Trade Center Insurance Settled

NY Port Authority faces millions in penalties on delays

(NEWSER) - Ground Zero in New York City is a magnet for patriotism, skepticicm and frustration; underground, it continues to be a very costly challenge. Excavation preparatory to rebuilding is moving so woefully slowly that New York's Port Authority has accrued late fees of $300,000 a day since Jan. 1, with penalties of over $13 million due to Silverstein Properties, which will build two office towers on the site. More»

But rival protest pleads for peace

(NEWSER) - Some 1,000 protesters swarmed the site of the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero yesterday, largely overshadowing 250 demonstrators supporting the project. "It's a breeding ground for terrorists," grumbled critic Shawn Gilfeather. Opponents held aloft banners reading: "Building a mosque at Ground Zero Is like building a Hitler memorial at Auschwitz." But rival protesters chanted: "Hallowed ground, that's a lie, you don't care if Muslims die!" An organizer of the Manhattan center, to be located two blocks from Ground Zero, called the backlash racism, and vowed that plans will not change. More»

Fears sum won't be enough, and lawyers get too much

(NEWSER) - A federal judge put the kibosh today on New York City’s deal to set aside as much as $657 million for 10,000 workers sickened by toxic debris at the World Trade Center site. Alvin Hellerstein thinks it’s not enough money, would leave out other first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks—and that lawyers are getting too much of it, the Daily News reports. More»

City faces 10K lawsuits over World Trade Center dust

(AP) - New York City has agreed to pay up to $657 million to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits filed by ground zero rescue and response workers who say they were sickened by World Trade Center dust. The settlement was announced tonight by the WTC Captive Insurance Company, a special entity established to indemnify the city and its contractors against potential legal action as they moved to clean up the site. More»

(AP) - Britain's Prince Harry bowed his head in prayer at ground zero today, then toured the Sept. 11 attack site and shook New Yorkers' hands in his first official visit to the US. “Big question—when is this supposed to be finished?" the 24-year-old asked officials showing him rebuilding plans for the World Trade Center site. The prince laid a wreath at a spot overlooking the memorial under construction. More»