Plane Overshoots Minneapolis Airport

Northwest Jet Overshoots Minneapolis Airport

by Julien Desrayaud

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Federal officials say a Northwest Airlines
jet overflew the Minneapolis airport by 150 miles before crew
members discovered their mistake. The plane landed safely, and none of the 147 passengers and crew were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board says the Airbus A320 was flying from San Diego to Minneapolis and lost radio contact with controllers.

What Happened

The NTSB says the jet flew about 150 miles past the Minneapolis airport before communications were re-established. The Federal Aviation Administration says the crew told authorities they became distracted during a heated discussion over airline policy and lost track of where they were.

Sirens Test Successful at Nuclear Plant

Safety First
by Julien Desrayaud

Buchanan, NY -- The emergency siren system around New
York's Indian Point nuclear power plant has easily passed its
latest test. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and plant owner Entergy Nuclear discovered each of its 172 sirens sounded during the Thursday morning test. The 100 percent score follows a poor result five weeks ago for the sirens scattered through New York City's northern suburbs.

Obvious Improvement
Last September's test scored at about 90 percent, which is below the recommended percentage. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission demands a 94 percent average over a year. The sirens are meant to warn residents within 10 miles of the plant in Buchanan that there is an emergency.
The siren system went into service last year allowing local residents to evacuate if something were to occur at the nuclear power plant.

Warm weather graces CNY

Temperatures pushing 70
By Chris McManus

Today could be the warmest day during the recent stretch of favorable weather. On a day where the average temperature in Syracuse is about 58 degrees, temperatures could reach as high as 70 today.

Don't get used to it though. Tomorrow will be back down in the high 40s or low 50s. For more CNY weather, be sure to catch Matt Markham at the 4:00 and 4:40 NCC newscasts.

Syracuse men's hoops picked to finish sixth in Big East

Orange receives some respect despite losing top three scorers
By Chris McManus

One year removed from a Big East championship and a sweet sixteen appearance, Syracuse hoops has been picked to finish sixth in the conference. The announcement came at the start of yesterday's Big East Media Day. The Orange finished with the fifth-best conference record last sesaon after being picked eighth in the preseason poll.

Last year's top scorers Jonny Flynn (17.4 ppg), Eric Devendorf (15.7 ppg), and Paul Harris (12 ppg) are no longer with the team, but SU returns three players who have started at least twenty games: Arinze Onuaku, Rick Jackson, and Andy Rautins. Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson sat out last year, but figures to be a key component for the Orange this season.

Villanova picked to finish first

After reaching the final four last season, Jay Wright's Wildcats took the top spot on top of the preseason poll. They return three starters, including top scorer Scottie Reynolds.

West Virginia came in at number two as they return four starters. Connecticut, Louisville, and Georgetown rounded out the top five.

Rick Pitino agreed with the preseason coaches poll, saying Villanova and West Virginia are the clear favorites at the onset. "I give the slight edge to Villanova because of their experience, but they are both great teams," the Louisville coach told reporters.

Coaches weigh in on Boeheim's quest for 800

Only one win away from 800, SU coach Jim Boeheim answered a host of reflective-type questions regarding his coaching career. Boeheim preferred to stick with this season and more important task at hand, other coaches were quick to praise him.

Jim Calhoun, another member of the 800 win club, called Coach Boeheim a "model of consistency" for the conference. Rick Pitino said that the most amazing part about Boeheim is ability to recruit at a high level for so many years. "He recruits the same way as when I coached with him, and he still brings in high caliber players every year," Pitino said (He was an assistant at SU from '76-'78). Jaime Dixon called Boeheim "one of the most underrated coaches in the country."

If all goes according to plan, Boeheim will capture number 800 when Syracuse takes on Albany on November 9 at the Dome.

Farmers Truck Routes

State DOT's Road Plan a Wrong Turn
by Julien Desrayaud

Albany, NY -- Dairy farmers and growers believe that a state
proposal aimed at keeping garbage collectors from rumbling through beautiful Finger Lakes communities will hurt New York's agriculture industry. The New York Farm Bureau says the state Department of Transportation's move to ban truck traffic on certain rural roads will add millions in costs to farmers already struggling in a down economy.

Oppositon Movement
Farmers have joined with the trucking industry and other business interests to oppose the Paterson administration proposal. The idea surfaced when locals complained about trucks taking shortcuts through some Finger Lakes villages while hauling New York City garbage to an upstate landfill. The complaints prompted state transportation officials to develop regulations for large truck routes in rural areas.

Lil' Wayne Headed for Prison

Hip-Hop superstar pleads guilty to attempted weapon possession
By Chris McManus

Dwayne Carter, better known as "Lil Wayne," expects to receive a one-year jail sentence after police found a gun on his tour bus in 2007. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the gun charges, which carried a over a three year jail sentence. The trial was supposed to begin on January 20.

The 27-year-old is also scheduled for trial on felony drug possession charges in Arizona, which come from a January 2008 arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.

The Case:

Police pulled over the rapper's tour bus after smelling marijuana smoke on July 22, 2007. As an officer approached, Lil Wayne threw away a bag containing the loaded weapon. More details on that night here.


Prosecutors said that small samples of DNA were on the loaded weapon at the time of Lil Wayne's arrest. The defense questioned the DNA testing technique, and said the gun does not belong to the rapper.

Pirro Endorses Kimatian for Syracuse Mayor

Former Onondaga County Executive Voting Along Party Lines
by Julien Desrayaud

Syracuse, NY -- Nick Pirro is endorsing fellow Republican Steve Kimatian for Syracuse mayor. The Kimatian campaign scheduled a news conference this morning at the Convention Center Parking Lot to make the announcement. It’s the site of the long-stalled hotel that officials hope will breathe new life into the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center across South State.

Pirro's opinions on Kimatian

"Syracuse mayoral candidate Steve Kimatian is the best candidate in the field to unjam that venture and other suspended projects, such as the renovation of the Hotel Syracuse and the Mizpah Towers," Pirro said this morning. The former county executive, a lifelong north side Syracuse resident, said he also likes Kimatian’s ideas on crime and cleaning up the neighborhoods. Kimatian is facing Democrat Stephanie Miner and Conservative Ronald “Otis” Jennings.