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Ferry captain invokes Fifth Amendment rights
NEW YORK - After avoiding interviews and ignoring a subpoena, the captain of the Staten Island ferry that killed 10 people when it slammed into a pier finally met with investigators Thursday - but refused to answer any questions about the deadly crash.
Capt. Michael Gansas provided his name and age, but repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when it came to questions about the Oct. 15 crash, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Ellen Engelman said.
Gansas, 38, had previously avoided the meeting, with his lawyers arguing he was too traumatized to be interviewed. Gansas ignored an NTSB subpoena until a federal judge Wednesday ordered him to meet with investigators.
The NTSB has now interviewed more than 50 witnesses, including every crew member except Gansas and pilot Richard Smith, who fled the scene and attempted suicide.
Billionaire leaves $200-million to NPRWASHINGTON - The late billionaire philanthropist Joan B. Kroc left National Public Radio more than $200-million, NPR said Thursday.
"We are inspired and humbled by this tremendous gift," NPR President Kevin Klose said. "This is not about dollars and cents, it's about her vision for NPR."
Mrs. Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, died of cancer Oct. 12 at 75.