Urban News

(PITTSBURGH) -- A Pittsburgh hospital specializing in the care of children says it fears that child abuse is on the rise and is using a high-tech way to get to the heart of the problem. Nearly 1,200 cases of suspected child abuse have been noted at the facility just this year. A year ago the total was only just over 800. At the same time, though, Allegheny County officials say the numbers they have investigated have gone down slightly.

In order to get a better sense of the issue, Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital, has enlisted the help of a lifelike mannequin of a child. The toddler -- nicknamed Little Pete by hospital workers -- was introduced to the media this week. It's clad in the typical garb of a preschooler, red sweats. Pete is being used when doctors conduct an interview with a child about possible abuse-caused injuries. The mannequin is introduced to the toddler as a "crash dummy," there to help out.

When the child tries to cause the same injury to Pete that he or she received, more than a quarter of a million bits of information are relayed from sensors within the dummy to a computer. The hospital says that Pete helps find abusers but also exonerates innocent parents suspected of abuse.

(HOUSTON) -- Motorists zig-zagging through the nearly always congested freeways of Houston may soon see road crews changing speed limit signs from 70 to 55 mph on some sections. When Pres. Clinton lifted the nationwide 55 mph limit in 1995, speed limits were immediately raised to 70 through much of the Houston metroplex on Interstates and Interstate-type roadways.

But Houston is having an increasingly difficult time meeting federally mandated clean air standards. So, according to the Chronicle, the state may be ready to re-impose the lower limits to help cut down on air pollution.

A bill making the change is expected to pass next month. The new limits could be in place by May of next year.

(LAFAYETTE, Ind.) -- An upscale car dealership in Lafayette, Ind., has been gutted by a quickly spreading fire. Bob Rohrman Lincoln-Mercury went up in smoke early Tuesday, just as it was about to open for the day. Several people who heard the first police calls on scanners told the Indianapolis Star that the fire may have started in the garage section of the sprawling dealership.

Additional units were called in from nearby suburban areas.

Officials tell the publication that gasoline in the tanks of vehicles in the building and chemicals and paint helped fuel the flames, creating a dangerous and explosive situation.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. No one was hurt and most of the cars on the outside lot were saved from damage.

(SEATTLE) -- Port officials in Seattle are changing the rules as to who may and may not park a boat at the city's historic Fisherman's Terminal. The Post-Intelligencer is reporting that starting next year pleasure boaters will likely be allowed to tie-up at the dock, space permitting.

One of the factors that precipitated the rule change is that at the current time the dock is losing money. Its strict rules were put into play years ago and in the ensuing years the need for a fishermen's port has diminished. Port commissioners realize that pleasure boating, particularly yachting in the area, is on the upswing. One more vote will be held on the issue, but it would appear that the rule change is due for certain passage.