CORAL GABLES (LALATE) – A New York tour bus in the March 12, 2011 crash was speeding, claims a NSTB official. A New York tour bus with operator World Wide Travel and driver Ophadell Williams crashed on March 12, killing fifteen persons.

But on Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman told a U.S. Senate committee hearing in Washington that the bus was speeding, going 78 mph at the time. Her Senate testimony is consistent with witness testimony at the crash scene. State Police Maj. Michael Kopy told news previously that witness(es) saw Ophadel Williams driving at a “high rate of speed”.

One passenger had claimed driver Ophadell Williams was sleeping when the bus crashed. Williams disputes that assertion. “We are a family-owned company and realize words cannot begin to express our sorrow to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured in this tragic accident” said World Wide Travel in a news statement after the crash. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records allegedly depict previous accidents for World Wide resulting injuries, in just the past 24 months.

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – A Worthing High School shooting last night resulted in one death and five persons injured. Worthing High School of Houston was closed at the time when believed gang members got into a turf war shortly after 7 pm local time Wednesday evening. In the end, six people would be shot.

In the late evening Wednesday night, local young men, some believe were all gang-affiliated, were watching their female companions play football on the Worthing High School field. WTMA referred to it as a “powder puff football game”. The game had no affiliation with the school.

Suddenly a Ford Taurus filled with men drove onto the field. A fight erupted. Homicide Lt. John Zitzmann tells local news that shortly thereafter the fight ended. But suddenly, random gunfire erupted. Zitzmann said a spectator in the crowd then began shooting back at the gunmen.

Zitzmann said the shooting was gang related. Police investigators would not comment if all the participants and spectators were gang-affiliated or not. When they found the Ford Taurus late last night, it was covered in blood.

Houston Police Department spokesman John Cannon would not use the word gang when asked about the matter, referring to it as “some type of altercation between a couples of groups.”

“While the gangbangers were firing into the crowd, another man appeared out of nowhere, produced a pistol, and fired into the direction of the Ford Taurus,” said Lt. John Zitzmann to local KHOU.

Six people were shot, one later died of the injuries.

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CORAL GABLES (LALATE) – Claudia Heill (photos below) is dead at 29. Claudia Heill died following a suicide jump from a Vienna building today. Heill was the silver Olympic medalist for Austria in judo in the under 63 kilogram category during the 2004 Games.

Claudia Heill was a top athlete in her sport. She won medals in the 2001 and 2005 European championships. She picked up five medals in European Championships in a mere five year period.

Federation president Hans Paul Kutschera issued a news statement today that friends and colleagues of Heill are “devastated”. Kutschera added that “nobody could foresee this act of desperation.” Claudia had success in studies; she was a very active person. All who knew her are very concerned. “

Heill jumped from a sixth floor window to her death.

Claudia Heill Pictures
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Online reports indicate she was a Corporal in 2004 when she won the medal. Her country’s Defense Minister Guenther Platter issued the following news statement congratulating Heill in 2004. “Our athletes have proven that the training conditions are in the army sports centers provided a fertile ground for international success,” said the Minister. He added “The sporting elite come from of the army. I’m proud of our athletes.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – American Idol tonight delivered some impressive early results from Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina. In American Idol performances tonight, many of the competitors that had failed to impress judges last week improved their game for this week, while many favorites took their performances to even higher levels.

Among the early standouts for the judges early tonight on Idol were Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery.

Scotty McCreery’s Country Comfort performance prompted Steven Tyler to praise McCreery’s voice, once again. Jennifer Lopez said that Scotty had “amazing instincts”. But the biggest praise came from Randy Jackson, who remarked “that song sounds like it could be on your record.”

It was equally good news tonight for Lauren Alaina. Her performance of Candle in the Wind attracted top praise from Steven and Jennifer who remarked “that was amazing”. Randy Jackson told her that she has consistently done well this season, but tonight “that’s one of the greatest Lauren Alaina performances on this stage.”

Also getting strong praises from the judges were Pia Toscano for her performance of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. Steven said Pia “nailed it”, while Jennifer remarked the performance brought us “to another worldly place”.

Improving tonight were Stefano Langone (Tiny Dancer), Thia Megia (Daniel) and James Durbin (Saturday Night’s Alright). Paul McDonald’s Rocket Man and Naima Adedapo’s I’m Still Standing got lackluster reviews.

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CORAL GABLES (LALATE) – John Wall punched Zydrunas Ilgauskas after being elbowed tonight. John Wall (video below) took offense to Zydrunas Ilgauskas’s continued elbowing. But rather than complaining to someone else, Wall just punched the Cleveland center. The two were thereafter ejected.

Washington Wizards guard was guarding the substantially taller Ilgauskas tonight. But after several elbows swung at Wall, Wall had enough it, punching Ilgauskas. Then Wizards centre JaVale McGee had to break up the fight, only to get into with Juwan Howard. Howard would be ejected as well.

John Wall Pictures from Tonight
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“This is interesting … and Wall go at it… and now comes in from behind” said telecast announcer. “Wall took offense to exception to an elbow … he may have been too vehement in his reaction, and that is where the trouble began.”

But after a breaking, Wall heated up again. “And John Wall is not backing down…. Let’s see what they decide here … Here is another look… right there…. This is going to be interesting Phil.”

In slow motion, it appears that Wall got elbowed at least twice.

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