hMan crosses Channel on jet-propelled wing

hMan crosses Channel on jet-propelled wing

DOVER, England — He had nothing above him but four tanks of kerosene and nothing below him but the cold waters of the English Channel. But Yves Rossy leapt from a plane and into the record books on Friday, crossing the channel on a homemade jet-propelled wing.

Rossy jumped from the plane about 8,200 feet over Calais, France, blasting across the narrow body of water and deploying his parachute over the South Foreland lighthouse, delighting onlookers who dotted Dover’s famous white cliffs, cheering and waving as Rossy came into view.

Backed by a gentle breeze, Rossy, a Swiss pilot, crossed the Channel in 13 minutes, averaging 125 miles per hour. In a final flourish, he did a figure eight as he came over England, although the wind blew him away from his planned landing spot next to the lighthouse.

7 of Palin’s top aides defy subpoenas in Troopergate

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Seven of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s top aides defied subpoenas for their testimony Friday into possible abuse of power by the governor.

Palin’s Chief of Staff Mike Nizich and six other aides failed to appear at a legislative hearing into whether Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer.

Alaska Senate Judiciary Chairman Hollis French, D-Anchorage, waited 30 minutes Friday before reading a statement that the witnesses could be found in contempt when the full Legislature convenes in January.

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg filed a lawsuit on behalf of the seven state workers Thursday challenging the subpoenas. He claims the committee has no jurisdiction to issue subpoenas in the investigation.

Heinz baby cereal made in China found tainted

BEIJING — The list of products caught in China’s tainted milk scandal grew Friday to include baby cereal in Hong Kong and snack foods in Japan, while Taiwan reported three children and a mother with kidney stones in the island’s first cases possibly linked to the crisis.

The Japanese government also said it had suspended imports of milk and milk products from China, where some 54,000 children have developed kidney stones or other illnesses after drinking baby formula contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine. Four deaths have been blamed on the tainted milk.

The latest problematic foods were Heinz baby cereal and Silang House steamed potato wasabi crackers. The Hong Kong government said in a statement Friday it found traces of melamine in the products, which were both made in mainland China.

Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Heinz ordered a recall of the baby cereal as a precautionary measure after the government’s announcement, it said in a statement on its Web site.

House passes package of public-works projects

WASHINGTON — The House on Friday passed a plan by Democrats to pump $61 billion in government spending into the economy through public-works projects, help for the jobless and money for states struggling with their Medicaid bills.

The 264-158 tally was largely symbolic since it came just hours after Senate Republicans blocked a companion measure. The White House promised a veto in any event, saying the legislation would not work and would cost too much.

The bills follow a bipartisan plan enacted this winter that shipped $600-$1,200 tax rebate checks to most individuals and couples and awarded tax breaks to businesses investing in new plants and equipment.

With the economy still sagging, Democrats have long pressed for a follow-up plan that focused on more spending to extend unemployment benefits, boost food stamp payments and build infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, water and sewer projects and school repairs.

Associated Press