7 million older Jeep models Chrysler recalled after initially resisting U.S. regulators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [ID: nL2N0EU1IX]

Chrysler is majority-owned by Italy's Fiat SpA, which took over management of the Michigan-based company in 2009.

Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said the recalls are "an indication of our aggressive quality-control protocol."

Chrysler said there have been three reported accidents and one "minor" injury as a result of the air bag issue in the minivans and that it is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to the head rest issue.

Most of the affected vehicles are in the United States.

Included in the recalls announced on Wednesday are about 490,000 cars and SUVs that have potentially faulty micro computer components for head rests that are designed to move forward during rear-end crashes.

This recall affects 2011-2013 Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger and Jeep Liberty vehicles, as well as 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro SUVs.

"The potentially faulty microcontrollers were installed in a supplied component," Chrysler said in a statement. "They entered the supply chain after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused a worldwide microcontroller shortage."

The maker of the component was TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. , according to papers filed by Chrysler with U.S. safety regulators.

Chrysler will fix the vehicles by upgrading a power module or the "occupant restraint control module," the automaker said in papers filed with NHTSA.

The recall affects 442,000 vehicles in the United States, 25,000 in Canada, 10,000 in Mexico and 12,000 outside North America.

Some 282,000 model year 2013 minivans in the United States, Canada, Mexico and outside North America are to be recalled because a side air bag software component was not programmed properly, which could affect proper deployment, Chrysler said. Of these, 224,250 are in the United States and 49,30 in Canada.

Affected models are 2013 Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country and Ram Cargo Van.

In another recall announced on Wednesday, Chrysler said 69,000 of its 2013 Ram 1500 pickup trucks with all-wheel drive may have an electronic stability control software glitch.

Chrysler said it has received a "small amount" of reports from dealers that the electronic stability control lamp was illuminated, indicating that the system was disabled.

There have been no reported accidents or injuries related to this issue, Chrysler said.

In the Ram 1500 recall, about 46,000 vehicles are in the United States, 21,000 in Canada, 1,400 in Mexico and 770 outside North America.

Two smaller recalls announced Wednesday affect 1,060 commercial vans and 226 minivans not yet in dealer hands for issues that have not led to any accidents or injuries, Chrysler said.

Israeli citizen killed in Sagamore Bridge hit-and-run, police say

Israeli citizen killed in Sagamore Bridge hit-and-run, police say, A 44-year-old Israeli citizen was killed during a hit-and-run crash on the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne on Thursday night, according to the State Police, who appealed to the public on Friday for help in locating a dark pickup truck that apparently triggered the fatal chain reaction crash.

The pickup truck was merging from the Scenic Highway onto Route 6 eastbound about 8 p.m. Thursday when the left front side of the truck collided with a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup truck, which was also heading eastbound and approaching the bridge, the State Police said.

The impact between the truck and the Sierra sent the Sierra across the median and into the westbound lanes of traffic where it slammed into a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country minivan being driven by the Israeli man, State Police said.

The Israeli man was fatally injured and several passengers in his vehicle were injured and taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe said. The vehicle was rented in New Jersey.

He was identified by O’Keefe as Amanon Bogomolsky, who was visiting the US with his 12-year-old son. He said the son was in the minivan when the accident occurred.

According to a spokesman for the Israel Consulate in Boston, the people in the minivan were vacationing in Massachusetts after recently celebrating the bar mitzvah of one of the passengers. In total, there were three adults and three children in the van at the time of the crash, the spokesman said.

The survivors are being assisted by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Bogomolsky’s wife is on the way from Israel to Massachusetts, authorities said.

The driver of the Sierra, a 43-year-old Sandwich man, was also injured and was taken to South Shore Hospital for treatment of what State Police called serious injuries. His name was not released.

State Police are looking for the pickup truck and its driver. On Friday, they released a more precise description of the vehicle that fled the scene.

“We are seeking a dark-colored pickup truck, possibly with minor to moderate damage to its left front end or left side, which was last seen leaving the scene heading east on Route 6,’’ the State Police statement said.

O’Keefe called upon the driver of the truck to come forward. “We just would like to speak with him or her,” he said.

Sheena Monnin Must Pay Donald Trump $5 Million, Judge Rules

Sheena Monnin Must Pay Donald Trump $5 Million, Judge Rules, Sheena Monnin must pay Donald Trump $5 million for defaming his Miss U.S.A. and Miss Universe beauty pageant on Today in June 2012. She had claimed that she saw a list of the five finalists before the pageant even began — which Trump and the pageant organizers said was untrue.

According to a New York Daily News report, Sheena Monnin said that she privately texted Randy Sanders, the organizer of Miss Pennsylvania, the state she was slated to represent. In that text, she reportedly said, “This is f***ing rigged, Randy. Seriously Colorado? South Carolina? I’m done. It’s obviously rigged so the girls they want can shine.”

She also claimed that the contest was rigged on in June 4, 2012 Facebook post that appears to have since been removed. Monnin resigned from the contest and began a campaign that she said raised awareness of how beauty pageants were fixed.

Whether it did or it didn’t, the Miss Universe pageant organizers said that the controversy caused British Petroleum to cancel a $5 million sponsorship.

In December, a federal arbitrator ruled that Sheena Monnin would have to pay the $5 million in losses to Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Organization.

A Daily Mail report described the brouhaha as a possible misunderstanding or overreaction by Sheena Monnin. The erstwhile Miss Pennsylvania has said that Miss Florida, Karina Brez, told her that she’d spotted the folder with the list of the winners already filled in.

However, Brez has said that she was just joking around:

“It was a throwaway comment, in the stress of the pageant, and was never meant as fact. The list I saw didn’t even have the eventual winner on it.”

On Tuesday, the Southern District Court of New York upheld the $5 million award to Donald Trump’s organization. However, Monnin may not yet be prepared to let go. On a new statement on her Facebook page she said:

“Standing on truth has cost me much, but now the public knows that the MUO [Miss Universe Organization] does in fact exercise Paragraph 3 of the Miss USA Contract — the paragraph that gives them the right to make contestant selections during the pageant.

“Last June, I was contacted by a Federal Investigator…During the meeting, we discussed Paragraph 3 and how this was different than what the MUO advertises. I was told that it is mail fraud to advertise one thing to the public and to do another. The investigators needed proof of this. They are now in possession of this proof contained in the transcripts of the arbitration hearing.”

The Donald is never a gracious winner. He didn’t miss the opportunity to crow on Twitter about the big win.

Sodus Boat Crash: Teen Charged as Passengers Thrown From Boat in Crash

Sodus Boat Crash: Teen Charged as Passengers Thrown From Boat in Crash, A Sodus Bay boat crash has led to a teenager being arrested and charged with boating while intoxicated.

The teen, Tyler Ocwieja, rashed his boat into the breakwall at Sodus Bay following yesterday's Fourth of July fireworks display in the area.

According to CNN, the teen was driving the boat after the fireworks celebration for Independence Day, when he slammed the boat into a concrete breakwall, injuring several of his friends who were on board with him.

According to the Henrietta Post, all three passengers were thrown out of the boat in the crash, and they flew over the breakwall and into Lake Ontario.

Reports have stated that one of the passengers suffered a bad ankle injury and had to be rushed to the hospital, where as the other two suffered more minor injuries.

The teenage driver was charged by authorities for driving at more than 5 miles per hour within 100 feet of the shore, which is against boating regulations in the area.

Ocwieja has been charged with reckless endangerment, reckless operation of a vessel, and boating while intoxicated.

The teen has been released following the arrest, but he will have to return to Sodus Bay to have the charges filed against him at a later date.

The incident took place as a number of other accidents occurred throughout the country during Fourth of July celebrations.

In California more than 20 people were injured in a fireworks display that went terribly wrong. In that incident the fireworks display tipped over and shot numerous fireworks into the panicking crowd.
In yet another incident a father ran over and killed his 8 year old son after the child was knocked off of a parade float, falling under the vehicle.

Oil near $102 on Egypt protests, US demand outlook

Oil near $102 on Egypt protests, US demand outlook, The price of oil neared $102 a barrel Wednesday for the first time since May last year as Egypt's political crisis intensified, raising the risk of fuel supply disruptions.

Benchmark crude for August delivery was up $2.07 to $101.65 a barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained $1.61, or 1.6 per cent, to close at $99.60 on Tuesday in New York.


Embattled Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi vowed not to resign hours before a deadline to yield to the demands of millions of protesters or see the military suspend the constitution, disband parliament and install a new leadership.

The Islamist leader demanded that the powerful armed forces withdraw their ultimatum, saying he rejected all ``dictates'' _ from home or abroad. Outside on the streets, the sense that both sides are ready to fight to the end sharpened, with clashes between Morsi's supporters and opponents killing at least 23 people, most of them in a single incident of fighting outside Cairo University.

Egypt is not an oil producer but its control of the Suez canal, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes which links the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, gives it a crucial role in maintaining global energy supplies.

Traders are also awaiting the Energy Department's weekly report on US stockpiles of crude oil on Wednesday and expect the figures to show an increase in demand. Data for the week ending June 28 is expected to show a drawdown of 3 million barrels in crude oil stocks, according to a survey of analysts by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

Brent crude was up 94 cents to $104.94 a barrel on the ICE futures exchange in London.

Mexico volcano eruption

Mexico volcano eruption, Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano has erupted in dramatic fashion, sending plumes of ash-filled smoke into the air.

A 12 kilometre safety radius around the volcano has been put in place .

But Popocatepetl is also having a major disruptive affect on air travel.

At least six US airlines have cancelled flights out of Mexico City and Toluca airports affecting routes as far afield as Dallas to Chicago.

Passengers have no alternative but to sit it out and wait:

“We were told there won’t be any flights until tomorrow. My brother-in-law has gone to find out what is happening. I’m waiting for him as we are now being told there won’t be any flights until Saturday,” said one stranded passenger.

Back in 2010 an Icelandic volcanic cloud caused the largest air-traffic shut-down since World War II leaving millions of passengers stranded for days.

Tuna catching devices kill sharks

Tuna catching devices kill sharks, Researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of sharks are killed yearly in the Indian Ocean with devices used to catch tuna reported University of Washington Conservation This Week on July 4.

Tuna tend to gather around objects floating in the sea. Over the last two decades, fisheries have attracted tuna by leaving masses of bamboo poles and netting, called fish aggregating devices (FDAs) to drift in the ocean. Fishing boats later return to catch the fish caught in the nets.

The authors of the study attached satellite tags to 29 silky sharks in the Mozambique Channel and near the Republic of Seychelles to find out if sharks could become entangled in the nets.

The movements recorded by the tags suggested that four of those sharks became caught in the nets near the surface, the team reports in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. Divers also visited 51 FADs and found that 35 percent of them had entangled one or more silky sharks.

The researchers estimate that FADs in the Indian Ocean kill about 480,000 to 960,000 silky sharks per year. The authors recommend for fisheries to replace the netting with biodegradable ropes.

Follow Sonia Lavina on Google, Twitter and like her Tampa Bay Environmental News Examiner Facebook page. See more of Sonia's articles here or subscribe above. Thanks!

Pope John Paul II to be sainted: Pope Francis to support sainthood

Pope John Paul II to be sainted: Pope Francis to support sainthood, Is Pope John Paul II to be sainted at last? That is indeed the case this week, CNN confirmed this Friday, July 5. Pope Francis has decided to sign the official decree this morning, say Vatican officials, which will begin the final process to enable the beloved Pope John Paul II to be canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church.

The late Pope John Paul II will be receiving his sainthood (as is often the case) posthumously, with Pope Francis clearing the way for the former Catholic leadership successor to be sainted. As one of the most beloved and popular pontiffs, John Paul served for decades in his religious role, serving from 1978 to 2005 (the date of his death).

Literally thousands of people flocked to St. Peter’s Square after Pope John Paul II’s the death, chanting for his sainthood right then and there. The late pontiff was almost immediately on the “fast-track” for sainthood, and was named “the blessed” only six years after his passing, a modern record.

Now, the Vatican has confirmed that the question, “is Pope John Paul II to be sainted?” has been answered at last. With support from Pope Francis, he will be declared a saint of the Catholic Church, though no official date or time has been given as to when his ceremony of canonization may be.

From his goodness to his love of travel, Pope John Paul II will no doubt be remembered for many other things (not only his sainthood) for many years to come.

Are you equally excited about the Pope John Paul II to be sainted headline? Do you agree with Pope Francis and the Vatican that it was finally time to canonize the popular and long-serving late leader of the Catholic Church?

Police Chief Manuel Borrego: Impound uninsured cars

Police Chief Manuel Borrego: Impound uninsured cars, Wichita Falls Police Department Chief Manuel Borrego recommended that the city start impounding vehicles of uninsured motorists, according to an article in the Wichita Falls Times Record News today, Friday, July 5. Borrego's announcement does not mean his proposal will become the law in this city of 105,000 near the Red River.

He said he was concerned about the safety of people in Wichita Falls and that his belief is such a new law implemented here would avoid tragedies on the highways and streets.

Currently, a citation is handed out to to a person driving an automobile or truck who is caught without insurance. Borrego lamented that a mere citation is not accomplishing much if the uninsured motorist later is involved in an accident.

Borrego has discussed the idea of impounding cars of uninsured motorists with the Wichita Falls city council on several occasions. On Tuesday he discussed the possibility of implementing the new measure with council members at pre-budget meetings.

The possibility was also discussed previously at a workshop near the beginning of 2013 held for city council and staff.

The chief believes that if the city council votes to implement such an ordinance the result would be to get more people registered, thereby making streets safer.

The city's top police officer said that more than 2,000 citations per year have been written in 2011 and 2012. More than 1000 citations have already been issued in 2013.

Where would all the impounded vehicles be kept?

Borrego said a new impound facility on Armory Road would provide adequate space for the dramatic increase in vehicles which the police will be impounding.

Will Wichita Falls be the only city impounding vehicles?

Borrego said several cities across Texas and the United States already have implemented such a policy.

Texas law already requires drivers show proof of insurance to law enforcement officers if they are stopped. The easiest way for motorists to avoid trouble in such a situation is to have a copy of their insurance proof in the glove compartment or somewhere else in their vehicle.

Enacting such an ordinace would protect insured motorists who have paid for insurance. There were more than 600 motorists involved in accidents in 2012 involving uninsured motorists. It really doesn't seem fair that an uninsured motorist should be able to cause an accident and then not have a policy to cover the damages to an insured motorist's car.

This is another example of the Chief's innovative thinking in coming up with an idea to protect the majority of motorists who do have insurance.

People who don't have accident insurance should go ahead and scrape the money together so they won't have their car towed away or even worse, be personally liable for injuries to another in an accident.

Study suggests skim milk is actually contributing to obesity

Study suggests skim milk is actually contributing to obesity, If you've been thinking skim milk could help trim down the waist line, a group of researchers is challenging you to question that logic. On July 5, the Daily Mail reported that a group of scientists conducted a study that suggests drinking skim milk leads people to consume more calories elsewhere than if they had just had a glass of full-fat milk.

The study targets children and the generally accepted thought that kids should be allowed to drink a minimum of three glasses of milk per day, while other high-calorie beverages should be seriously limited.

As the Globe and Daily Mail notes, the thought is that a child having a cookie with a glass of milk will reach for another cookie because he/she doesn’t feel as full as if the milk had been full-fat. Even though the milk has more fat, it also has essential vitamins, which the cookie does not.

Flavored versions of milk have previously been brought into question due to the added sugars, but the study suggests that lower-fat versions of milk also have added sugar to make them more palatable.

In an updated version of the LA Times, one of the researchers, David Ludwig, emphasized that the added sugars are the true issue at hand, saying “The bottom line is that reducing fat has not proven to be an effective approach to obesity, whereas there is very good evidence for the adverse effects of added sugars.”

The study also suggests that milk as a source of calcium is also an antiquated notion. But could you make a switch to spinach and kale as your main source of calcium?

Extraterrestrials: NASA rover shows Mars rodent

Extraterrestrials: NASA rover shows Mars rodent, A report posted on UFO Sightings Daily claims that life has been discovered on Mars. The report talks about finding a rat like Creature in one of the photos posted in official NASA website.

The photo was sent by the Mars Rover. The website, UFO Sightings Daily, is coordinated by Scott C. Waring. He had been affiliated with the United States Air Force at SA
C base (USAF flight line).

He currently owns an ESL School in Taiwan. In this report, Scott has published images of the creature, taken from official NASA website, along with a video of the creature posted on YouTube.

Mr. Waring tells us how the creature was discovered. He also tells us that it is not the first creature discovered on Mars.

“This odd creature was discovered on Mars by a person in Japan in March. This animal was not the first to be discovered in NASA photos but is in a long line of strange creatures.”

He describes the last reported creature and talks about what this particular creature resembles.

“Remember the last one we reported that was very similar to a squirrel (left had column of our site)? Well this one also seems to resemble a rodent but also may be a lizard.”

He explains why it is possible to find such creatures on Mars.

“With water existing on Mars in small amounts, it’s possible to find such desert animals wandering around...although very rare mind you.”

He also suggests that the creatures might have been placed by NASA for experimentation.

Amazing science: Stem cell research results in a human liver

Amazing science: Stem cell research results in a human liver, Researchers in Japan have finally reached a pinnacle in stem cell research. According to a July 3 report on Yahoo News, they have managed to create a functional human liver from stem cells. While they are around 10 years from transplanting man-made livers into humans, this is a major development.

The general public has not realized what amazing medical phenomena are already possible using stem cell research. There has been a great deal of opposition to stem cell research because of ethical reasons.

This issue has become a hot button issue because of the misunderstanding that only the stem cells of aborted embryos are being used, and this is simply not true. There are two types of stem cells: those from embryos and the type originating from skin and blood. This new advance in liver growth uses the latter.

We may be only a few years away from being able to solve a myriad of previously fatal health issues through the use of stem cells. Already, scientists are capable of growing teeth!

Alanna Gallagher case: FBI offers $10k reward in case of slain 6 year old girl

Alanna Gallagher case: FBI offers $10k reward in case of slain 6 year old girl, On July 4, 2013, the FBI announced a $10,000 reward is being offered in the case of Alanna Gallagher, the 6 year old Texas girl who was found dead, nude and wrapped in a tarp, according to THV 11.

Saginaw police announced the girl’s family members are not considered suspects in the case.

Two teenagers found Alanna’s body on Monday at around 7:30 pm in an intersection.

CBS DFW reported that her hands and feet were tied and her head was covered with a plastic bag.

According to THV 11, local police have received tips regarding a red truck spotted in the area near where Alanna was found.

The report also notes that the FBI removed plastic bags, toilet paper, black electrical tape, a blue-gray tarp, and various other colors of tape from a family car parked in front of the girl’s home.

Karl Gallagher, Alanna’s father, spoke to reports saying, “Please respect our privacy during this time of tragedy… We urge anyone with information about her to contact police.”

Local police, the Texas Rangers, and the FBI are all investigating the case.

Weather History: July 5: Record temps, storms, tornadoes, wind & flooding

Weather History: July 5: Record temps, storms, tornadoes, wind & flooding, Listed are Meteorological events that happened on July 5th:

1643

A violent windstorm hit the Plymouth Colony. The "sudden gust" downed trees and killed one Native American. This may have been the first documented American tornado or microburst.

1816

In parts of New England and the Middle Atlantic, crop damage was severe and fruit trees were killed due to widespread frost and freezing temperatures. In parts of Pennsylvania ice was found the thickness of window glass.

1882

A trace of snow was observed at Newton, NJ and other locations in the northeast.

1900

Lightning struck the Standard Oil Refinery at Bayonne, NJ. A massive three day fire resulted with burning oil floating on the bay waters. The smoke column rose to 13,000 feet. Total damage was $2 million dollars.

1916

A very destructive early season hurricane struck the Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL areas. Seven deaths resulted, including 4 in the Florida Panhandle. Winds reached 82 mph with gusts as high as 104 mph in parts of the Florida Panhandle and tides were up to 11.6 feet above normal. The pressure at Fort Morgan, AL was measured at 961 millibars or 28.38 inHg.

1925

An immense hailstone weighing 0.5 lb fell at Plumstead, just outside of London, England. This was the heaviest hailstone ever recorded in the United Kingdom.

1936

South Dakota recorded its hottest temperature ever with a reading of 120° at Gann Valley. This same day Sioux Falls reached 109°, their second hottest temperature on record. Three of the 4 hottest days on record in Sioux Falls occurred during the Dust Bowl summer of 1936.

Canada's longest and deadliest heat wave continued through the 17th claimed 1,180 lives (mostly elderly and infants). Temperatures in Manitoba and Ontario exceed 111°.

1937

The temperature at Medicine Lake, MT soared to 117° to establish a state record. In Saskatchewan, Midale and Yellow Grass each hit 113° to establish an all-time record for Canada.

1967

Canadian high pressure continued to bring record lows to parts of the upper Midwest. Daily record lows included: Duluth, MN: 36°, Rochester, MN: 42°, Rockford, IL: 43°, Asheville, NC: 46°, Bristol, TN: 48°, Oak Ridge, TN: 51°, Richmond, VA: 52°, Knoxville, TN: 54°, Wallops Island, VA: 56°, Charlotte, NC: 57°, Greenville-Spartanburg, SC: 58° and Macon, GA: 61°.

1970

Usually, the extreme heat of desert days is followed by relatively chilly nighttime readings. Not on this date at Death Valley, CA. The morning low was 103° was followed by an afternoon high of 120°.

Wichita Falls, TX tied a July record low with 54°.

1972

Temperatures fell to record lows in the upper 30s and lower 40s across the Great Lakes region. The 37° at Lansing, MI was their coldest July reading of the 20th century. Other daily records included: Alpena, MI: 37°, Casper, WY: 38°, Sioux Falls, SD: 39°, Ste. St. Marie, MI: 39°, Huron, SD: 40°, Madison, WI: 40°, North Platte, NE: 42°, Topeka, KS: 43°, St. Cloud, MN: 43°, Flint, MI: 43°, Denver, CO: 43°, Omaha, NE: 44°, Norfolk, NE: 44°, Rapid City, SD: 44°, Green Bay, WI: 44°, Grand Rapids, MI: 44°, Dubuque, IA: 45°, Waterloo, IA: 45°, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: 45°, Milwaukee, WI: 45°, Springfield, MO: 46°, Chicago, IL: 46°, Grand Island, NE: 47°, Sioux City, IA: 47°, La Crosse, WI: 47°, Moline, IL: 47°, Peoria, IL: 47°, Detroit, MI: 47°, Concordia, KS: 48°, Des Moines, IA: 48°, Lincoln, NE: 49°, Columbia, MO: 49°, Indianapolis, IN: 49°, Columbus, OH: 49°, Wichita, KS: 51°, St. Louis, MO: 53°, Fort Smith, AR: 56°, Chattanooga, TN: 59° and Birmingham, AL: 59°.

1985

Utah recorded their official hottest temperature ever when the city of St. George reached 117°.

1986

The early morning temperature at Boise, ID dropped to 35° to set a daily record and a record for the month of July.

1987

Severe thunderstorms raked south central Kansas for the second morning in a row. Thunderstorm winds again gusted to 80 mph at Clearwater, and the Wichita area reached 100 mph. 25 people were injured at a trailer park at El Dorado Lake.

1988

Afternoon and evening thunderstorms spawned 11 tornadoes in Montana and three in North Dakota. Baseball size hail was reported at Shonkin, MT, and wind gusts to 85 mph were reported south of Fordville, ND.

Many cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Fargo, ND: 106°, Grand Forks, ND: 104°, Rapid City, SD: 103°, Fort Wayne, IN: 99°, Toledo, OH: 99°, Lansing, MI: 99°, St. Cloud, MN: 98°, Cincinnati, OH: 98°, International Falls, MN: 96°, Green Bay, WI: 96°, Lexington, KY: 96°, Detroit, MI: 96°, Mansfield, OH: 95° and Marquette, MI: 94°. Muskegon, MI equaled their July record with a high of 95°.

1989

Moisture from what once was Tropical Storm Allison triggered thunderstorms over the Mid-Atlantic region, which deluged Wilmington, DE with a record 6.63 inches of rain in 24 hours, including 6.37 inches in just six hours. Up to 10 inches of rain was reported at Claymont, northeast of Wilmington. July 1989 was thus the wettest month in 70 years for Wilmington, with a total of 12.63 inches of rain. The rainfall total of 4.49 inches that fell at Philadelphia, PA reported 4.49 inches and Newark, NJ: 2.45 inches of rain to set daily records. Reports of around 8 inches of rain were received from Salem County, New Jersey and 6.11 inches of rain at Verga, NJ.

The temperature in Denver, Colorado rose above 100° for the second day in a row, hitting 101°, setting records for the date. The occurrence also marks the second time in history at Denver that the temperature has risen above the century mark on two consecutive days previously recorded on July 4th and 5th, 1972.

Alamosa, CO reported an all-time record high of 96°, and Pierre SD hit 113°. Other daily records included: Borrego Springs, CA: 118°, Scottsbluff, NE: 108°, Grand Junction, CO: 104° and Cheyenne, WY: 96°.

1993

Big rains deluged the Central Plains once again as one of the greatest river floods in U.S. history continued to unfold. 24 hours total rainfall included 5.90 inches at Columbia, IA, 5.50 inches at Chariton, IA, 5.15 inches at Centralia, KS, and 4.80 inches at Haddam, KS.

1994

Very unstable air moved over the northern plains. Thunderstorms, mainly packing high winds, erupted over north central Nebraska into south central South Dakota. As the storms moved east, 60 to 70 mph winds were common across the tri-state area. In Iowa, 65 mph winds were clocked in Monona County wrecking havoc with power lines. In Crawford County, 80 mph winds broke windows out of houses and caused some barn damage southwest of Charter Oak. In Ida Grove, high winds downed trees and damaged several houses. Some damage was also reported in the Iowa Great Lakes region as 70 mph winds swept through the resort area. Winds of 75 mph also swept into Sioux County causing significant damage to buildings on a farmstead near Hawarden.

The South Canyon Fire was growing on Storm King Mountain near Glenwood Springs, CO. The fire would double in size during the night. Strong winds from a cold front would fan the flames the following afternoon into a blowup that would overrun firefighters battling the blaze. 14 firefighters perished.

1998

Hopeful Floridians, harried by the scourge of out-of-control wildfires turned their eyes toward a tropical weather system in the Caribbean as a potential source of much-needed rainfall. About 110,000 residents were still under evacuation orders on this date.

2000

Thunderstorms repeatedly moved over parts of southeast Illinois during the morning, producing rainfall of 5 to 6 inches. Numerous roads were reported closed by flood waters. A road north of Noble, in Richland County, collapsed. Flooding along Highway 40 west of Effingham caused a 6 by 10 foot hole underneath the pavement, and a train track trestle over the Salt Creek River had a 50 by 100 foot hole washed out under the tracks. Three homes in Newton were evacuated due to flood waters, and four mobile homes and one house in Wheeler were also evacuated.

The temperature at Tuscaloosa, AL reached 100°. It was the first of a scorching 15 straight days with temperatures in the triple digits. In contrast, Alamosa, CO fell to a record low of 34°.

2001

2.20 inches of rain fell in just 15 minutes at Pine Mountain, CA in Kern County. Water over a foot deep was reported on most streets in town.

International Falls, MN set a record low with 34°.

2003

An early morning band of severe thunderstorms blew across Northern Illinois with peak winds reported at 104 mph at Rockford. Over 80,000 people were without power for various durations after the storm.

The worst snowstorm in 50 years struck across New Zealand, causing power outages to thousands of homes and businesses and stranding hundreds of motorists. In some areas, 12 inches of snow fell.

2004

For the second day in a row a derecho, a line of thunderstorms that produces widespread damaging winds, tracked from southeast Kansas into central Missouri across the Lake of the Ozarks region.

2007

Ash Mountain, CA set their all-time record high with 118°.

2008

A streak of 26 consecutive days of 90°+ heat beginning on June 13th ended on this date at Denver, CO, shattering the previous record of 18 consecutive days established in 1874 & 1901.

2009

Mumbai, the world's second largest city, India was deluged with over 9 inches of rain in 24-hours.

2011

The Atacama desert, on the Pacific coast of Chile, one of the world's driest places, had its deepest fall of snow in nearly two decades. There was up to 31.50 inches of snow and 36 people had to be rescued from their vehicles. The desert typically receives less than 2 inches of rain annually, with some stations recording only 0.03 - 0.12 inches. Much of South America's Cono Sur ("Southern Cone") region was gripped by a cold spell that has killed 22 people. Temperatures fell as low as 17.6° in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

Fourth of July accident: Boy dies after run over by dad's 4th of July float

Fourth of July accident: Boy dies after run over by dad's 4th of July float, A fourth of July accident took the life of an 8-year-old boy who was run over by a parade float that his father was pulling behind his tractor. The Edmond, Oklahoma Fourth of July accident happened at the height of the Fourth of July parade going down the main street of the town with thousands of folks in attendance.

According to NBC News on July 4, 2013, the boy was riding on the float with 20 other children and he either jumped off or fell off and landed under the float in the path of the tires of the flat-bed trailer. The father immediately stopped the tractor and ran to his son's side when he realized what happened.

A nurse riding in a car behind the trailer ran to the boy and started CPR, the boy still had a pulse when he was placed in the ambulance, but the boy was pronounced dead when he arrived at Presbyterian Hospital.

Foul play is not suspected in this incident, Police are calling this Fourth of July accident a “horrific, unfortunate accident.”

George Zimmerman trial: Watch live as Trayvon Martin’s mother, brother testify

George Zimmerman trial: Watch live as Trayvon Martin’s mother, brother testify, On July 5, 2013, the state of Florida called Trayvon Martin’s mother and brother to the witness stand where they offered testimony in the case against George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for the Feb 26, 2012, shooting death of unarmed, teenager Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman faces life in prison if convicted. You may watch the Zimmerman trial streaming live, online here.

Court began early and Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton was called to the stand where she testified that the voice heard on 911 tapes screaming for help was that of her son. Also called to testify was Trayvon Martin’s brother Jahvaris Fulton. Fulton is 22-years-old and attends Florida International University. Defense attorney Mark O’Mara immediately tried to have Jahvaris Fulton’s testimony impeached to no avail.

Jahvaris Fulton testified that when he first heard the 911 tapes, he thought it was his brother but wasn’t certain. It wasn’t until he listened to the tape again that he came to the conclusion that it was Trayvon yelling for help.

You may watch today’s testimony streaming live, online in the links below. Additionally, there is a video archive of each day’s trial so you may catch up on past events.

Alanna Gallagher's killer at large: Should you be worried?

Alanna Gallagher's killer at large: Should you be worried?, The hunt for Alanna Gallagher's killer continues, but as of July 5, there aren't any investigative leads being publicized by officials.

his could indicate a number of possibilities in the case, but none of them are positive -- as if anything could be positive after the brutal slaying of a young child. Officials been sure to notify the media that neither of the girl's parents are suspects in her murder -- even though items of interest taken from their vehicle match some of the items found at the scene of the discovery of Alanna's body.

So if neither of the parents are suspects in this child's slaying, was it one of the neighbors? It's extremely likely, especially since the parents reportedly let the six-year-old girl roam freely around their neighborhood as late as 9:00 p.m. at night. This certainly gave predators in the area ample opportunity to snatch the child.

It should be noted that there are approximately 1,386 registered sex offenders in Saginaw, Texas alone, and most of them are registered for sex crimes against children. That means officials have their hands full if they're interviewing nearby sex offenders, because there are just so many. A disturbing detail to note is that some of these registered sex offenders are listed as repeat offenders with crimes against children -- making it even more feasible to suspect one of kidnapping and killing little Alanna.

While officials work on getting to the bottom of this incident, the community is mourning the loss of a beautiful little girl -- but should they be worried or fearful at all? Detectives investigating the child's death say that this is an isolated incident, but how could they truly know for a fact? They have publicly eliminated the parents as suspects, and have publicly acknowledged that they "have no suspects," so how can it be trusted that they even know that this is a so called isolated incident? The statistical fact of the matter is if this is a case of stranger abduction then the perpetrator could very likely victimize more children.

Couple find stranger showering: Intruder wears only a towel like he's home

Couple find stranger showering: Intruder wears only a towel like he's home, A couple, who returned home to find a stranger taking a shower in their bathroom, got even more of a surprise once police questioned the intruder. Susie Kopaska called 911 and her husband restrained the man from fleeing after they came home to find someone they've never met before showering, according to Komo News on July 4, 2013.

Suzie's husband had to ask the man a few times to turn off the shower and come out of the bathroom. When he finally did, Suzie said he was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist like he lived there. This wasn't the end of their intruder story, apparently this Oregon home intruder has been with Suzie and her husband for a while.

It seems 29-year-old La Center, Washington native, Francis Lucero, had been living in a tent in this couple's backyard. The tent was in the backyard drying out and Suzie was flabergasted to think that she and her husband had been sitting on the back patio thinking they were alone and the entire time this man was in that tent hearing all their conversations.

The intruder told police that the homeowner let him stay in the tent in the backyard so he thought it was OK to shower. The couple said they'd never seen the man before, so he was arrested. Lucero now faces a burglary charge and he also has an arrest warrant in Multnomah County for dangerous drugs. His bail was set at $42,500 and he's due back in coutr on July 12.

Vatican: Pope John Paul II to be sainted

Vatican: Pope John Paul II to be sainted, The Vatican stated today that the late Pope John Paul II will become a saint. The Vatican committee campaigned for about a month to decide whether or not the Polish born Pope performed the two miracles required to be deemed into sainthood. The Vatican also announced that Pope John XXIII would also be named as a saint.

John Paul II held the reign as pope from 1978 until his death in 2005. His miracles are reported as healing a Costa Rican woman of a severe brain injury after the woman’s family prayed to the memory of the late pope; the second miracle comes from a French nun who was cured of Parkinson’s disease after she prayed to the memory of the deceased pope.

John XXIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1958 until he died in 1963, will be named a saint although theologians have not confirmed two miracles required for sainthood. Pope Francis has decided to move forward because of John XXIII’s work during the Second Vatican Council and the reforms that came as a result.

John Paul II and John XXIII will be canonized before the end of the year. Pope Francis will decide a date at a later time, but hints have been made at an early December canonization.

South Carolina price for gas is $3.19 a gallon

South Carolina price for gas is $3.19 a gallon, Average retail gasoline prices in Mississippi have fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.25 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com's daily survey of 2,014 gas outlets in Mississippi.

This compares with the national average that has fallen 5.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.50 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Mississippi during the past week, prices Sunday were 27.2 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 0.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has decreased 13.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 12.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"After an impressive surge abated several weeks ago, we're seeing gasoline prices decline nicely," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "One in five states currently has at least one gas station with gasoline under $3/gallon: South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, Virginia, Indiana, and Michigan all have at least one station statewide under $3. The national average is likely to continue its decline this week as retail prices catch up to the decrease in wholesale gasoline prices," DeHaan said.

The lowest gas prices in Gautier are $3.13 per gallon at Dodge's Store and Keith's both on U.S. 90.

The lowest gas prices in Pascagoula are at In and Out Stop on 14th Street and Minor Avenue for  $3.19 per gallon.

As for Moss Point, four gas stations boast the same price of $3.14 per gallon, all of which are on Miss. 63. Those gas stations are Kangaroo, Pilot, Exxon, and RaceWay.

In Ocean Springs, the lowest gas prices are at Murphy Express on Bienville Boulevard and Hanshaw Road, and Shell on Main Street and Center Street for $3.18 per gallon.

Iran price of gas is $2.15 a gallon

Iran price of gas is $2.15 a gallon, Global fuel prices surged last year as the U.S. and EU tightened sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Iran is the fourth-biggest oil producer and in 2010 had the highest fossil-fuel subsidies in the world.

Price per gallon of gasoline: $2.15
Rank by most expensive gas: 55
Rank by pain at the pump: 28

In December 2010, Iran began a five-year program to reduce subsidies and bring gas and electricity prices more in line with the international market. The implementation of the program was blamed for countrywide inflation, even before the U.S. sanctions took hold. Consumer prices have jumped 28 percent in the past 12 months.

While Iran has the sixth-cheapest gas price, pain at the pump is worsened by low wages. The average daily income is $18. The share of a day's wages needed to buy a gallon of gas is 12 percent.

Diane Kruger Says She Didn’t ‘Know S***,’ ‘Punished Many Boys’ In New Interview

Diane Kruger Says She Didn’t ‘Know S***,’ ‘Punished Many Boys’ In New Interview, On Thursday, Diane Kruger appeared on the August cover of Marie Claire UK — and the 36-year-old blonde National Treasure actress apparently had a lot to say when she was being interviewed for the shoot.

In a teaser featured on their website, Marie Claire said that German-born Kruger is a spirited advocate of therapy, which she apparently believes is an American tradition.

Asked about her relationship with Fringe star Joshua Jackson, who she’s been involved with since 2006, Diane Kruger said:

“I’m grateful that I met a person who feels the same not just about me, but about our relationship. But therapy helps too.

“Here everybody talks about it, and I really like that about America. Therapy’s not about getting help; it’s facilitating yourself to deal better with life in general.”

Throughout her twenties, Kruger was apparently in denial about her need for therapy: “But when I turned thirty I realized I was an idiot. I didn’t know s**t about anything!”

In a Heatworld report, Kruger expanded a little on what kind of “help” she was talking about. Her father was reportedly an unavailable alcoholic, creating a lot of anger for the blonde beauty:

“I’m sure I punished many boys for my lack of a father figure. And I’m sure I dated many men who were much older than the men I should have been dating.”

Diane Kruger is also the face of Chanel’s skin care line. Also on Thursday, Yahoo! News published a first look at the campaign photographed by Peter Lindbergh. The picture featured a windswept Kruger wearing not much other than what they rather harshly described as a rug.

I would have called it a shawl but, either way, the focus is on her exquisite face and bare shoulders.

Megyn Kelly Talks Move To Primetime On Fox News

Megyn Kelly Talks Move To Primetime On Fox News, Megyn Kelly is set for a primetime slot on Fox News once she returns from maternity leave. The 42-year-old recently opened up about her return and she’s very excited for the new opportunity.

Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of Fox News, made the announcement that Kelly would return to a primetime lineup. He also noted that the network has signed long-term deals with Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren.

“Megyn is an exceptional talent who has successfully filled and surpassed each role we have given her at the network,” Ailes said during the announcement. “Her ability to command the screen, delve into the facts and lead a debate is what makes her one of the most sought-after anchors in the business.”

Kelly also commented on her new primetime role, but she also praised Ailes for his support over the years.

“Roger Ailes hired me nine years ago when I was new to this business and he had little other than instinct to suggest it might work out,” Megyn Kelly said, according to Business Wire. ”I was grateful to him then, remain so today, and am excited for this next opportunity.”

She’s anchored the network’s daytime program since 2010, but it was a long road to the top that she’ll never forget. Before joining Fox News in 2004, she served as a reporter for WJLA-TV in Washington.

From general assignments to a spot within a huge network, Kelly eventually settled in with Fox News before covering one high-profile piece after another.

She was on-site at Virginia Tech after the campus massacre and she also covered the rape case at Duke University that involved three lacrosse players. Her correspondence for the network was quickly growing, and she also provided coverage for the Supreme Court hearing in 2009 and 2010 that confirmed Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Her nine-year career at Fox News has now led to a primetime slot after years of reporting across the nation. Her work has obviously paid off and the network is now the most watched news channel in the country.

Do you think Megyn Kelly will do well in her new primetime slot on the Fox News Channel?

Fourth of July accident involving fireworks in California injures dozens

Fourth of July accident involving fireworks in California injures dozens, More than two dozen people were injured when a wood platform holding live fireworks tipped over, sending the pyrotechnics into a crowd at a Fourth of July show northwest of Los Angeles, authorities said Friday.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 revelers were settling into their seats for the fireworks extravaganza at a Simi Valley park Thursday night when the spectacle of lights that were supposed to be launched in the sky never took off. Instead, a bright plume of red and white bursts spread across the ground, injuring 28 people and sending others fleeing for safety.

Police were still investigating what led to the explosion, but they said early indications show a platform designed and built to hold the fireworks gave way.

"For some unknown reasons the structure that holds these ordinances collapsed and caused them to be firing into the crowd," Simi Valley police Cmdr. Stephanie Shannon.

Four people were listed in serious condition, but their injuries were not considered life-threatening. Sixteen more were taken to hospitals with minor to moderate injuries. The remainder were treated at the park where emergency crews, already on hand as a safety precaution, set up a triage area.

Meanwhile, a worker at a fireworks show in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., was injured Thursday evening when a shell exploded prematurely. The explosion at the Cherry Grove Pier caused the show to end early, after just six minutes, and left a hole in the pier.

In California, a video clip aired on KCAL-TV shows a pair of firework blasts at or near the ground. Another clip, posted on YouTube and shot from a distance, shows three ground-level bursts. The fireworks continue for almost another minute before stopping.

"There was a big boom, everybody started running down the street, people were screaming," Justice Allen, 17, of Simi Valley told the Los Angeles Times. "Everybody was just terrified. People hid in bushes."

Authorities estimate people were 900 feet away from where the fireworks were being launched. One police officer who ran into the crowd when the blasts occurred had shrapnel tear through his leather belt and his clothing, Shannon said. He had minor injuries to his back.

Shannon said most people responded admirably and left in an orderly fashion. A bomb squad was at the park to deactivate the remainder of the fireworks.

Shannon said the fireworks primarily shot in one direction.

"They are going to travel the same distance across the park as they would in the air," she said. "The ones that had actually ignited that had to run their fuse were going directly into the crowd."The annual July Fourth celebration has been sponsored by the city and the local Rotary Club for the past 43 years. Shannon said she had no information about the company hired for the fireworks show.

Simi Valley, home to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, is about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Egypt price of gas is $1.14 a gallon

Egypt price of gas is $1.14 a gallon, Finding gasoline for less than $1.50 a gallon is impossible. But drivers of electric vehicles are able to do just that.

A new statistic — the eGallon — will now be calculated monthly by the Department of Energy to gauge the price paid by electric vehicle drivers to go the same distance that a driver of a conventional car will travel, on average, using a gallon of gas.

People who own electric vehicles may already know what they're paying to fill up, but the agency introduced the new "eGallon" metric to help consumers who are thinking about buying electric vehicles.

Based on the 2012 model year, the department's analysis concluded that consumers are paying $1.14 a gallon nationally to drive 28.2 miles, the average distance traveled by comparable 2012 non-electric small and medium-size cars.

That $1.14 per eGallon compares with $3.65, the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

In Wisconsin, gas prices are running above the national average — and so are electricity rates. Motorists charging their cars in Wisconsin are paying $1.32 an eGallon on average, compared with $4 a gallon for regular unleaded gas.

The eGallon, of course, isn't a complete picture of the cost of owning an electric vehicle. It doesn't include the cost of adding a home-charging device, or take into account the premium paid for buying a Chevy Volt or a Nissan Leaf.

When it comes to fueling, "Consumers can see prices at their corner gas station, but are relatively in the dark on the cost of fueling an electric vehicle," said David Danielson, assistant secretary of the Energy Department, during a conference call with reporters.

About 50,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold across the country last year, about three times as many 2011, he said, and another 30,000 have been sold so far this year.

The eGallon is computed by calculating the average kilowatt-hours per mile from the leading electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, and comparing it with the distance a similar small or midsize new car can go on a gallon of gas (28.2 miles).

EPA mileage stickers already tout the fuel economy of driving with electricity, listing equivalent miles per gallon of 100 mpg for some models.

"But that metric doesn't communicate the fuel cost benefit as well as a direct comparison to gasoline prices does," Danielson said.

Michael Sivak of the Transportation Research Institute in Michigan and alternative fuels expert Christopher Damm at the Milwaukee School of Engineering both took a look at the methodology behind the eGallon for the Journal Sentinel, and gave it a thumbs-up.

Damm said it's an appropriate way to make an "apples to apples" comparison of the different driving costs.

"I personally think it is more straightforward to compare the cost per mile numbers directly instead of taking the extra step of pricing an eGallon," he said. "But the ratio of the costs are the same for both approaches.

"The driving costs are about three times higher for gasoline fueled vehicles," he said.

Lisa Geason-Bauer bought a Nissan Leaf for her Oconomowoc home-based marketing business, Evolution Marketing, last summer. Based on the first 11 months of driving, she estimates she's paid $168 to charge the car, or about $15 a month.

"I've had people come up to me and say, 'Do you know I spend $100 a week just on gas for my car?'" Geason-Bauer said Wednesday.

Geason-Bauer agreed with Damm that the best way to measure is in cents per mile. Based on what her business paid for gasoline in a 25-mpg Chevy Malibu, she estimates she paid about 14 cents a mile on fuel last year when gas prices averaged $3.50 a gallon. Since she bought the Leaf, she said, that's dropped to less than 2.5 cents a mile.

"I don't know if the eGallon is the best way to describe the savings because people don't think in gallons, they think of cost per mile," she said. "This is a good first step, but it doesn't go far enough."

Another challenge with the new statistic is that it's a statewide average rather than based on the electricity rates that a driver actually pays.

Just as gas prices can vary from two stations across the street from one another, electricity rates vary from utility to utility. That can be the case in metro Milwaukee.

A typical We Energies customer, for example, pays about 13.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, which would bring the eGallon driving costs slightly above the state average of $1.32. But drivers who charge their cars with electricity, such as Geason-Bauer or Ben Nelson of Oconomowoc, pay electric rates that are below the state average.

"Another huge consideration is that the eGallon completely ignores time of day billing," said Nelson. These rates allow homeowners to get charged lower rates at night when electricity demand is low — and when plug-in hybrids and EVs are charged.

"While the current eGallon may be $1.32 in Wisconsin, with my local power provider it's closer to $1," Nelson said. "With time of day billing, charging at night, it's only 50 cents."

The co-founder of Drive$mart Wisconsin, formerly the Milwaukee Hybrid Group, sees the eGallon as a useful tool for anyone looking to find ways to save money in driving.

"It's a fair representation for the average person who's going to be making some decisions on what to do for their transportation needs," said Bradlee Fons. "It gives you a rough guide as far as the potential savings, comparing it to gas."

But drivers of any vehicle — plug-in or not — can save fuel, and money, if they stop speeding, stop being a lead-foot on the brakes, and keep tires properly inflated, Fons said. Steps like that can boost fuel economy, which adds up to savings when gas is $4 a gallon.

"Saved By The Bell," "Knight Rider" among shows returning as comic books

"Saved By The Bell," "Knight Rider" among shows returning as comic books, Zack Morris and his friends from Bayside High are finally coming back...in comic form.

NBCUniversal has partnered with Lion Forge Comics to release a series of digital graphic novels based on the iconic TV shows "Saved By The Bell," "Airwolf," "Knight Rider," "Miami Vice" and "Punky Brewster."

"We're excited to give fans a chance to revisit some of their favorite shows and characters in a completely new way," Chris Lucero, director of global consumer products licensing for NBCUniversal Television, said in a press release.

Some of these shows are still fondly remembered today by a nostalgic generation of TV viewers now in their twenties, thirties and forties who grew up watching programs like "Punky Brewster" after school each day in the 1980s and early '90s.

"From hugely popular characters such as Crockett and Tubbs, Zack Morris and Punky Brewster to highly stylized music and clothing choices, these TV franchises have had a significant impact on pop culture," said Lion Forge CEO David Steward.

"We here at Lion Forge are looking forward to extending that influence by creating visually appealing and entertaining experiences on mobile devices for a whole new generation of fans."

Writers on the projects include Joelle Sellner ("Teen Titans," "Jackie Chan Adventures") and Jonathan London from Geekscape.

The digital comics are expected to be released over the course of this fall and winter through the Amazon Kindle Bookstore, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble's The Nook Book Store and Kobo.

Kuwait price of gas is 81 cents a gallon

Kuwait price of gas is 81 cents a gallon, There's little U.S. residents enjoy more than complaining about gas prices, but paying $3.55 a gallon -- the current average price at the pump, according to GasBuddy.com -- is chump change compared to the prices consumers in other countries pay.

The average U.S. resident actually pays 90 cents to $2 less than the actual market value of gasoline because of government subsidies.

Gas prices around the world range anywhere from 4 cents in Venezuela to $9.98 in Turkey. Check out the interactive map below.

In oil producing countries in the Middle East like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, gas is dirt cheap. Saudi Arabians pay only 45 cents a gallon at the pump, while those in Kuwait pay just 81 cents.

But nowhere in the world is gas quite as cheap as it is in Venezuela. At 4 cents a gallon, it's practically free. In Venezuela, it costs about $1.56 to fill up the 39-gallon tank of a Chevrolet Suburban, according to calculations from Bloomberg, compared to $137.28 in the U.S. and $389.22 in Turkey.

Busy Philipps Welcomes a Baby Girl With Husband Marc Silverstein

Busy Philipps Welcomes a Baby Girl With Husband Marc Silverstein, Busy Philipps is a mom again!The Cougar Town star has welcomed a baby girl with husband Marc Silverstein, their second daughter together.

Her rep exclusively confirms to E! News that the child was born Tuesday, weighing 8 1/2 pounds, and everyone is happy and healthy.

So this happened..." Philipps also tweeted Wednesday along with a pic of herself cradling their newborn.The wee lass joins 4 1/2-year-old sister Birdie Leigh Philipps in the family abode.

In March, Philipps told E! News that her second pregnancy hadn't been "so relaxing," and yet was "harder and easier" than her first at the same time.

"It's going faster because I have my kid and work and all kinds of things," the 34-year-old actress said. Not to mention, she added, "I gave everything away from my last pregnancy. Everything from my maternity clothes, to the crib, the changing table—all gone. So I have to start over."

She then revealed in April that they were expecting another girl (so double-bummer on not keeping Birdie's old gear).
"My daughter is super-excited," Philipps told Huffington Post. "She's actually incredibly helpful...So I think for right now it's OK, but we'll see what happens when the actual baby comes. I'm planning for that moment [when Birdie asks], 'And when does she go back?' I know that will happen.'"

Saudi Arabia Price Of Gas Is 45 Cents A Gallon

Saudi Arabia Price Of Gas Is 45 Cents A Gallon, In Norway a gallon of gasoline averages $9.97 in U.S. dollars, compared to the current $3.55 a gallon average in the United States. There’s little U.S. residents enjoy more than complaining about gas prices, but paying $3.55 a gallon — the current average price at the pump, according to GasBuddy.com — is chump change compared to the prices consumers in other countries pay.

The average U.S. resident actually pays 90 cents to $2 less than the actual market value of gasoline because of government subsidies.

Gas prices around the world range anywhere from 4 cents in Venezuela to $9.98 in Turkey. Check out the interactive map below.

In Turkey, where the government finds the fuel tax relatively easy to enforce compared to other taxes, gasoline costs $9.98 at the pump. About 40 percent of the country’s workforce have under-the-table jobs and don’t pay taxes, which is why the fuel tax is an important source of revenue that Turkey can’t easily afford to alter.

Norway is a major oil producing country, but the average Norwegian has to shell out $9.97 for a gallon of gas, more than twice the U.S. average. Norway doesn’t subsidize fuel at the pump; instead, it uses oil profits to fund free college education and infrastructure development.

Most Europeans pay a much higher price for gasoline than Americans do, anywhere between $6 and $10 more a gallon. saudi arabia solar energy,

In oil producing countries in the Middle East like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, gas is dirt cheap. Saudi Arabians pay only 45 cents a gallon at the pump, while those in Kuwait pay just 80 cents.

But nowhere in the world is gas quite as cheap as it is in Venezuela. At 4 cents a gallon, it’s practically free. In Venezuela, it costs about $1.56 to fill up the 39-gallon tank of a Chevrolet Suburban, according to calculations from Bloomberg, compared to $137.28 in the U.S. and $389.22 in Turkey.

For example, in India, gas costs about $4.36 a gallon, which may seem comparable to U.S. gas prices but really isn’t. This is because per capita income is much lower in India than in the U.S. — the cost of a single gallon of gas in India is about 16 percent more than the average Indian worker earns in one day; in the U.S., the average price of a gallon of gas is less than half of the federal minimum wage for one hour of work.

Jay-Z releases "Magna Carta Holy Grail": Critics weigh in

Jay-Z releases "Magna Carta Holy Grail": Critics weigh in, Jay-Z has a special July Fourth gift for fans, and it comes in the form of a new album.

The 43-year-old rapper unveiled "Magna Carta Holy Grail," his 12th studio release, early Thursday to 1 million Samsung Galaxy smartphone customers who downloaded a customized app for the set. The rest of the world can buy Jay-Z's latest on July 9, when it arrives worldwide.

The new 16-track album features collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross, Frank Ocean, Beyonce, Swizz Beats, Pharrell, Nas and Timbaland. And there's even a couple of references to Jay-Z and Beyonce's daughter, Blue Ivy.

On Thursday, Twitter was abuzz with tweets about the new album, with the song "Tom Ford" trending. Several critics have taken an early listen to the set. Check out their initial reactions:

Jim Farber of The New York Daily News gave it 4 out of 5 stars: "The rap icon balances his trademark fun, witty boasts with some introspection and thoughts on the world on his latest release."

Rob Markman of MTV: "It all sounds great, but subsequent listens uncover thoughtful commentary and societal observation, lending to the album's replay value."

Steve Jones of USA Today gave it 3 out of 4 stars: "The breadth of his subject matter -- which also touches on family, loyalty, spirituality and fame -- is matched by his lyrical acuity. His perspective is that of someone who has achieved much but hasn't lost sight of what brought him to this point."

Jeff Rosenthal of Billboard: "Overall, the album sounds great, there's just no denying that. Jay-Z's lyrics, however, ping-pong between great to serviceable, clever to unforgivable. Do I expect too much? Am I quibbling? It's entirely possible. But Jay put those lyrics out as a series of advertisements for the album, and so they're asking to be examined through forks and knives. Is it a '#classic'? Unsure. A 'Magna Carta Holy Fail' (as tweeted by some)? Probably not. It's closer to the former, with flashes of the latter. Even if it burns out quickly, people love fireworks on July 4th."

Venezuela price of gas is 10 cents a gallon

Venezuela price of gas is 10 cents a gallon, While the rest of the country is enjoying relative calm when they pull up to the gas pump, the Midwest nightmare continues. The Energy Information Administration reported in their weekly supply report that the stocks of gasoline hit the highest level for this time of year since 1992.

The EIA reported that gasoline supply increased 3.65 million barrels in the latest week while crude supply increased by 1.57 million barrels and crude by 18,000 barrels. That helped the RBOB wholesale gasoline futures hit a six-month low. Now normally that would be cause for celebration, yet once again gasoline buyers in the Midwest never seem to get a break. Just as hopes were being raised that indeed we could see gas prices start to fall, a storm packed with massive amounts of rain and spectacular lightening cut the power to the CITGO refinery in Lemont, Illinois, the latest in bad news for Midwest drivers.

While Chicago is thrilled with being the World Champions of hockey, it is tired of being number one in gasoline prices. James Tae of MSN Autos on the MSN news site gives us a spin around the globe to help at least some feel better about their gasoline prices or perhaps worse.  He writes that "With the onset of the summer driving season, the average price of a gallon of gas in America went up 10.4 cents in May — the first increase since February. With the average gallon approaching the $4 mark, drivers coast to coast will feel the pinch over the next few months. It's easy to focus on where gas might be cheaper, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Here's a look at gas prices around the world and across the United States, from least to most expensive, in early June 2013.” These are a few examples, the full list can be found at MSN Autos.

Venezuela: 10 cents a gallon.  That gas price above is not a typo. Thanks to government subsidies put in place by the late President Hugo Chavez, gas prices have been frozen for nearly 15 years. The policy made Chavez extremely popular in Venezuela, but could collapse the country's economy in the wake of his death. The harsh realities of inflation will at last come to affect Venezuelan gas prices, and though the country is a major oil exporter, the high spending rate of the Chavez regime left it strapped for cash. The price for a gallon of gas in Venezuela is a textbook.

South Carolina: $3.19 a gallon - South Carolina currently has the lowest average gas price of all 50 United States. The combination of nearby refineries in Alabama that provide a steady supply of oil with South Carolina's low gasoline taxes keeps the price down, but South Carolinians hard hit by the economy are spending a greater percentage of their income on gas than residents of any state other than Mississippi.

Chicago: $4.44 a gallon - The Second City currently holds the title for the highest gas prices in the United States. Beyond the higher cost of everything in a major urban area, Environmental Protection Agency regulations require special summer gasoline formulas for much of the Midwest, driving prices even higher. Chicago's gas prices are 38 cents higher than this time in 2012, and there's no relief in sight. In fact, they might go higher still.

China: $4.74 a gallon - China is already the second-biggest oil consumer in the world behind the United States, and with an emerging middle class it should only use more in the coming years. Middle class doesn't translate to wealthy, however. In spite of government subsidies to keep gas and diesel relatively low, Chinese citizens still suffer at the pump in proportion to the rest of the world.

United Kingdom: $8.06 per gallon - For Americans, the United Kingdom has always been the go-to example for how things could always be worse when it comes to the cost of gas. This is the case now more than ever. Rising crude oil prices and higher fuel taxes have contributed to a surge in gas prices in the U.K. over the past decade. Prices aren't as high as in other European countries, but the increase over time is hurting citizens in the U.K. as much as any other.

Turkey: $9.89 per gallon - Wherever you fill up, as long as you're not in Turkey, it could always be worse. Even before the onset of recent turmoil in the country, Turkey's fuel prices were punitive. The reason? A good chunk of the population pays no taxes at all, so increasing the fuel tax has become a way for the Turkish government to make up its budget deficit gap.

To make matters worse Bloomberg News reports that "Refiners may be forced to exceed 10% ethanol in their fuels next year in order to meet congressionally mandated renewable-fuel standards, according the Environmental Protection Agency. While oil-industry lobbyists are urging lawmakers to scrap the Renewable Fuel Standard because of problems this year, an EPA official will tell Congress today that issues with the "blend wall" -- where the amount of mandated corn-based fuel exceeds levels considered safe for all engines -- won't bite until 2014.

"Given these facts, we will continue to look at the potential impacts of the blend wall over the near and longer term," Christopher Grundler, director of the office of transportation and air quality at the EPA said in testimony prepared for delivery today to a panel of the House Energy and Commerce committee. "EPA will continue to engage with stakeholders on this issue as we move to propose the RFS volume requirements for 2014." The Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, dates in its current form to 2007, when concerns about dependence on overseas oil and a desire to curb the use of fossil fuels induced Congress to set quotas for the use of alternatives to gasoline or diesel, such as corn-based ethanol and biodiesel.              

Under the law, refiners such as Exxon Mobil Corp. must blend a certain volume of renewable fuels into their gasoline each year regardless of the total amount of fuel produced. When fuel use falls, it effectively boosts the amount of ethanol in the gasoline and other fuels. The EPA and renewable-fuel producers say the mandate spurs production of American-made fuels, helps corn farmers and cuts carbon emissions by replacing gasoline.  Lobbyists representing refiners such as Exxon, based in Irving, Texas, say falling U.S. fuel demand means that requirements for ethanol may force its use higher than the 10% that the government says is safe for all engines.

In his testimony today, Grundler said that higher blends of ethanol may need to be used to meet the requirements, or "significant additional volumes of non-ethanol biofuels would be needed."  While EPA acknowledged the issues of refiners, a Department of Agriculture official shot down concerns from chain restaurants, food charities and chicken producers that the fuel standard is raising the cost of food.  "Any increase in farm prices for corn and soybeans due to increased biofuels production has likely had only a small effect on U.S. retail food prices," Joseph Glauber, chief economist of USDA, said in his testimony to the panel."

Oil was kind of neutral to bearish in the EIA report but the movement in gasoline and the stock-market also influenced moves. Bond yields backed off as a weak GDP eased the fears that the Federal Reserve would take away the taper punch too soon. We are also seeing oil try to get a feel out of Europe where S&P gave a less than enthusiastic assessment of the European economy. It was a zombie like forecast where they do not see a recession but at the same time there are not looking for a lot of growth either.  Dow Jones reports that "Asia's crude oil market is picking up as peak summer demand sets in and refining capacity comes back online, but fundamentals are weak with Japanese demand slowing".

Japanese refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu says 3Q crude throughput will be 2% lower than last year at 462,860 bbl/day. While Asian imports of Iranian crude has fallen this year, China was the only of the big consumers to increase imports from Iran.  JBC Energy estimates China's 2Q imports stood at 480,000 bbl/day and predicts an increase to 500,000 bbl/day in 3Q. Dubai raises its official selling price for September crude by 10 cents to +$0.05/bbl to the Oman OSP. DME Oman for August delivery settles 53 cents higher at $99.35/bbl. We still from a position standpoint like the short side of oil but there have been some great day trading opportunities as well. Nat gas expiration of the July contract was above the all-important 370 area. Probably a great day to price out some long dated calls!

Douglas Engelbart, Father of the Computer Mouse, Dies at Age 88

Douglas Engelbart, Father of the Computer Mouse, Dies at Age 88, Douglas C. Engelbart, one of the inventors of the computer mouse and a computer visionary, has died at the age of 88, ABC News has confirmed. Engelbart died on Tuesday evening at his home in Atherton, Calif.

Engelbart, who served as a U.S. Navy electronic radar technician during World War II, began working at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the late 1950s. It was there that he worked on some of the first graphic user interface computers and the idea of the computer mouse. In 1970 he received a patent for the mouse, which was at the time a thick wooden device with two wheels and three buttons.

"This invention relates to visual display systems, and more particularly, to device for alternating the display at selected locations," the patent, filed by Engelbart on June 21, 1967, reads. The mouse, of course, wasn't popularized until Xerox PARC began experimenting with the device and then Apple began to ship the mouse with the Apple's Lisa in 1983.

Englebart had said that he did not, however, come up with the name "mouse." When asked in an interview with Stanford about the name in December 1986, Engelbart said, "No one can remember [who came up with the name]. In the lab, the very first one we built had the cord coming out the back. It wasn't long before we realized that it would get in the way, and then we changed it to the front. But when it was trailing out the back like that, sitting there, just its funny little shape."

But Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak believes Engelbart's greatest contributions go way beyond the mouse.

"I have admired him so much. Everything we have in computers can be traced to his thinking," Wozniak told ABC News on Wednesday afternoon. "To me, he is a god. He gets recognized for the mouse, but he really did an awful lot of incredible stuff for computer interfaces and networking."

Engelbart worked on the ARPANET, a network of computers that preceded the Internet in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He also worked on the concept of "groupware," or digital collaboration. In 1968 he was one of the first to demonstrate on-screen video teleconferencing.

"The networking ideas were even more significant than the mouse," Wozniak said. "He did this way before the Internet. He was thinking about how computers could solve some of the main problems for mankind before many."