The Federal Aviation Administration seeks multimillion-dollar fines against United Airlines and US Airways for safety violations, including flying a plane after mechanics stuffed shop towels into an engine. The agency moves for a $5.4 million fine against US Airways, which is a dominant player in the Buffalo and Western New York market, for operating eight planes on a total of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 in violation of safety directives or the company’s own maintenance rules. More can be found on AOLNews.

Grain Bin Deaths – Fines Must be Kept High
This morning, NPR broadcast a story about deaths that occur across the County in grain bins. The details of the working conditions and the description of how workers die in grain bins was extremely unsettling.