Fronnie Lewis

Friday, September 19, 2008

Emergency cell phone ban for train crews

Google Image In light of that disastrous train collision last Friday, state regulators have taken quick action to ban cell phones for some train employees. National Transportation Safety Board investigators say the Metrolink commuter train engineer was text messaging during his shift on the day of the crash. Yesterday, the state Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to immediately impose an on- the-job ban on wireless devices for engineers, […]
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Bette Davis stamp goes on sale today

“Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work,” that was the motto of legendary actress and Hollywood grand diva, Bette Davis. The two-time Academy Award winning actress appeared in more than 100 films. In honor of her vast contribution to entertainment, the U.S. Postal Service is issuing a special 42 cents stamp in honor of Davis. The commemorative Davis stamp is part of […]
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Metrolink engineer was text messaging while on duty

Federal investigators have confirmed the Metrolink engineer was text messaging from his cell phone last Friday, the day of that disastrous train collision. The National Transportation Safety Board investigators subpoenaed the Metrolink engineer’s cell phone records. However, NTSB investigators are not saying if Robert Sanchez was texting right before his commuter train ran head-on into a Union Pacific freight train […]
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Legendary Motown songwriter/producer dies

  Google file image Norman Whitfield was one of the architects of what became known as the “Motown sound.”  Whitfield co-wrote or co-produced “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Cloud Nine,” “War,” “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me),” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” just to name a few. Whitfield never became as famous as some of […]
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Michelle Obama makes People’s best dressed list

Democratic first lady hopeful Michelle Obama is getting some high marks for her polished looks and style. Today the wife of Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, made the top ten on People magazine’s best dressed list for 2008. Mrs. Obama is joined on that list by some very fashionable celebrities: like actresses Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Jessica Parker, Eva Mendes, Charlize Theron, along […]
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Hollywood stars come out for Obama

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign coffers reportedly are $10 million richer after two star-studded fundraisers in Beverly Hills last night. That according to Variety, which has a detailed story about Obama’s appearances on its website today. Some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry attended a $28,500 a person courtyard dinner at the historic Greystone Mansion. Others paid $2,500 apiece for an affair […]
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Metrolink trains running through Chatsworth again

  Google file  Image Metrolink trains are rolling again on the reopened Ventura County line today. Yesterday afternoon on newly repaired tracks, investigators finished the second phase of the sight distance tests; using two trains to re-create elements and conditions of that tragic train collision, which occurred last Friday in Chatsworth. Once that testing was done, the go ahead was given for Metrolink train 111 to pull […]
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Feinstein and Boxer call for new railway safety requirements

  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) California U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer are on board with installing “positive train control” systems on all major railroads in the country. Feinstein and Boxer joined forces to introduce legislation in congress today that would require the high-tech systems, which are designed to override human mistakes and avoid accidents. “Rail safety experts say a positive train […]
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Feds release some test results in train crash probe

Brian Vander Brug/ Los Angeles Times A rail worker helps test the equipment at the site of that tragic train collision. Investigators are back on the scene of that horrific train crash in Chatsworth today looking for answers and running more tests. Meanwhile, Metrolink riders boarded buses again this morning to get around the crash site. During a news conference last night, National Transportation […]