CNN - U.S. News Briefs - April 23, 1996

News Briefs

April 23, 1996
Web posted at:10:45 p.m. EDT

Navy jets land safely after in-flight collision

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two U.S. Navy F/A-18C fighter jets collided in mid-flight Tuesday during exercises near Norfolk, Virginia. Both planes were damaged but able to return to their base at Oceana Naval Air Station. Neither pilot was injured.

The F/A-18C is an aircraft carrier-based fighter and attack plane with a crew of one. The planes are assigned to Navy reserve squadron VFC-12, based at Oceana. The two pilots were reservists serving their two-week stint with the squadron.

Navy spokesman Lt. Greg Geisen told CNN one of the jets sustained damage to the wing, while the other had its domed Plexiglas canopy torn completely off. The pilot was forced to fly back to his base "California style," a Navy spokesman said.

F/A-18 Hornet - U.S. Navy fact sheet

Filibuster kills proposed term limits amendment

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate moved Tuesday to put term limits into cold storage, probably for the rest of the year. The Senate held a vote Tuesday to end a Senate Democratic filibuster on the proposed constitutional amendment, but it came in at 58-42, two votes short of passing.

All 53 Republicans and five Democrats voted to cut off debate on the proposal. All the votes against were cast by Democrats. The vote left the bill in limbo, and aides predicted Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole would pull it from the floor. The measure would limit lawmakers in the House and Senate to 12 years in office.

The term limits proposal was part of the House Republicans' Contract With America, which contributed to many GOP wins in 1994's mid-term elections. But the GOP-controlled House rejected it last year on a 227-204 vote, well shy of the two-thirds majority needed.

Congressional and State Term Limits

Police blame neighborhood kids for infant's beating

RICHMOND, California (CNN) -- A 6-week-old baby boy was on life support Tuesday at Children's Hospital in Oakland after being beaten by two boys who broke into his Richmond home to steal a bicycle, police said.

The baby's 18-year-old stepsister was caring for him while his parents were at work. She laid him in a crib and went to another room. In her absence, the two children, who live in the neighborhood and are known to the family, entered the house to steal the bike, police said. A short while later, the baby's stepsister came into the room, saw that the baby was not moving, and called police.

Police said they weren't sure yet whether the children thought the baby was a child or a doll, and didn't know whether they dropped the baby, or kicked it. The two children, who were seen leaving the house by a neighbor, were not in custody but were talking to police.

Surgery aims to give 7-year-old her full smile

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Seven-year-old Chelsey Thomas, born without the nerve that controls her facial muscles, was admitted Tuesday into the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Tuesday with high hopes of gaining a grin that will spread from ear to ear.

Chelsey was born without a nerve that makes smiling possible. She went into her first surgery on December 15, which succeeded in giving her half a smile and a dimple to boot. The second operation, expected to last about 10 hours, should finish the job, although doctors won't know if they've succeeded for sure for another two months. As in the previous surgery, doctors will take muscle and nerves from Chelsey's legs and implant them in her face.

Chelsey's condition, known as Moebius syndrome, afflicts about 1,000 Americans.

A gift of joy - December 16, 1995
Chelsey expected to smile soon - December 17, 1995
Moebius Syndrome Support Network

MOVE survivor's lawsuit finally goes to trial

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Opening arguments began Tuesday in a long-delayed lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia over the bombing of a row house that killed 11 members of the group MOVE and destroyed 61 homes.

Former MOVE member Ramona Africa and relatives of two dead MOVE members are seeking unspecified damages. Africa, 41, the only adult to escape from the MOVE home as it burned, bared her left arm and leg in court Tuesday so jurors could see her burn scars from the fire that almost killed her. The plaintiffs say the city and its top officials used excessive force when they dropped a bomb onto MOVE's roof.

MOVE was an interracial group whose members preached against modern conveniences, wore dreadlocks and ate raw, unprocessed food. All members took the last name Africa. Police surrounded the home in May 1985, demanding the surrender of MOVE founder John Africa and three other MOVE members on charges including harassment, rioting and possession of explosives.

No official ever was charged in the MOVE bombing, despite a U.S. Justice Department and grand jury investigation. Ramona Africa went to prison for seven years for rioting and conspiracy.

Blood bank agrees to improve safety

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Under government pressure, a major U.S. blood bank has agreed to improve its operations with measures aimed at assuring the safety of the U.S. blood supply.

The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that Blood Systems Inc., also known as United Blood Services, had agreed to steps to assure the integrity of its operations.

After FDA inspections, BSI was warned it could lose its license to manufacture and distribute blood products. Later inspections found improvements at many of the firm's blood centers, but investigators have continued to find violations of blood safety laws and regulations, the agency said.

The consent decree sets up timetables for BSI's improvements. It is subject to court approval and its provisions will be enforceable by court order. A similar agreement was reached with the American Red Cross, the nation's largest collector of blood, in 1993.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video shows trooper swiped by truck

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- A South Carolina state trooper was in good condition at a Columbia hospital Tuesday after being swiped by a pickup truck along Interstate 20.

The Monday night incident, caught on tape by the video camera attached to trooper Shawn Stankus' patrol car, occurred as the officer was talking to a motorist he had pulled over.

Despite his injury, Stankus got back in his car and chased the truck driver, who was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

New Jersey public housing blown up -- on purpose

NEWARK, New Jersey (CNN) -- The Newark Housing Authority demolished three eight-story apartment buildings Monday in an effort to improve public housing in New Jersey's largest city.

Some former residents cheered, saying the buildings fostered crime. Others expressed sadness about seeing old homes disappear.

Under the public housing reform plan, residents are being relocated from large apartment buildings that are considered impersonal to townhouse-style homes designed to provide a sense of community and reduce crime.

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