One-third of airline passengers confess to leaving gadgets on inflight

Published May 13, 2013

FoxNews.com

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Ever forget to turn off your phone while flying? You’re not alone.

According to a new joint study released last week by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), almost one third of fliers don’t heed the on board, pre-take-off warning, “Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones.”

In the study, Portable Electronic Devices on Aircraft, almost one-third (30 percent) of respondents reported they have accidently left their portable electronic devices (PED) turned on during a flight. Of those passengers who accidently left their gizmos turned on inflight, 61 percent said the device was a smartphone.

“This study showed us that most travelers are using their PEDs as often as possible while traveling, and many would like even more opportunities to use their devices” Russell A. Lemieux, APEX executive director said in a press release.  “The data in the study reveals important insights into actual passenger behavior, which we hope the FAA will find useful as it deliberates on this issue.”

Four in 10 passengers would like to use their gadgets during all phases of flight, including take-off and landing, according to the study. Currently, FAA rules mandate passengers turn electronic devices off below 10,000 feet in order to mitigate interference with the aircraft’s navigation systems during critical phases of flight.

The report was conducted through a telephone survey of 1,629 US adults between Dec. 14-18, 2012, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.43 percent. Results of the study were shared with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as it reviews its policies for inflight PED use.

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Records: Wis. mom was warned about leaving kids

MILWAUKEE –  A Wisconsin mom accused of locking three of her small children in a bedroom and leaving them unattended hours before they died in a fire had twice been warned by authorities not to leave them alone, according to court documents.

Angelica D. Belen, 24, made an initial court appearance Wednesday on three felony charges of child neglect resulting in death. A Milwaukee County court commissioner imposed a cash bond of $500,000.

Her 5-year-old daughter, Nayeli Colon, and 4-year-old twin sons, Adrian and Alexis Colon, died in a fire Thursday at their West Allis home. Belen told investigators she left the kids alone to start a new job and that she bolted their bedroom door shut because she didn't want them wrecking the house or getting outside where neighbors could see they were unattended.

She said she knew she wasn't supposed to leave the kids alone but she needed to go to work and couldn't find a babysitter, the criminal complaint said.

Belen's public defender, Reyna Morales, declined to comment on the case.

Prosecutors say Belen was first warned on Feb. 26, when a child-welfare worker was driving to Belen's home for a scheduled visit. The worker spotted Belen driving directly in front of her. The worker watched Belen and Nayeli get out of the car, and all three walked inside to find Adrian and Alexis crying and Belen's 1-year-old son in a high chair.

"There was a decision made to allow the defendant to keep her children in the house, but she was told not to leave them alone," the complaint said.

The child-welfare worker, identified as Jami Katarincic of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, declined to comment Wednesday to The Associated Press.

The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare referred calls to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, which released a statement saying confidentiality issues prevented it from confirming or denying that the children were known to the child-welfare system.

"An official assessment of this case is ongoing and the Department does not have any further comment at this time," the statement said.

The second time Belen was warned about leaving her children unattended was on March 13, when she went to a store with Nayeli and left her twin sons and 1-year-old Wilfredo Belen alone in the car. A witness told investigators the twins got out of the car and started running around, and one was almost hit by a car. A second witness saw a car door open and the 1-year-old crying inside.

A responding officer said the twins were dirty and smelled of feces.

The children again were allowed to stay with their mother. She was given another warning not to leave them alone, the complaint said.

Based on the two incidents, Belen was charged last month with six counts of misdemeanor child neglect. The charges carry a maximum combined penalty of 4½ years in prison and a $60,000 fine.

Authorities say Thursday's fire began when a faulty electrical connection ignited in the kitchen. The three charges of child neglect resulting in death are felonies, each carrying a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.

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Dinesh Ramde can be reached at dramde(at)ap.org.

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3 North Dakota teachers suspended after allegedly leaving child outside in cold as punishment

Published April 02, 2013

Associated Press

FARGO, N.D. –  Three teachers at a North Dakota YMCA have been suspended amid allegations they made a 4-year-old boy stand outside in the cold as punishment.

A parent spotted the boy without a coat outside of the Y Learning Center on Monday morning in Fargo, KVLY-TV reported. The boy allegedly told the parent that he was being punished. The parent, in turn, called police.

YMCA staff told the TV station that the teachers were having trouble getting the child to put on his outdoor apparel, so they took the child and his clothes outside and "had him stand on his snowsuit and were waiting for him to be ready to put it on."

The teachers did not follow proper procedure, officials said.

"Our policy specifically states that we do not use any kind of punishment that would take away warmth, food, sleep, that kind of thing," YMCA Vice President Lorrie Thoemke said.

The center aims to let children play outside every day unless wintry conditions are too extreme. Early Monday, temperatures were in the mid-teens.

"By no means would this be proper procedure to take a child out for discipline reasons without proper clothing on," Thoemke said.

The 4-year-old was brought inside and properly dressed by another staff member, and the three teachers involved are now suspended, officials said.

Findstad said the Y is reviewing policies with its staff. Letters went out Monday to parents to explain what had happened.

KVLY reported that two children have been pulled from the program -- the boy who was left outside and the child of the parent who reported spotting him.

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Canada defends leaving UN convention on droughts

Published March 28, 2013

Associated Press

OTTAWA, Ontario –  Canada is defending its decision to pull out of a United Nations convention that fights the spread of droughts. It's the only country in the world outside the agreement.

The decision comes a month before a major scientific gathering hosted by the secretariat of the convention that would have forced Canada to confront scientific analysis on the effects of climate change.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has been vilified an as outlier on climate change policy in past international meetings.

Harper said Thursday that Canada is withdrawing from the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification because the program is too bureaucratic.

Canada's foreign minister calls it a "talkfest" that does a disservice to taxpayers.

Former Canadian ambassador to the UN Robert Fowler says the move is a "departure from global citizenship."

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