Newsast 2


by


And in New York, I'm Peter O'Dowd.

The Department of Health was called to a KFC-Taco Bell in Greenwich Village today after about a dozen rats were seen scurrying through the restaurant.

Television footage showed the rodents...running around the restaurant floor, between counters and tables and on children's highchairs.

The restaurant was closed at the time, and representatives from YUM Brands, the company that owns Taco Bell, said the franchise would STAY closed until the problem was resolved.

Taco Bell suffered an E Coli scare in December last year. Federal health officials believe more than 70 customers became ill after eating tainted lettuce.

New York City needs to lower taxes if it's to remain competitive, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today on his weekly radio address. The mayor was responding to a report by the city's Independent Budget Office. The report showed residents and businesses paid 9 dollars for every 100 they earn. That's greater than eight other major US cities.

Bloomberg said New York is a leader in providing services to its residents.

BLOOMERG #1 TIME :07

The reason why a lot of these cities around the country have a lot lower taxes and states have a lot lower taxes is they do a lot less.

Some of the city's school-age children will be back on the bus Monday morning. The New York City Board of Education reinstated17 school bus routes after parents complained their children were left to navigate busy streets alone.

The department cut 116 routes in January in an attempt to save an annual12 million dollars. Restoring the routes will cost about $2 million dollars.

American Airlines today blamed a faulty air conditioning system for causing caused a Newark bound flight to fill with smoke.

Four passengers, including two children, were hospitalized this morning in Kentucky after complaining of burning eyes and throats.

The flight with 123 people on board took off from Dallas, Texas. Passengers spent the night in Louisville and were expected to arrive in New York today.

The Knicks will play the Milwaukee Bucks tonight at Madison Square Garden. And the Sacramento Kings are in New Jersey. They'll play the Nets at 7:30.

It's 32 degrees.

This is Peter O'Dowd, Columbia Radio News.