Toyota Has Repaired 500,000 Vehicles

Toyota Motor Co. has repaired around 500,000 of the 2.3 million vehicles of their more recent recall over a sticky gas pedal causing unintended acceleration.

Last fall, Toyota recalled millions of vehicles for floor mats that can pin down a car's gas pedal. Sales sank last month after the company stopped selling eight of its most popular models to fix a separate defect that can make the gas pedal stick. But surprisingly enough, general manager of the U.S. division, Bob Carter said Toyota doesn't appear to be losing any market share this month due to the recall.

But the U.S. sales chief James Lentz, today said the massive recall may "not totally" solve frightening problems of sudden, unintended acceleration. And that the changes Toyota is making probably aren't the end of the story.

House members listened to Lentz today and to a woman's near death experience when her vehicle surged to 100 MPH. The government has received complaints of 34 deaths linked to sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles since 2000.

Toyota president Akio Toyoda is prepared to confront angry U.S. lawmakers tomorrow. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again," Toyoda will tell the House Government Oversight Committee. "My name is on every car. You have my personal commitment that Toyota will work vigorously and unceasingly to restore the trust of our customers."

Toyota plans to win back consumer confidence once repairs have been completed. Carter declined to unveil the possiblities, but dealers have admitted to a potential new incentive program or enhanced warranty protection.

Fake Air Bags Lead to Death

A lengthy KIRO Team 7 Investigation exposes a widespread, dishonest and deadly secret: You may not know if your car really has airbags until it's too late.
Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne discovers something no federal or state agency has ever attempted: how often phony airbags play a role in killing drivers.

Vik Lim is the Van Gogh of fake airbags. Our undercover investigation discovered his shop specializes in repairing wrecked car interiors, cutting out previously deployed airbags, then gluing the shells back together.

Read the remainder of this shocking article, Fake Air Bags, Fatal Consequences

First US Death in Texas Due to Swine Flu

The first death due to swine flu has been reported today. A young boy reported to be either 22 or 23 months old died in Texas while he was visiting with his family from Mexico.

President Obama has asked congress for $1.5 billion in emergency funds to combat the flu. "This is obviously a serious situation, serious enough to take the utmost precautions," he stated.

Dr. Richard Besser of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on the Today Show that it's still too soon to tell how quickly the virus is spreading.

At this time, the CDC has the most up-to-date information regarding deaths and confirmed infection. With 91 US cases, New York still leads today with 51 cases with many other states just having been reported within the last 24 hours. It seems to be spreading quickly.

Mexico is faring the worst with the flu-- over 2000 cases have been reported and more than 150 deaths. Other countries reportedly affected are Canada, Britain, Spain and New Zealand. And although statements have been made that you cannot contract the disease by eating or preparing pork, many nations have banned pork products and Egypt has ordered the slaughter of all pigs.