Public sounds off on Austin bag ban plan,

Both those in favor of and next to a future ban for single-use plastic and paper bags found things not to like about the suggestion at a hearing Wednesday night.

Proponents of the ban, which wouldn't go into result until 2016, said it should happen earlier. Opponents raised concerns about elderly bus riders transport reusable bags, which are larger and therefore heavier when full. Others concerned about health issues that could arise if families don't wash the reusable bags.

Public comments during the gathering of the city's Solid Waste Advisory Commission kicked off with a song from a bag ban advocate describing the qualities of a ban while strumming his guitar.

"There actually isn't two sides to this subject; there are five or more," said Bob Gedert, director of Austin reserve Recovery , the city section that wrote the draft ban and handles trash collection and recycling. "I do see some room for development."

The ban would be in the middle of the broadest bag bans in the nation.

Commissioners are preparation another meeting for public input near the beginning next month before the decree is reviewed by the commission on Jan. 11. The City Council is listed to discuss and perhaps vote on the ban on Feb. 9.

Straight to test for Jerry Sandusky,

The former Penn State coach showed up for court, but surprised everybody when his legal representative waived the beginning trial that would have put Sandusky face to face with 10 of his supposed victims.

It could be months, even a year, before Sandusky will have to answer for the 52-counts of child sex mistreatment against him.

The 67-year-old is still thoughts like a coach by referring to the disgrace as if he was giving a post-game wrap up.

Some think by bypassing the beginning trial Sandusky is hoping the suit will offer him an appeal deal.

What could they probably offer?

Sandusky is 67 years-old, 30-years would essentially be a life sentence.

If a deal isn’t hashed out....Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola will likely stick to this wretched protection.

With 10 now grown men enthusiastic to take the stand, Amendola should be title back to the drawing board.

All states should ban cellphone use while driving.

The suggestion from the protection board followed a hearing on a Missouri highway smash into on Aug. 5, 2010, which killed two people and injured 38. The chain-reaction crash of four vehicles included two school buses.

The board ruled that the early collision was caused by a spontaneous driver, Daniel Schatz, 19, who was one of the wounded, sending 11 text messages in the 11 minutes before the hurtle. His pickup rammed the back of a tractor-trailer that had slowed for building on throughway 44 near Gray Summit.

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Schatz's truck was then rear-ended by a school bus, which was rear-ending by another school bus. The buses, which investigators found had brake pedal problems, approved members of the John F. Hodge High School band. A student, Jessica Brinker, 15, who sat in the last row of the first bus, died in the collide.

"Two lives lost in the blink of an eye," said Deborah Hersman, the board chairman. "No call, no text, no informs is value a life."

Houses passes pipeline protection bill

WASHINGTON: The House passed a bill that doubles the utmost fine for pipeline protection violations, but ignores more than a few key recommendations arising from investigation of lethal usual gas explosions and high-profile oil spills over the ancient times two years.

The cooperation bill was passed Monday by a voice vote. council action is expected this week, perhaps as near the beginning as Tuesday.

The bill extends federal security oversight of 2.3 million miles of gas and oil pipelines through 2015. It also doubles the maximum fine for protection violations to $2 million and authorizes the hiring of 10 more federal protection inspectors. That's far fewer new inspectors than most security experts say are needed.

The bill also doesn't include several shelter recommendations made by investigators in reply to a 2010 gas pipeline detonation in California.

Police arrest 3 in Florida A&M University student's trouncing.

Three members of Florida A&M University's marching band have been emotional with hazing a fellow member of the well-known Marching 100 who took her complaints to police.

The freshman suffered a fractured femur, deep bone staining and blood clots after being beaten frequently by two of her beneficiary students in November, according to arrest affidavits from Tallahassee police. The three suspects -- 23-year-old Sean Hobson, 19-year-old Aaron Golson and 22-year-old James Harris -- were booked Monday.

Monday's arrests are split from November's supposed hazing-related death of Robert Champion, a 26-year-old drum major for the legendary marching band. The school's board of trustees chosen last week to warning its president in the wake of Champion's death, and the band's director has been placed on managerial leave.